Modeling Brain Metastases Through Intracranial Injection and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This intracranial injection protocol is significant because it allows precise injections, day-to-day monitoring, and accurate tumor volume measurement for more effective study of mechanisms of brain metastasis. The main advantage of this technique is that it allows for serial monitoring of intercranial tumor growth. Demonstrating the procedure will be Jonathan Spehar, a graduate research associate from the Sizemore Laboratory, and Anna Bratasz, an imaging research scientist from the Ohio State University Small Animal Imaging Shared Resource.

Before beginning the procedure, twist the stage lock on the drill to allow a drill bit adapter and sterile one millimeter drill bit to be inserted into the drill and manually tighten the bit locks to lock the drill. Attach the drill to the stereotactic frame and set the digital injector delivery rate to 0.4 microliters per minute, with a target of two microliters. After confirming a lack of response to pedal reflex, place the anesthetized mouse onto the frame and use the blunt end of a cotton tip applicator to position the teeth in the trough of the mouth bar.