Concurrent Electroencephalographic and Local Field Potential Recordings in an Anesthetized Rat

Abstract

Source: Kang, S., et al. Concurrent Recording of Co-localized Electroencephalography and Local Field Potential in Rodent. J. Vis. Exp. (2017).

This video demonstrates the procedure for concurrent recordings of co-localized electroencephalography (EEG) and local field potentials (LFPs) in an anesthetized rat. The process involves preparing the rat and attaching stimulating electrodes to its whisker pads. An EEG spider electrode is placed on the rat's skull for surface EEG measurements. At the same time, a multi-channel microelectrode is inserted into a specific brain region through a burr hole in the skull to record neural activity from a localized brain area.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Co-localized EEG/LFP Setup

1. Clean and dry the skull surrounding the burr hole using a cotton swab.
2. Carefully place the conductive EEG paste on one flat side of an EEG spider electrode. Leave a small hole clear of the EEG paste on the spider electrode to allow a multi-laminar microelectrode to pass through the hole without contacting the paste and the spider electrode. This prevents electrical contact between the EEG electrode and the microelectrode.

Results

Figure 1: General setup for concurrent EEG/LFP recording. (A) The setup consists of a modified nose cone for ease of whisker pad stimulation under isoflurane anesthesia, two stimulating electrodes inserted into the whisker pad, a spider el.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Female Lister Hood rats	Charles Rivers
Spider electrode	Unimed Electrode Supplies Ltd	SCS24-426
EEG paste: Ten20	Unimed Electrode Supplies Ltd	10-20-S
Stereotaxic holder with dual micromanipulator arms: Dual Manipulator Stereotaxic Frame with 18° Ear Bars	WPI (World Precision Instruments)	502603
Stainless steel stimulating electrodes	PlasticsOne	E363/1/SPC
Isolated current stimulator	Made in House
16-channel micro-electrode, 100 μm spacing, area of each site 177 μm2	NeuroNexus	A1x16-10mm-100-177-A16
16-channel acute headstage	Tucker David Technologies Inc., TDT	RA16AC-Z
Pre-Amplifier: Z-Series 64-Channel Neuro-Digitizing Preamp	TDT	PZ5-64
Passive signal splitter: 32-Channel Splitter Box for PZ5	TDT	S-BOX_PZ5
Data acquisition unit: RZ2 BioAmp Processor. Z-Series 4-DSP ultra high performance processor	TDT	RZ2-4
Isoflurane	National Vet Services Limited	50878
Small animal isoflurane anaesthetic system	WPI	EZ-B800A
Thermostatic heating pad: Rat Blanket System 230V	Harvard Apparatus UK	50-7221-F
Ophthalmic ointment: Optixcare eye lube	Viovet	203865
Faraday cage	Newport Corporation	VIS-FDC-3600
Vibration isolation workstation: Vision IsoStation	Newport Corporation	M-VIS3660-RG4-325A
Oximeter Control Unit and sensor: MouseOxPlus, Starr Life Sciences Corp.	WPI	O15001
Transparent soft nose cone: Microflex Non-Rebreathing Unit with a Rat Nosecone	WPI	EZ-103A