A microcomputer-based system for stereotaxic coordinates in the rat brain.

In this report, the computer hardware and software used in the generation of a stereotaxic rat brain atlas are described. The atlas consists of sagittal and frontal sections drawn to the high-resolution page of the Apple II series computer. Brain architectural and macroscopic areas are represented by lines. Microscopic areas are represented by dots. The system employs a large data base to make available hundreds of brain areas on stereotaxic sections containing precise positional information of thousands of specific locations. For each display, the brain area is identified by name and by cross-hairs with digital display of stereotaxic coordinates. These coordinates may be referenced by earbar-zero or bregma. Other program options allow the printing of brain sections and a listing of available brain areas. Although designed for research in the neurosciences, the software may also be used for educational purposes.