Functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of the Rat Barrel Cortex During Whisker Stimulation

Abstract

Source: Blanc, J., et al. Functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at 7 T in the Rat Barrel Cortex During Whisker Activation. J. Vis. Exp. (2019)

This video demonstrates the method of analyzing metabolic changes in the rat barrel cortex using functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy during whisker stimulation. Baseline metabolite spectra are compared with stimulated spectra to detect lactate increase in the barrel cortex, confirming successful neuronal activation.

Protocol

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

1. Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BOLD fMRI) Acquisition

1. Place the rat brain so that it is in an upright position and use the ear bars to maintain it. Place the volume array coil above the rat’s head (Figure 1A) and fix it using tape. Check that the sail is moving correctly (anteroposterior movement, no rotation, and no friction of sail) when the air-puff system is turned On; then, switch it Off.
2. Insert the bed a....

Results

Figure 1: BOLD fMRI. (A) Volume array coil placement. The rat head is in a horizontal position and .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1H spectroscopy surface coil	Bruker, Ettlingen, Germany	T116344
7T Bruker Biospec system	Bruker, Ettlingen, Germany	70/20 USR
Isoflurane pump, Model 100 series vaporizer, classic T3	Surgivet, Harvard Apparatus	WWV90TT	From OH 43017, U.S.A
Isoflurane, liquid for inhalation	Vertflurane, Virbac, France	QN01AB06	1000 mg/mL
Medetomidine hydrochloride	Vétoquinol, S.A., France	QN05CM91	Domitor, 1 mg/mL
Paravision software	Bruker, Ettlingen, Germany	6.0.1
Rat head coil	Bruker, Ettlingen, Germany
Wistar RJ-Han rats	Janvier Laboratories, France