The volume fraction values of the brain compartments using the Cavalieri principle and a 3T MRI in brachycephalic and mesocephalic dogs

Abstract

This study was aimed at: 1) estimating the volume and the volume fraction values of brain ventricles, grey matter and white matter with the Cavalieri principle and 2) creating three-dimensional reconstruction models of the brain ventricles by using magnetic resonance imaging. The brain structures of dogs were scanned with a 3T magnetic resonance system. The volumes of the total brain, the grey matter, the white matter, the lateral ventricle, the third ventricle, the cerebral aqueduct and the fourth ventricle of both sides were estimated separately by using a combination of the Cavalieri principle and the point-counting method. In addition to that, magnetic resonance images of dog brains were uploaded to the 3D slicer software to design the three-dimensional reconstruction models. The mean volume fraction values of the left and right lateral ventricle, third ventricle, cerebral aqueduct, and fourth ventricle were 1.83 ± 0.14%, 1.75 ± 0.1%, 0.7 ± 0.07%, 0.2 ± 0.04%, and 1 ± 0.32% for the brachycephalic dogs and 1.69 ± 0.04%, 1.66 ± 0.03%, 0.91 ± 0.03%, 0.27 ± 0.05%, and 0.71 ± 0.15% for the mesocephalic dogs, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the brachycephalic and mesocephalic dogs in all the volume fraction values (P > 0.05). This study showed the volume and the volume fraction values of the brain ventricles and the structures in the different types of the dogs’ head shapes. These volume fraction values can be essential data for determining some diseases. Magnetic resonance imaging can be used for precise volume estimations in combination with the Cavalieri principle and the point-counting method.