Wang Lab

In the present study, we acquired high spatial resolution MRI datasets, including diffusion MRI (dMRI) at 25 μm isotropic resolution and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) at 21.5 μm isotropic resolution to validate with conventional mouse brain histology. Diffusion weighted images (DWIs) show better delineation of cortical layers and glomeruli in the olfactory bulb than fractional anisotropy (FA) maps. However, among all the image contrasts, including quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), T1/T2∗ images and DTI metrics, FA maps highlight unique laminar architecture in sub-regions of the hippocampus, including the strata of the dentate gyrus and CA fields of the hippocampus. Our findings demonstrate that MRI at microscopic resolution deliver a three-dimensional, non-invasive and non-destructive platform for characterization of fine structural detail in both gray matter and white matter of the mouse brain.

Wang N*, Maharjan S, Tsai PA, Lin BP, Qi Y, Wallace A, Jewett M, Liu F, Landreth EG, Oblak LA.  “Integrating Multimodality MRI to Allen Mouse Brain Common Coordinate Framework”, NMR in Biomedicine, 2023, e4887 (Cover Art)

Johnson GA, Tian YQ, Ashbrook GD, Cofer PG, Cook JJ, Gee CJ, Hall A, Hornburg K, Qi Y, Yeh FC, Wang N, White EL, Williams WR. “Merged magnetic resonance and light sheet microscopy of the whole mouse brain”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023, e2218617120

Maharjan S, Tsai PA, Lin BP, Ingraham C, Jewett RM, Landreth EG, Oblak LA, Wang N*. “Age-dependent microstructure alterations in 5xFAD mice by high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging”, Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022, 16:964654

Wang N*, Wen QT, Maharjan S, Mirando JA, Qi Y, Hilton JM, Spritzer EC. “Magic angle effect on diffusion tensor imaging in ligament and brain”, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 2022, in press.

Shen JK, Zhao Q, Qi Y, Cofer G, Johnson GA, Wang N*.  “Tractography of Porcine Meniscus Microstructure using High-resolution Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging”, Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2022, 13:876784

Crater S, Maharjan S, Qi Y, Zhao Q, Cofer G, Cook JJ, Johnson GA, Wang N*. “Resolution and b value dependent Structural Connectome in ex vivo Mouse Brain”, NeuroImage, 2022, 119199. 

Yu ZY, Zhou X, Liu ZY, Pastrana-Gomez V, Liu Y, Guo MZ, Tian L, Nelson JT, Wang N, Mital S, Chitayat D, X Wu CJ, Rabinovitch M, Wu MS, Snyder PM, Miao YF, Gu MX. “KMT2D-NOTCH Mediates Coronary Abnormalities in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome”, Circulation Research, 2022, 131

1. Garrett A, Rakhilin N, Wang N, Mckey J, Cofer G, Anderson R, Capel B, Johnson GA, Shen X*. “Mapping the peripheral nervous system in the whole mouse via compressed sensing tractography”, Journal of Neural Engineering, 2021, 18, 044002
2. Zhao Q, Ridout R, Shen JK, Wang N*. “Effects of Angular Resolution and b Value on Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Knee Joint”, Cartilage, 2021 (In Press)

1. Wang N, Anderson R, Ashbrook David, Gopalakrishnan V, Park Y, Priebe C, Qi Y, Laoprasert R, Vogelstein J, Williams RW, Johnson GA*. “Variability and heritability of mouse brain structure: microscopic MRI atlases and connectomes for diverse strains”, NeuroImage, 2020, 222, 117274 (Cover Article)
2. Wang N*, White L, Cofer G, Qi Y, Anderson R, Johnson GA*. “Cytoarchitecture of the mouse brain by high resolution diffusion magnetic resonance imaging”, NeuroImage, 2020, 216, 116876
3. Wang N, Farid B, Xia Y*. “Resolution-dependent Influences of Compressed Sensing in Quantitative T2 Mapping of Articular Cartilage”, NMR in Biomedicine, 2020, 10, e4260
4. Wang N*, Mirando JA, Cofer G, Qi Y, Hilton JM, Johnson GA. “Characterization Complex Collagen Fiber Architecture in Knee Joint Using High Resolution Diffusion Imaging”, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2020, 84, 908-919.

1. Wang N*, Zhang J, Cofer G, Qi Y, Anderson R, Johnson GA*. “Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging of mouse brain microstructure”, Brain Structure and Function, 2019, 224, 1797-1813
2. Wang N, Zhuang J, Wei HJ, Dibb R, Qi Y, Liu CL*. “Probing demyelination and remyelination of the cuprizone mouse model using multimodality MRI”, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 2019, 50, 1852-1865
3. Guan X, Huang P, Zeng Q, Liu C, Wei H, Xuan M, Gu Q, Xu X, Wang N, Yu X, Luo X, Zhang M*. “Quantitative susceptibility mapping as a biomarker for evaluating white matter alterations in Parkinson’s disease”, Brain Imaging and Behavior, 2019, 13, 220-231
4. Johnson A#*, Wang N#, Anderson R, Chen M, Cofer G, Gee J, Pratson F, Tustison N, Whilte L. “Whole mouse brain connectivity”, Journal of comparative Neurology, 2019, 527, 2146-2157 (# equal contribution)
5. Wang N*, Mirando JA, Cofer G, Qi Y, Hilton JM, Johnson GA. “Diffusion Tractography of the Rat Knee at Microscopic Resolution”, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2019, 81, 3775-3786 (Cover Article)
6. Wang N, Farid B, Xia Y. “Experimental Influences to the Accurate Measurement of Cartilage Thickness in MRI”, Cartilage, 2019, 10, 278-287

1. Wang N, Anderson R, Cofer G, Qi Y, Liu CL, Johnson GA*. “Accelerating 3D high resolution whole brain quantitative susceptibility mapping using compressed sensing”, Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2018, 63, 245002
2. Wang N, Anderson R, Badea A, Cofer G, Dibb R, Qi Y, Johnson GA*. “Whole mouse brain structural connectomics using magnetic resonance histology”, Brain Structure and Function, 2018, 223, 4323-4335
3. Wang N, Badar F, Xia Y*. “Quantitative determination of GAG concentration in cartilage by microscopic MRI”, Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2018, 79, 3163-3171
4. Privratksy J, Wang N, Qi Y, Ren JF, Morris B, Hunting J, Johnson GA, Crowley S*. “Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI promotes early detection of toxin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI)”, American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 2018, 316, F351-359