Inducing Local Demyelination in the Optic Nerve Using Lysolecithin

Abstract

Source: You, Y. et al., Visual Evoked Potential Recording in a Rat Model of Experimental Optic Nerve Demyelination. J. Vis. Exp. (2015)

This video demonstrates the procedure of surgically accessing the optic nerve in an anesthetized animal and precisely delivering lysolecithin to induce focal demyelination, creating neuropathological conditions for further study.

Protocol

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

1. Optic Nerve Injection

1. Anesthetize the animal with an intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (75 mg/kg) and medetomidine (0.5 mg/kg).
   NOTE: Following induction of anesthesia, observe the withdrawal reflexes (pinch test, corneal and palpebral reflex, etc.) and their absence as an indication to begin surgery. Continually monitor animals throughout the surgery and administer the additional anesthetic drug (10% of the initial keta....

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Ketamine 100 mg/ml (Ketamil)	Troy Laboratories	AC 116
Medetomidine 1 mg/ml (Domitor)	Pfizer	sc-204073
Homoeothermic blanket system	Harvard Apparatus	NC9203819
Hamilton syringe	Hamilton	87930
Lysolecithin	Sigma	L4129
Evan's blue	Sigma	E2129