Auburn University

Ronald Beyers

Vitaly J Vodyanoy

Oleg Pustovyy

Meng Yu

Paul Waggoner

Thomas Denney

Christian R Goldsmith

Ed Morrison

Gopikrishna Deshpande

Hao Jia

Dean D Schwartz

Many factors contribute to dogs' superior olfactory capabilities as compared to humans. Studies explored this aspect at the cellular and behavior levels; however, the cognitive-level neural substrates linking them have never been explored. Since sedated dogs cannot sniff, the present application illustrates the cognitive-level linking neural substrate using fMRI of conscious dogs. The head motion of the canine is accounted for by behavioral training and optical motion tracking. The olfactory bulb is commonly activated in both awake and anesthetized dogs, while parietal and frontal structures are activated only in the former and subcortical structures only in the latter. Comparison of low and high odor intensity shows differences in both the strength and spatial extent of activation in higher cognitive structures. Unlike humans, neural structures even at the top of the cognitive hierarchy are modulated by odor concentration in dogs. This represents one possible mechanism for their superior sense of olfaction as compared to humans.

System and method of functional MRI of the neural system in conscious unrestrained dogs

The current invention provides metal ion complexes with an organic ligand, compositions comprising such complexes. In particular, these complexes are capable of reacting with a reactive oxygen species in a subject and increase their T-weighted relaxivities so a clinical MRI scanner can detect an oxidative stress hotspot in the subject. The disclosed complexes also exhibit excellent anti-oxidant properties and low cell toxicity, therefore can be used as a therapeutic agent to relieve oxidative stress in the subject, or as both a MRI contrast agent and therapeutic agent in a composition.

Magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent capable of detecting hydrogen peroxide and reducing reactive oxygen species

Growing community of inventors

Auburn, AL, United States of America

Ronald Beyers