The Mouse Brain Atlas: Insights into the Complexity of the Mammalian Brain
The international group of researchers has successfully created a comprehensive atlas of the entire brain of mammals, starting with the mouse brain. This groundbreaking atlas provides valuable information on over 32 million cells, including their type, location, molecular characteristics, and the connections between them.
The mouse brain is widely used as a model in neurobiological studies. The creation of this atlas is a significant step towards a deeper understanding of the human brain, often referred to as the most powerful computer in the world. Moreover, this atlas will serve as a foundation for developing precise therapeutic methods to treat mental and neurological brain disorders.
Financed by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the research was conducted as part of the initiative called BRIN. The findings have been published in a collection of 10 articles, available in the journal Nature.
The National Institute of Mental Health highlights that this comprehensive atlas of the mouse brain provides researchers with previously unprecedented details, revealing a complex network of mammalian brain cells. This valuable dataset will enable researchers to better understand the functions and diseases of the human brain.
The atlas provides detailed information on each area of the mouse brain, including the types of cells present and their organization. It also offers a comprehensive catalog of cellular transcription, encompassing the complete set of genetic instructions, which contain vital information on the production of proteins and other cellular products. This transcription information is organized hierarchically, specifying classes, subclasses, and thousands of individual cell clusters within the brain.
In addition to structural data, the atlas characterizes the epigenetics of the cells – chemical modifications of cell DNA and chromosomes that influence gene expression. It identifies thousands of epigenomic cell types and millions of potential genetic regulatory elements for various types of brain cells.
The spatial distribution of diverse cell types throughout the mouse brain is visually represented in the atlas.
Collectively, the structural, transcriptional, and epigenetic information provided by the atlas offers a comprehensive map of the organization and diversity of mouse brain cells. It also includes data on neurotransmitters and neuropeptides used by different cells, as well as their relationships within the brain. This detailed information serves as a crucial reference for understanding how chemical signals are initiated and transmitted across various regions of the brain, forming