Developmental Brain Maps

The two goals of the approach used for the book, are to clarify the basic structural plan of the mammalian brain, and to generate computer graphics maps for summarizing related information, using the rat as a particular model. Included is also a discussion of how similar the development of rat and mouse brains may be, and thus how useful the maps may be as a guide to mouse brain development.

The heart of the book is, of course, the atlases of the brain at progressive stages of embryogenesis. Nine representative ages are used, from the simple neural plate stage, to a time just before birth. At each stage, enough levels are presented to illustrate the major known structural features, with additional supporting planes and photomicrographs.

The second component of the book discusses the classical approach to interpreting the gross structure of the developing brain, while a third component is more theoretical, and deals with methods to produce flattened maps or footprints of the central nervous system. Finally problems associated with identifying specific structures in the embryonic brain, and the many inconsistencies found in nomenclature associated with the developing and adult rat brain are presented.