What is the significance of inducing brain death in research?

Inducing brain death allows researchers to study the physiological and biochemical changes that occur in the brain, which can inform treatments for neurological conditions.

How is the balloon catheter used in this procedure?

The balloon catheter is inserted into the cranial cavity and inflated with saline to increase intracranial pressure, leading to neuronal death.

What precautions are taken during the surgical procedure?

Surgeons must avoid damaging the dura mater and surrounding brain tissue while performing the incision and drilling.

What are the observable effects of brain death in the mouse?

Observable effects include stiffening of the tail and cessation of breathing, indicating a loss of neurological function.

What ethical considerations are involved in this type of research?

Researchers must ensure that the experiments are justified and that the animals are treated humanely throughout the process.

Can this method be applied to other animal models?

While this method is demonstrated in mice, similar techniques may be adapted for use in other small animal models with appropriate modifications.

Inducing Brain Death in a Mouse Model Using a Balloon Catheter

JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments

Neuroscience

0 views • 2:06 min • July 8th, 2025

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Begin with an anesthetized mouse in the prone position, with its head shaved.

Make an incision in the skin over the head.

Drill a small hole in the skull, stopping just before the brain layer or dura mater to avoid damaging brain tissue.

Use blunt forceps to penetrate the final tissue bridge and remove any sharp edges.

Insert a balloon catheter through this opening, ensuring it is fully within the cranial cavity. This catheter is prefilled with saline and free of air.

Infuse additional saline through the catheter to gradually inflate the balloon, increasing intracranial pressure.

As the pressure rises, it compresses the brain's blood vessels, restricting blood flow and oxygen to neurons, leading to neuronal death.

This causes the mouse's tail to stiffen and breathing to stop, indicating brain death.

To induce brain death in the experimental animal, arrange the mouse to the prone position, and holding the skin with forceps, use surgical scissors to remove the skin from the skull. Drill a 1-millimeter caliber borehole, pair immediately above the left parietal cortex, and use blunt forceps to penetrate the final tissue bridge of the skull.

After removing any sharp edges, insert a balloon catheter prefilled with saline with all of the air evacuated. When the catheter is entirely within the cranial cavity, use a syringe pump to begin inflating the catheter at approximately 0.1 millimeters per minute over a period of 10 to 15 minutes. When brain death occurs, stop the inflation of the balloon catheter, and place a heating blanket over the mouse to avoid hypothermia.