MRI VISUALIZATION OF FOCAL INDUCED NEOCORTICAL MALFORMATIONS OF THE RAT

IN an attempt to determine whether small focal malformations of the ne ocortex can be visualized in vivo, focal microgyria were induced in th e neocortex of otherwise normal rats by freezing injury to the develop ing cortical plate, and in adulthood the malformation was visualized u sing MRI. Induced microgyria of varying size were successfully visuali zed with MRI, and the location and extent of the malformation was conf irmed on subsequent histology. This work has potential implications fo r the field of experimental neuropathology by enhancing the ability to study the behavioral and connectional consequences of these malformat ions in animals. In addition, this work points toward future research for the in vivo visualization of these small, focal malformations in h umans.