JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments
Neuroscience
0 views • 3:28 min • June 17th, 2025
Begin with an anesthetized rat on the magnetic resonance imaging or MRI bed.
The rat’s head is angled to expose the left barrel cortex, a sensory region connected to the right whiskers, which are fastened with tape.
Secure a radiofrequency detector coil above the rat’s head.
Position the MRI bed inside the scanner and image to confirm proper brain positioning.
Perform an MRI scan and obtain a structural brain image. Compare it with a functional MRI image showing activated regions after whisker stimulation.
Then, perform localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or MRS to measure baseline metabolite activity in neurons.
Initiate airflow to move the right whiskers, activating the barrel cortex neurons.
To sustain this activation, astrocytes produce lactate, a neuronal metabolite, and supply it to neurons.
Repeat proton MRS and compare the stimulated and baseline spectra. An increased lactate peak after stimulation confirms successful barrel cortex activation.
To correctly position the surface coil for proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy or MRS, rotate the head approximately 30 degrees clockwise so that the surface coil can be placed just above the left barrel cortex in a horizonta
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