The variation in the structure of animal brain greatly depends on the genetic and molecular makeup of the neuronal system as well as the natural environment. The passage of genes during evolution facilitates the specification of unique neural pathways optimized for the adaptation of each animal to their specific environment. These genetic changes are manifested in the brain through a sensory-dependent mechanism, wherein the changes in brain morphology relates to neuronal processing of information that becomes optimized for each species. For instance, neuronal length, the abundance of functional or structural neurons, and neuronal positioning contribute to the alteration of the brain morphology. When discussing brain evolution, understanding the morphological properties of the brains of various species is crucial. However, the comparative anatomical description of specific animal brain morphologies is scarce. Specifically, descriptions of certain cellular structures and brain cellular architectures are limit, with some exceptions for a few animal models. To bridge this knowledge gap, we collected post-mortem brain samples of vertebrates, mainly small amniotes, and performed magnetic resonance imaging and histological staining. Herein, we report a new freely accessible database called “Animal Brain Collection (ABC).” Using the ABC database, researchers can compare the cellular and tissue architectures of the brain and neural circuit formation among interested species. Therefore, the ABC database will be an essential resource for brain evolution research in the future.
Tomokazu Tsurugizawa, Yuji Komaki, Illia Aota, Makoto Suematsu, Chiaki Ohtaka-Maruyama, Takuma Kumamoto (2025) A Cross-Species Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histology Database of Vertebrates., Scientific data, Volume 12, Number 1, pp. 1206
Published in 2025 Jul 12 (Electronic publication in July 12, 2025, midnight )
(Abstract) Understanding brain evolution requires detailed comparative analyses of brain structures across species. However, high-resolution anatomical and connective data remain limited for most vertebrates beyond a few well-studied model organisms. To address this gap, we collected postmortem brain samples from a range of vertebrates, primarily small amniotes, and performed magnetic resonance imaging and histological staining. Here, we present the "Animal Brain Collection (ABC)," a freely accessible database that enables researchers to examine and compare cellular and tissue-level brain architectures across species. This resource provides a foundation for cross-species investigations of brain structure and development, offering new opportunities for research into the diversity and evolution of vertebrate brains.(MeSH Terms)