Stereotaxic Surgery for Implantation of Microelectrode Arrays in the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Samuel  Alexander Budoff; José  Firmino Rodrigues Neto; Valéria Arboés; Manuela Sales Lima Nascimento; Carolina Bione Kunicki; Mariana Ferreira Pereira de Araújo

doi:10.3791/60240

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Method Article

Stereotaxic Surgery for Implantation of Microelectrode Arrays in the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

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DOI:

10.3791/60240

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September 29th, 2019

Samuel Alexander Budoff^*¹^,² , José Firmino Rodrigues Neto^*¹ , Valéria Arboés¹ , Manuela Sales Lima Nascimento¹ , Carolina Bione Kunicki¹ , Mariana Ferreira Pereira de Araújo¹^,³

¹Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience, Santos Dumont Institute, ²Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, ³Department of Physiological Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espírito Santo

^* These authors contributed equally

Summary

This work presents a protocol to perform a stereotaxic, neurosurgical implantation of microelectrode arrays in the common marmoset. This method specifically enables electrophysiological recordings in freely behaving animals but can be easily adapted to any other similar neurosurgical intervention in this species (e.g., cannula for drug administration or electrodes for brain stimulation).

Abstract

Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are small non-human primates that are gaining popularity in biomedical and preclinical research, including the neurosciences. Phylogenetically, these animals are much closer to humans than rodents. They also display complex behaviors, including a wide range of vocalizations and social interactions. Here, an effective stereotaxic neurosurgical procedure for implantation of recording electrode arrays in the common marmoset is described. This protocol also details the pre- and postoperative steps of animal care that are required to successfully perform such a surgery. Finally, this protocol shows an example of local field potential and spike activity recordings in a freely behaving marmoset 1 week after the surgical procedure. Overall, this method provides an opportunity to study the brain function in awake and freely behaving marmosets. The same protocol can be readily used by researchers working with other small primates. In addition, it can be easily modified to allow other studies requiring implants, such as stimulating electrodes, microinjections, implantation of optrodes or guide cannulas, or ablation of discrete tissue regions.

Introduction

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are gaining recognition as an important model organism in many fields of research, including neuroscience. These new-world primates represent an important complementary animal model to both rodents and other non-human primates (NHPs), such as the rhesus macaque. Like rodents, these animals are small, easy to manipulate, and relatively economical to care for and breed¹^,²^,³^,⁴, as compared with larger NHPs. Furthermore, these animals have a propensity for twinning and high fecundity relative to oth....