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Development of Layered Structures of Normal Fetal Cerebral Cortex: A Study Using MR Imaging
Author(s) -
zhonghe zhang,
Sun Bo,
Fan Lingzhong,
Lin Xiangtao,
Yu Taifei,
Liu Shuwei
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.833.2
Subject(s) - subplate , anatomy , fetus , cortex (anatomy) , cerebral cortex , coronal plane , biology , pathology , neuroscience , medicine , pregnancy , genetics
Purpose To analyze the developmental changes of the layered structures of normal fetal cerebral cortex using 3.0T MRI. Materials and Methods: Head of 30 fetal specimens of 14‐35 weeks gestational (GA) were scanned, and developmental changes of the layered structures were observed. Results Coronal T1 images of parieto‐occipital part of the brain are chosen to analyze. At 14 GA, 3 layers can be recognized. During 18‐23 GA, when the layered structures are typical, 7 layers of different signals including continuing periventricular fiber‐rich zone and external capsule fibers can be differentiated, which correspond to 5 zones in the histological staining slices. During 24‐27 GA, layered structures remains the same appearance as 18‐23 GA, but the borderlines among them become obscured and periventricular fiber‐rich zone and the external capsule fibers become discontinuous. After 30 GA, layered structures disappear and turn into mature‐like. The migrating thalamocortical fibers appeare as a high signal layer located at the lower, middle, and upper part of the subplate zone respectively at different GA. Conclusion The development of layered structures of normal fetal cerebral cortex follows a specific spatio‐temporal law, and T1 images of parieto‐occipital part of the fetal brain obtained using 3.0T MRI are the best to show the developmental changes of layered structures of normal fetal cerebral cortex.