Animal studies in clinical MRI scanners: A custom setup for combined fMRI and deep-brain stimulation in awake rats.

Autor: Derksen M; The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Rhemrev V; The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., van der Veer M; The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Jolink L; The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Zuidinga B; The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Mulder T; The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Reneman L; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Nederveen A; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Feenstra M; The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Willuhn I; The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: i.willuhn@nin.knaw.nl., Denys D; The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of neuroscience methods [J Neurosci Methods] 2021 Aug 01; Vol. 360, pp. 109240. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jun 05.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109240
Abstrakt: Background: In humans, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) cannot be used to its full potential to study the effects of deep-brain stimulation (DBS) on the brain due to safety reasons. Application of DBS in small animals is an alternative, but was hampered by technical limitations thus far.
New Method: We present a novel setup that extends the range of available applications by studying animals in a clinical scanner. We used a 3 T-MRI scanner with a custom-designed receiver coil and a restrainer to measure brain activity in awake rats. DBS electrodes made of silver were used to minimize electromagnetic artifacts. Before scanning, rats were habituated to the restrainer.
Results: Using our novel setup, we observed minor DBS-electrode artifacts, which did not interfere with brain-activity measurements significantly. Movement artifacts were also minimal and were not further reduced by restrainer habituation. Bilateral DBS in the dorsal part of the ventral striatum (dVS) resulted in detectable increases in brain activity around the electrodes tips.
Comparison With Existing Methods: This novel setup offers a low-cost alternative to dedicated small-animal scanners. Moreover, it can be implemented in widely available clinical 3 T scanners. Although spatial and temporal resolution was lower than what is achieved in anesthetized rats in high-field small-animal scanners, we obtained scans in awake animals, thus, testing the effects of bilateral DBS of the dVS in a more physiological state.
Conclusions: With this new technical setup, the neurobiological mechanism of action of DBS can be explored in awake, restrained rats in a clinical 3 T-MRI scanner.
(Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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