Overview
In this video, we describe simultaneous recording of video, EEG, ECG and respiratory cues in a rabbit model in response to orally administered drug to understand the sequence of events leading to seizure. The model can be used for testing potential drugs for their neuro-cardiac safety.
Protocol
All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.
1. Oral administration of medications
- As many drugs are taken orally, prepare oral compounds by mixing with food-grade apple sauce. Mix 0.3 mg/kg of E-4031 in 3 mL of apple sauce and load into a 3 mL oral/irrigation syringe without a needle.
NOTE: Several medications can be administered in this fashion including, test compounds, drugs that are known to alter the QT duration (moxifloxacin or E-4031), and a negative control or vehicle. Some drugs are not available in an intravenous formulation. In addition, many medications are prescribed in an oral formulation and therefore an intravenous administration may have less clinical relevance. - Lift the upper lips and slide the tip of the oral syringe into the side of the rabbit's mouth, which is unobstructed by the rabbit's teeth, and inject all of the medication and apple sauce into the rabbit's mouth.
- Continue the video-EEG-ECG recording for 2 h and then return the animal to its home cage for routine care.
- On the experimental day 2 and 3, connect the rabbit to the video-EEG-ECG, record 10-20 min of baseline, then inject the same medication and record for 2 h.
- After 1 week of washout, perform 10-20 min of baseline, and then give each rabbit a single dose of placebo for 3 consecutive days and record for 2 h.
NOTE: Administration of oral medications may be designed as a crossover study, in which the placebo is given during week 1 and the medication in week 2.
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
| Apple Sauce | Kirkland | 897971 | Vehicle for oral medications |
| Computer | Dell | Optiplex 5040 | Acquisition computer |
| E-4031 | Tocris | 1808 | Agent known to prolong the QT interval |
| ECG Electrode | RhythmLink | RLSND116-2.5 | 13mm 35-degree bent (0.4 mm diameter) subdermal pin electrodes |
| EEG Electrode | RhythmLink | RLSP513 | 5-twist 13mm straight (0.4mm diameter) subdermal pin electrodes |
| EEGLAB (2020) | Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience | Open Access | Can perform spectral analysis of EEG |
| Ethernet-to-ethernet adapter | Linksys | USB3G16 | Adapter for connecting the camera to the computer |
| LabChart Pro (2019, Version 8.1.16) | ADInstruments | N/A | ECG Analysis |
| MATLAB (R2019b, Update 5) | MathWorks | N/A | Required to run EEGLAB |
| Microphone | Sony Stereo | ECM-D570P | Recording of audible manifestions of seizures |
| Natus NeuroWorks | Natus | LC101-8 | Acquisition and review software |
| Plastic wire organizer / bundler | 12Vwire.com | LM-12-100-BLK | Bundle wires to cut down on noise |
| PVC pipe | Generic | N/A | Prevents small rabbits from kicking their hind legs and causing spinal injury |
| Quantum Amplifier | Natus | 13926 | Amplifier / digitizer |
| Quantum HeadBox Amplifier | Natus | 22134 | 64-pin breakout box |
| Rabbit Restrainer | Plas-Labs | 501-TC | Various size rabbit restrainers are available. 6" x 18" x 6" in this study. |
| Rubber pad (booster) | Generic | N/A | Raises small rabbits up in the restrainer to prevent neck compression |
| SpO2 ear clip | NONIN | 61000 | PureSAT/SpO2 |
| SpO2 sensor adapter | NONIN | 13931 | XPOD PureSAT/SpO2 |
| SRG-X120 1080p PTZ Camera with HDMI, IP & 3G-SDI Output | Sony | SRG-X120 | Impela Camera |
