JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments
Neuroscience
0 views • 9:19 min • May 29th, 2025
Take anesthetized control mice and mice with restricted blood flow to the somatosensory cortex.
This restriction causes neuronal death and infarct formation in the brain, triggering microglial activation and peripheral immune cell infiltration.
The immune cells overexpress the mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO).
Secure the mice on the PET/CT scanner bed.
Perform a CT scan using a rotating X-ray source that passes X-rays through the mouse's body.
A detector captures the X-rays and processes them into images of major anatomical landmarks.
Inject a TSPO radiotracer via the tail vein.
The radiotracer travels to the infarct area and binds to TSPO in immune cells.
Perform a PET scan.
The radiotracer undergoes positron decay, emitting positrons that collide with nearby electrons to produce gamma rays.
A detector captures these rays and reconstructs a 3D image of the radiotracer distribution.
Visualize the overlaid PET/CT images to identify infarct areas with higher tracer uptake.
Begin by positioning the anesthetized mice prone on the PET/CT scanner bed, ensuring they are straightened and securely in the nose cones. Tape the head and body of each mouse to the bed with soft surgical tape, ens
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