Manganese Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging reveals light-induced brain asymmetry in embryo

The idea that sensory stimulation to the embryo (in utero or in ovo) may
be crucial for brain development is widespread. Unfortunately, up to now
evidence was only indirect because mapping of embryonic brain activity in
vivo is challenging. Here we applied for the first time Manganese Enhanced
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MEMRI), a functional imaging method, to the
eggs of domestic chicks. We revealed both spontaneous and light-induced
brain asymmetry by comparing embryonic brain activity in vivo of eggs that
were stimulated by light or maintained in the darkness. Our protocol paves
the way to investigation of the effects of a variety of sensory
stimulations on brain activity in embryo.

胚胎（宫内in utero或卵内in ovo）所接受的感觉刺激可能对大脑发育至关重要，这一观点已被学界广泛认可。遗憾的是，截至目前相关研究仅能提供间接证据，因为在活体状态下绘制胚胎大脑活动图谱极具挑战性。本研究首次将功能成像技术——锰增强磁共振成像（Manganese Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging，MEMRI）——应用于家鸡受精卵。通过对比经光照刺激与持续处于黑暗环境的鸡蛋的活体胚胎大脑活动，我们同时揭示了自发性与光诱导的大脑偏侧性。本研究方案为探索多种感觉刺激对胚胎大脑活动的影响铺平了道路。