Rodent Brain Navigator: database and atlas system for microscopy and imaging data

INTRODUCTION Defi ning the location of experimental sections through the brain in relation to a brain atlas, and assigning localization (names and / or coordinates) to structures in the sections, often represent a considerable challenge. We present a novel system for archiving, viewing, and analyzing sectionbased image data from the rat or mouse brain in standard atlas space. The system is prepared for serial section data (typically high resolution mosaic images of histological sections) and associated metadata, and is also suitable for tomographical image data. Images are co-registered to a common spatial framework, based on a standard stereotaxic coordinate system1,2.