Implantation of an Electrode Assembly in a Mouse Brain for Electrophysiological Recording

Abstract

Source: Straub, J., et al. Preparation and Implantation of Electrodes for Electrically Kindling VGAT-Cre Mice to Generate a Model for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. J. Vis. Exp. (2021).

This video demonstrates a technique for implanting an electrode assembly into a mouse brain. The assembly contains bipolar electrodes to record activity from the hippocampus and a reference electrode to obtain baseline activity from the cerebellum. An anesthetized mouse is placed on a stereotaxic frame, and the electrode assembly is implanted in the target brain region. The animal is then allowed to recover before performing electrophysiological recording.

Protocol

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

1. Making headsets with two bipolar electrodes (Figure 1)

1. Cut 3.5 cm of stainless polytetrafluoroethylene-coated stainless-steel wire.
2. Strip about 1 mm of the insulation coat off the wire on both ends. Do not have too much of the wire stripped.
3. Put two pins on a vise holder with the bottom part of the pin that has a longer slit facing down.
4. Apply flux onto the stripped ends of the wire and onto the tops of the pins.
5. Tin the stripp....

Results

Figure 1: Key steps in EEG headset fabrication. (A) Appearance of the electrodes at the various steps in the protocol (numbers in the left match step). (B) A picture of the final product mounted in a homemade holder tha.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
16 Channel Extracellular Differential AC Amplifier (115V/60Hz)	AD Instruments	AM3500-115-60	Alternate EEG amplifier
363/CP PLUG COLLAR, PINS SLEEVE	P1 Technologies	363SLEEVPIN0NL	For electrode holder
Cable, 363-363 5CM - 100CM W/MESH 6TCM	P1 Technologies	363363XXXXCM004	mouse-to-commutator cable
CCTV cameras Qcwox HD Sony IR LED	Sony	QC-SP316
Commutator SL6C/SB (single brush)	P1 Technologies	8BSL6CSBC0MT	formerly Plastics One, Inc.
Current amplifier	A-M Systems	Model 2100
Dental cement	Stoelting	51459
Drill bits, #75, OD 0.310" LOC 130 PT	Kyocera	105-0210.310
E363/0 SOCKET CONTACT SKEWED	P1 Technologies	8IE3630XXXXE	pins for connector
iBond Self Etch glue	Kulzer	CE0197
MS363 PEDESTAL 2298 6 PIN WHITE	P1 Technologies	8K000229801F	EEG headset connector
Ohmeter	Simpson	260	High sensitivity
PowerLab 16/35 and LabChart Pro	AD Instruments	PL3516/P	Alternate EEG software
SomnoSuite	Kent Scientific Corp.	SS-01	anesthesia unit & RightTemp monitoring
Stereotactic drill and micromotor kit	Foredom Electric Co.	K.1070
Stereotactic frame	David Kopf Instruments	Model 940
Teflon-coated wire for depth electrode, OD 0.008'	A-M Systems	791400
VGAT-Cre mice on congenic C57BL/6J background	The Jackson Laboratory	664