Brain Surgeries in Rodents - Stereotaxy

At 4Brain we use stereotactic surgeries to precisely target specific regions in the brain using a 3D coordinate system. This method we combine with different techniques, whuch as injections, implantations, ect. to achieve answers to our different research questions.

What is stereotaxy?

Already many decades ago an atlas was made of the mouse and rat brain. This atlas shows all the brain regions with there respective X, Y and Z coordinates respective to Bregma and Lambda, critical anatomical landmarks on the skull. With a stereotactical frame these landmarks can be set as reference and then the coordinates can be followed to precisely target a region of interest.

This approach allows us to accurate and reproducible target even the smallest of brain structures.

Stereotaxy @ 4BRAIN

At 4BRAIN we use this method in combination with different techniques to achieve answers to different research questions. Some of the techniques we perform are stereotactical …

• … injections of kaïnic acid to create a chronical rodent epilepsy model.

• … injections of tumor cells to create a rodent tumor model.

• … injection of viral vectors. These virusses are used as a method to deliver genes to specific cell types. The stereotactical surgeries allow us to combine this with a implantation of EEG recording electrodes, to measure brain activity, and, if needed, an implantation of a light fiber to activate or silence neurons.

• … implantations of stimulation and recording electrodes give us the oportunity to measure evoked potentials in the chosen region. This can also be combined with viral vectors and a light fiber.

• Etc.