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Method for counting labeled neurons in mouse brain regions based on image representation and registration

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Abstract

An important step in brain image analysis is to divide specific brain regions by matching brain slices to standard brain reference atlases, and perform statistical analysis on the labeled neurons in each brain region. Taking mouse fluorescently labeled brain slices as an example, due to the noise and distortion introduced during the preparation of brain slices, and the modal differences with standard brain atlas, the brain slices cannot directly establish an accurate one-to-one correspondence with the brain atlas, which in turn affects the accuracy of the number of labeled neurons in each brain region. This paper introduces the idea of image representation, uses neural networks to realize the registration of different modal mouse brain slices and brain atlas, completes the regional localization of the brain slices, and uses threshold segmentation to detect and count the labeled neurons in each brain region. The method proposed in this paper can effectively solve the problem of large deviation of neurons count caused by the inaccurate division of brain regions in large deformed brain slices, and can automatically realize accurate count of labeled neurons in each brain region of brain slices.

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The whole framework of method for counting labeled neurons in mouse brain regions based on image representation and registration.

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Funding

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) General Program, grant number 61807031.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    Songwei Wang, Ke Niu & Liwei Chen

  2. State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Wuhan Center for Magnetic Resonance, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Methodology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Xiaoping Rao

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  1. Songwei Wang
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  2. Ke Niu
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Correspondence to Liwei Chen or Xiaoping Rao.

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Wang, S., Niu, K., Chen, L. et al. Method for counting labeled neurons in mouse brain regions based on image representation and registration. Med Biol Eng Comput 60, 487–500 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-021-02495-8

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