Generating Virus-Induced Neuroinflammation in a Mouse Model

Abstract

Source: Laval, K. et al. Mouse Footpad Inoculation Model to Study Viral-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses. J. Vis. Exp. (2020).

This video demonstrates the generation of neuroinflammation in a mouse model. An anesthetized mouse with micro-wounds is taken, and an inoculum of pseudorabies virus (PRV) is applied to the wounds. The virus infects the peripheral nerves, spreads to the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and further infects the spinal cord and brain. Infection of neurons in the nervous system leads to an immune response that induces neuronal damage, leading to neuroinflammation.

Protocol

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

1. Mouse foot pad abrasion

1. Anesthetize a C57BL/6 mouse (5–7 weeks old) with isoflurane gas anesthetic, delivered at a dosage of 3% via a small anesthesia system (chamber).
   1. Place the mouse in the surgical plane of anesthesia on its back, prior to inoculation, in the hind footpad. Attach a nose cone with a diaphragm (a slit sufficiently sized to fit the muzzle of the animal) to the mouse and deliver isoflurane gas anesthetic at a constant dos....

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
C57BL/6 mice (5-7 weeks)	The Jackson Laboratories
Disposable sterile polystyrene petri dish 100 x 15 mm	Sigma-Aldrich	P5731500
Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)	Hyclone, GE Healthcare life Sciences	SH30022
Dulbecco's Phophate Buffer Saline (PBS) solution	Hyclone, GE Healthcare life Sciences	SH30028
Fetal bovine serum (FBS)	Hyclone, GE Healthcare life Sciences	SH30088
Fine curved scissors stainless steel	FST	14095-11
Isothesia Isoflurane	Henry Schein	NDC 11695-6776-2
Microcentrifuge tube 2ml	Denville Scientific	1000945
Microtube 1.5ml	SARSTEDT	72692005
Penicillin/Streptomycin	Gibco	154022
Precision Glide needle 18G	BD	305196