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Print Friendly 14th International Mouse Genome Meeting, Narita,
Japan The purpose of the Mouse Brain Library (MBL) and iScope projects is to
provide the research community with a web-accessible collection of tissue
and data suitable for quantitative and qualitative genetic analysis of the
mouse central nervous system. The collection currently includes Nissl-stained
histological sections from a sample of 110 inbred strains (approximately
6–8 per line) obtained from the Jackson Laboratory. Several of these
strains are now being used as part of mutagenesis screens (C3H, BALB/c,
C57BL/6J, BTBR). Both sexes and a range of ages (30–650 days) are
represented in the MBL. Of key interest to geneticists, 73 recombinant
inbred (RI) strains useful for mapping QTLs are included. These RI strains
can be exploited to study correlated structural, developmental, and
behavioral differences. To complement the MBL image database, we are
assembling web-accessible databases on phenotypes for four of the major RI
sets, for a set of 500 tenth-generation advanced intercross (AI) progeny,
and for a large number of RIX lines. A sophisticated database allows users
to search and sort through the MBL image collection. We have produced
several complementary brain atlases for web browsing and for detailed
analysis of particular brain regions. The iScope project is an extension of the MBL that allows users to
explore the slide collections using a video microscope operated over the
web. Image resolution is better than 0.5 microns/pixel, and quality of the
differential interference contrast optics is suitable for detailed
stereological analysis of neuronal and glial cell types. The current
implementation of the iScope is still experimental, and the system has not
yet been interfaced with a slide-handling robot that will eventually
permit neurogeneticists to load and examine any case in the collection.
However, the user interface is complete and demonstrates reasonably rapid
interaction between user and microscope over a high-speed Internet
connection. The ultimate goal of the MBL and iScope projects is to make
collaborative QTL mapping studies feasible. In collaboration with Dr. Ken
Manly, we intend to provide a suite of web-ready QTL analytic software
that will reduce the challenge of complex trait analysis. It is already
possible to download high resolution images, genotypes, and correlated
behavioral phenotype data to explore the genetics of CNS structure,
function, and pathology. Computers with direct Internet access to the MBL
databases at www.mbl.org and www.nervenet.org are available to test system
video performance. Acknowledgement: This research was supported by NINDS R01 NS35485 and
Human Brain Project P20 MH62009 to GDR and RWW. We thank John Belknap for
providing us with a database of phenotypes of BXD strains. We thank the
Mammalian Genotyping Service (sponsored by NHLBI) for typing our advanced
intercross. We thank Stefany Palmieri for processing tissue. Since 3 August 2000
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Neurogenetics at University of Tennessee Health Science Center
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