We acknowledge the following funding sources: NIH NINDS &#8211; K08NS101122 (JB), R01NS040337 (JK), R01NS044370 (JK), University of Virginia School of Medicine (JB).

All animal studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the University of Virginia.
1. Electrode building/cable building
<ol>
	<li>Use a unipolar insulated stainless-steel wire (0.005&#8221; bare diameter, 0.008&#8221; coated) to make an electrode that is connected with a female socket connector (female receptacle connector 0.079).</li>
	<li>Use a special custom-made cable to connect animals to the amplifier.
	<ol>
		<li>Attach a male 4-pin connector (Male connector 0.079&#8221;) to 4 channel unity gain impedance matching operational amplifier (op-amp). Attach a 10K resistor to the wires that connect to the 9 V battery. A ground wire not connected to the op-amp acts as the midpoint of the battery.</li>
		<li>Connect one end of the cable (AWG, 0.012&#8221; OD) to the op-amp and connect the other end of the cable to the amplifier.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Electrode implantation surgery
<ol>
	<li>Anesthetize the pup (postnatal day 9) with 4-5% isoflurane in a downward flow hood. Prior to the start of the procedure, inject the pups with bupivacaine (0.02-0.05 mL, 0.25% subcutaneous local infiltration).</li>
	<li>Once the animal is immobile, transfer to a stereotactic stage with a nose cone. Use the reverse side of the ear bar as it is soft to hold the head steady. At this age, pups do not have a fully developed ear to use the pointed end of the ear bar.</li>
	<li>Turn down the flow of isoflurane and maintain it at 2.5-3%. Keep an eye on steady breathing of the pup throughout the surgery procedure. Pinch the tail to check pain response and then proceed to incision.</li>
	<li>Sterilize the incision area on the skull with betadine and alcohol (3 cycles of alternating iodine and 70% ethanol). Drape the surrounding body part such that the incision region is visible.</li>
	<li>Open the scalp anterior-posterior from slightly above the eyes and retract approximately 0.5&#160;cm of skin. Reposition the mouse head on the stereotaxic stage so that the skin pulls outward exposing skull.</li>
	<li>Apply hydrogen peroxide on the skull using a cotton swab and scrape the skull clean using a scalpel blade. The skull is very soft; exercise caution while scraping.</li>
	<li>Apply one drop (approximately 50 &#181;L) of adhesive and spread it around the exposed skull area using its applicator. Expose to UV light for 40 s to set the adhesive.</li>
	<li>Measure the coordinates using the exposed bregma as the reference. Implant electrodes bilaterally in the CA1 region of hippocampus [-3.5 mm Dorsal-Ventral (DV), &#177;2 mm Medial-Lateral (ML), -1.75 mm Deep (D)] and bilaterally in the parietal cortex [-1.22 mm DV, &#177;0.5 mm ML, -1 mm D] and a reference electrode in the cerebellum17. Use a 32 G needle to create a hole at the marked region.</li>
	<li>Clean the blood from the surface of the skull. Lower electrodes attached to the female socket connector into the brain with the help of the stereotaxic arm and fix in place with dental acrylic. Implant the electrode in the brain. The socket connector headset sits on top of the skull glued together by dental acrylic.</li>
	<li>Inject ketoprofen (5 mg/kg) subcutaneously in the interscapular region once the electrode is fixed. Place the pups back with the mother. 
	NOTE: Introduce half of the litter with the headset at once to the mother rather than introducing them one at a time. This will prevent from mother damaging the pup&#8217;s headset.</li>
</ol>
3. EEG setup and recording (baseline/pre-injury)
<ol>
	<li>After 24 h of recovery after electrode implantation, place each animal in a heated (37 &#176;C) custom-made Plexiglas chamber for EEG recording. This chamber will also serve as a hypoxia chamber.</li>
	<li>Connect pups in the chamber to a video-EEG monitoring system via a flexible cable (custom made op-amp cable). 
	NOTE: With the headset in place, the mice are freely mobile and do not exhibit any differences in behavior. Once attached to the electrode wires, the wires must be adjusted within the chamber tether in order to provide the right amount of slack so that the pup can freely move throughout the chamber.</li>
	<li>Digitize the EEG data at 1000 Hz with 1K gain using a grass amplifier. Review the EEG signal (band pass filter between 3-70 Hz) later using software (e.g., LabChart Pro).</li>
	<li>Record a pre-injury baseline EEG for 30 minutes prior to disconnecting animals for carotid artery ligation procedure.</li>
</ol>
4. Left carotid artery ligation
<ol>
	<li>Anesthetize the pup (postnatal day 10) with 4-5% isoflurane in a downward flow hood and place them on specially arranged setup on a waterbath pad. Position the animal supine and secure the forelimbs with paper tape.
	<ol>
		<li>Lower the flow of isoflurane to 2-3%. Pinch the tail for pain response and monitor breathing throughout procedure.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Sterilize the incision area (between mandible and the clavicle) on the left side of the neck with betadine and alcohol (3 cycles of alternating iodine and 70% ethanol).</li>
	<li>Make an approximately 1 cm long incision on the left side of the neck using microscissors. Using a dissecting microscope, carefully retract the subcutaneous tissue and skin to expose the carotid artery. Take care to identify the vagus nerve (running lateral to the artery) and delicately separate and retract it from the artery.</li>
	<li>Thread a 5 cm long sterile silk suture under the artery using microforceps. Tie a double knotted suture around the artery to occlude flow.</li>
	<li>Cut the excess suture and close the exposed artery by pulling back the subcutaneous tissue and skin. Use vet bond to seal the incision.</li>
	<li>Place the animal back on continuous EEG monitoring in a chamber at room temperature, which is placed on a warming mattress. Take spot infrared temperature checks of pup core temperature to avoid opening the chamber. Allow the animal to recover for 1 h prior to hypoxia.</li>
</ol>
5. EEG and hypoxia
<ol>
	<li>Continuously monitor FiO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen) within the chamber via an oxygen monitor.</li>
	<li>Flush the chamber with 60 L/min of 100% N2 and 0.415 L/min for 100% O2. Once the oxygen saturation in the chamber reaches 12%, decrease the N2 flow to 10 L/min while keeping the O2 flow unchanged. With small adjustments, maintain the FiO2 at 8% for 45 min.</li>
	<li>After 45 min of hypoxia exposure, return FiO2 to 21%.</li>
	<li>Have pups recover in chamber and monitor on EEG for 2 h post-hypoxia.</li>
	<li>After completion of recording period, disconnect mice from EEG recording and return to the mother.</li>
</ol>
6. EEG analysis
<ol>
	<li>Analyze the EEG file with video in LabChart Pro. Have a blinded researcher mark the EEG for seizures and background patterns17. Seizures are defined as an electrographic event lasting greater than 10 seconds with high frequency rhythmic sharp wave discharges (&#8805;3x baseline) with clear evolution17.</li>
	<li>Have a second blinded researcher review marked events at random for agreement.</li>
	<li>Review associated video for each marked electrographic event and analyze according to the neonatal rodent behavioral seizure score16. Briefly, this score ranges from 0-6 (immobility to severe tonic-clonic behavior). To further characterize seizure semiology, analyze behavior for laterality (multifocal/bilateral movements vs. focal/unilateral vs. mixed).</li>
	<li>Create a power spectrogram. Use a Fast Fourier Transform with a Cosine-Bell data window with a size of 1024 data points. Create a smooth x-axis in the spectrogram with the help of a window overlap of 87.5%. Express the power as &#181;V218.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Vasudevan, C., Levene, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epidemiology+and+aetiology+of+neonatal+seizures.">Epidemiology and aetiology of neonatal seizures.</a> Seminars in Fetal &amp; Neonatal Medicine. , (2013).</li><li>Volpe, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neonatal+Seizures.">Neonatal Seizures.</a> Volpe's Neurology of the Newborn. , 275-321 (2018).</li><li>Shankaran, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Network+EKSNNR.+Childhood+outcomes+after+hypothermia+for+neonatal+encephalopathy.">Network EKSNNR. Childhood outcomes after hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy.</a> New England Journal of Medicine. 366 (22), 2085-2092 (2012).</li><li>Pappas, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cognitive+outcomes+after+neonatal+encephalopathy.">Cognitive outcomes after neonatal encephalopathy.</a> Pediatrics. 135 (3), 624-634 (2015).</li><li>van Schie, P. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long-term+motor+and+behavioral+outcome+after+perinatal+hypoxic-ischemic+encephalopathy.">Long-term motor and behavioral outcome after perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.</a> European Journal of Paediatric Neurology. 19 (3), 354-359 (2015).</li><li>Rensing, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Longitudinal+analysis+of+developmental+changes+in+electroencephalography+patterns+and+sleep-wake+states+of+the+neonatal+mouse.">Longitudinal analysis of developmental changes in electroencephalography patterns and sleep-wake states of the neonatal mouse.</a> PLoS One. 13 (11), 1-17 (2018).</li><li>Rice, J. E., Vannucci, R. C., Brierley, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+influence+of+immaturity+on+hypoxic-ischemic+brain+damage+in+the+rat.">The influence of immaturity on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in the rat.</a> Annals of Neurology. 9 (2), 131-141 (1981).</li><li>Burnsed, J. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hypoxia-ischemia+and+therapeutic+hypothermia+in+the+neonatal+mouse+brain--a+longitudinal+study.">Hypoxia-ischemia and therapeutic hypothermia in the neonatal mouse brain--a longitudinal study.</a> PLoS One. 10 (3), 0118889 (2015).</li><li>Semple, B. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Brain+development+in+rodents+and+humans:+Identifying+benchmarks+of+maturation+and+vulnerability+to+injury+across+species.">Brain development in rodents and humans: Identifying benchmarks of maturation and vulnerability to injury across species.</a> Progress in Neurobiology. , 1-16 (2013).</li><li>Comi, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gabapentin+neuroprotection+and+seizure+suppression+in+immature+mouse+brain+ischemia.">Gabapentin neuroprotection and seizure suppression in immature mouse brain ischemia.</a> Pediatric Research. 64 (1), 81-85 (2008).</li><li>Comi, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+model+of+stroke+and+ischemic+seizures+in+the+immature+mouse.">A new model of stroke and ischemic seizures in the immature mouse.</a> Pediatric Neurology. 31 (4), 254-257 (2004).</li><li>Kadam, S. D., White, A. M., Staley, K. J., Dudek, F. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Continuous+Electroencephalographic+Monitoring+with+Radio-Telemetry+in+a+Rat+Model+of+Perinatal+Hypoxia-Ischemia+Reveals+Progressive+Post-Stroke+Epilepsy.">Continuous Electroencephalographic Monitoring with Radio-Telemetry in a Rat Model of Perinatal Hypoxia-Ischemia Reveals Progressive Post-Stroke Epilepsy.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 30 (1), 404-415 (2010).</li><li>Burnsed, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neuronal+Circuit+Activity+during+Neonatal+Hypoxic+-+Ischemic+Seizures+in+Mice.">Neuronal Circuit Activity during Neonatal Hypoxic - Ischemic Seizures in Mice.</a> Annals of Neurology. 86, 927-938 (2019).</li><li>Sampath, D., White, A. M., Raol, Y. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+neonatal+seizures+in+an+animal+model+of+hypoxic-ischemic+encephalopathy.">Characterization of neonatal seizures in an animal model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.</a> Epilepsia. 55 (7), 985-993 (2014).</li><li>Sampath, D., Valdez, R., White, A. M., Raol, Y. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anticonvulsant+effect+of+flupirtine+in+an+animal+model+of+neonatal+hypoxic-ischemic+encephalopathy.">Anticonvulsant effect of flupirtine in an animal model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.</a> Neuropharmacology. 123, 126-135 (2017).</li><li>Kang, S. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=and+sex-dependent+susceptibility+to+phenobarbital-resistant+neonatal+seizures:+role+of+chloride+co-transporters.">and sex-dependent susceptibility to phenobarbital-resistant neonatal seizures: role of chloride co-transporters.</a> Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 9, 1-16 (2015).</li><li>Zanelli, S., Goodkin, H. P., Kowalski, S., Kapur, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Impact+of+transient+acute+hypoxia+on+the+developing+mouse+EEG.">Impact of transient acute hypoxia on the developing mouse EEG.</a> Neurobiology of Disease. 68, 37-46 (2014).</li><li>Lewczuk, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=EEG+and+behavior+patterns+during+experimental+status+epilepticus.">EEG and behavior patterns during experimental status epilepticus.</a> Epilepsia. 59 (2), 369-380 (2017).</li><li>Wu, D., Martin, L. J., Northington, F. J., Zhang, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Oscillating+gradient+diffusion+MRI+reveals+unique+microstructural+information+in+normal+and+hypoxia-ischemia+injured+mouse+brains.">Oscillating gradient diffusion MRI reveals unique microstructural information in normal and hypoxia-ischemia injured mouse brains.</a> Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. 72 (5), 1366-1374 (2014).</li></ol>

We have presented a model for continuous video-EEG monitoring in neonatal mice during hypoxic-ischemic seizures. Video analysis in conjunction with EEG allows characterization of seizure semiology. Analysis of EEG allows for extraction of power spectrograms and background amplitude analysis.
Correct and careful placement of electrodes is crucial in this protocol, as injury during electrode placement or inaccurate placement can significantly affect results. Assessment of normal baseline EEG act...

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a condition that affects 1.5 in 1000 newborns annually and is the most common cause of neonatal seizures1,2. Infants who survive are at risk for various neurological disabilities such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and epilepsy3,4,5.
Animal models play a critical role in understanding and investigating the pathophysiology of hypoxia ischemia and neonatal seizures6,7. A modified Vannucci model is used to induce hypoxia ischemia (HI) on postnatal day 10 (p10)7,8. Mouse pups of this age translate neurologically roughly to the full term human neonate9.
Continuous video electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring used in conjunction with this injury model allows for further understanding and characterization of neonatal hypoxic ischemic seizures. Previous studies have used various methods for analyzing neonatal seizures in rodents, including video recordings, limited EEG recordings and telemetry EEG recordings10,11,12,13,14,15,16. In the following manuscript, we discuss in depth the process of recording continuous video EEG in mouse pups during hypoxia-ischemia. This technique for continuous video EEG monitoring in neonatal mouse pups could be applied to a variety of disease and seizure models.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>SURGERY</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ball Point Applicator</td>
			<td>Metrex Research</td>
			<td>8300-F</td>
			<td>i-bond applicator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cranioplast (Powder/Resin)</td>
			<td>Coltene</td>
			<td>H00383</td>
			<td>Perm Reline/Power</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>I-Bond</td>
			<td>Kulzer GmbH, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LOOK Silk Suture</td>
			<td>Surgical Specialities Corporation</td>
			<td>SP115</td>
			<td>LOOK SP115 Black Braided Silk Non absorbable surgical suture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RS-5168 Botvin Forceps</td>
			<td>Roboz Surgical Instrument</td>
			<td>RS5168</td>
			<td>Forcep for surgery/ligation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RS-5138 Graefe Forceps</td>
			<td>Roboz Surgical Instrument</td>
			<td>RS5138</td>
			<td>Forcep for surgery/ligation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>UV light for I-Bond</td>
			<td>Blast Lite By First Media</td>
			<td>BL778</td>
			<td>UV ligth for I-bond</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vannas Microdissecting Scissor</td>
			<td>Roboz Surgical Instrument</td>
			<td>RS5618</td>
			<td>Scissor for ligation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vet Bond</td>
			<td>3M Vetbond</td>
			<td>1469SB</td>
			<td>Vet Glue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HYPOXIA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hypoxidial</td>
			<td>Starr Life Science</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oxygen sensor</td>
			<td>Medical Products</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>MiniOxI- oxygen analyzer/sensor for hypoxia rig</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EEG RECORDING</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Female receptacle connector 0.079&#34;</td>
			<td>Mill-Max Manufacturing Corp</td>
			<td>832-10-024-10-001000</td>
			<td>Ordered from Digikey</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Grass Amplifier</td>
			<td>Natus Neurology Incorporated</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Grass Product</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LabChart Pro</td>
			<td>ADI Instruments</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Software to run the system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Male Socket Connector 0.079&#34;</td>
			<td>Mill-Max Manufacturing Corp</td>
			<td>833-43-024-20-001000</td>
			<td>Ordered from Digikey</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Operational Amplifier</td>
			<td>Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX, USA</td>
			<td>TLC2274CD</td>
			<td>TLC2274 Quad Low&#8208;Noise Rail&#8208;to Rail Operational Amplifier</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Operational Amplifier</td>
			<td>Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX, USA</td>
			<td>TLC2272ACDR</td>
			<td>TLC2274 Quad Low&#8208;Noise Rail&#8208;to Rail Operational Amplifier</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stainless Steel wire</td>
			<td>A-M Systems</td>
			<td>791400</td>
			<td>0.005&#34; Bare/0.008&#34; Coated 100 ft</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultra-Flexible Wire</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>9564T1</td>
			<td>36 Gauze wire of various color</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

continuous video electroencephalogram during hypoxia-ischemia in neonatal mice

Hypoxia ischemia is the most common cause of neonatal seizures. Animal models are crucial for understanding the mechanisms and physiology underlying neonatal seizures and hypoxia ischemia. This manuscript describes a method for continuous video electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring in neonatal mice to detect seizures and analyze EEG background during hypoxia ischemia. Use of video and EEG in conjunction allows description of seizure semiology and confirmation of seizures. This method also allows analysis of power spectrograms and EEG background pattern trends over the experimental time period. In this hypoxia ischemia model, the method allows EEG recording prior to injury to obtain a normative baseline and during injury and recovery. Total monitoring time is limited by the inability to separate pups from the mother for longer than four hours. Although, we have used a model of hypoxic-ischemic seizures in this manuscript, this method for neonatal video EEG monitoring could be applied to diverse disease and seizure models in rodents.

Seizure semiology
Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia exposure results in both generalized and focal seizures in mice (Figure 1A-C). Video EEG recordings allow electrographic findings to be correlated to behavior on video. These behaviors were scored using a previously published neonatal rodent behavioral seizure score (BSS)16. In addition to BSS, we categorized events based on whether the behavior was focal/unilateral, bila...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Continuous Video Electroencephalogram during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Mice at JoVE.com

Continuous Video Electroencephalogram during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Mice

This manuscript describes a method for continuous video EEG recordings using multiple depth electrodes in neonatal mice undergoing hypoxia-ischemia.

Hypoxia ischemia is the most common cause of neonatal seizures. Animal models are crucial for understanding the mechanisms and physiology underlying ...

continuous-video-electroencephalogram-during-hypoxia-ischemia

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

3.3K Views.  University of Virginia. This manuscript describes a method for continuous video EEG recordings using multiple depth electrodes in neonatal mice undergoing hypoxia-ischemia.

Video: Continuous Video Electroencephalogram during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Mice

Video-oculography in Mice

Eye movements are very important in order to track an object or to stabilize an image on the retina during movement. Animals without a fovea, such as the mouse, have a limited capacity to lock their eyes onto a target. In contrast to these target directed eye movements, compensatory ocular eye movements are easily elicited in afoveate animals1,2,3,4. Compensatory ocular movements are generated by processing vestibular and optokinetic information into a command signal that will drive the eye muscles. The processing of the vestibular and optokinetic information can be investigated separately and together, allowing the specification of a deficit in the oculomotor system. The oculomotor system can be tested by evoking an optokinetic reflex (OKR), vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) or a visually-enhanced vestibulo-ocular reflex (VVOR). The OKR is a reflex movement that compensates for "full-field" image movements on the retina, whereas the VOR is a reflex eye movement that compensates head movements. The VVOR is a reflex eye movement that uses both vestibular as well as optokinetic information to make the appropriate compensation. The cerebellum monitors and is able to adjust these compensatory eye movements. Therefore, oculography is a very powerful tool to investigate brain-behavior relationship under normal as well as under pathological conditions (f.e. of vestibular, ocular and/or cerebellar origin).
Testing the oculomotor system, as a behavioral paradigm, is interesting for several reasons. First, the oculomotor system is a well understood neural system5. Second, the oculomotor system is relative simple6; the amount of possible eye movement is limited by its ball-in-socket architecture ("single joint") and the three pairs of extra-ocular muscles7. Third, the behavioral output and sensory input can easily be measured, which makes this a highly accessible system for quantitative analysis8. Many behavioral tests lack this high level of quantitative power. And finally, both performance as well as plasticity of the oculomotor system can be tested, allowing research on learning and memory processes9.
Genetically modified mice are nowadays widely available and they form an important source for the exploration of brain functions at various levels10. In addition, they can be used as models to mimic human diseases. Applying oculography on normal, pharmacologically-treated or genetically modified mice is a powerful research tool to explore the underlying physiology of motor behaviors under normal and pathological conditions. Here, we describe how to measure video-oculography in mice8.

Video-oculography is a very quantitative method to investigate ocular motor performance as well as motor learning. Here, we describe how to measure video-oculography in mice. Applying this technique on normal, pharmacologically-treated or genetically modified mice is a powerful research tool to explore the underlying physiology of motor behaviors.

Eye movements are very important in order to track an object or to stabilize an image on the retina during movement. Animals without a fovea, such as the ...

Neonatal Subventricular Zone Electroporation

Neural stem cells (NSCs) line the postnatal lateral ventricles and give rise to multiple cell types which include neurons, astrocytes, and ependymal cells1. Understanding the molecular pathways responsible for NSC self-renewal, commitment, and differentiation is critical for harnessing their unique potential to repair the brain and better understand central nervous system disorders. Previous methods for the manipulation of mammalian systems required the time consuming and expensive endeavor of genetic engineering at the whole animal level2. Thus, the vast majority of studies have explored the functions of NSC molecules in vitro or in invertebrates.
Here, we demonstrate the simple and rapid technique to manipulate neonatal NPCs that is referred to as neonatal subventricular zone (SVZ) electroporation. Similar techniques were developed a decade ago to study embryonic NSCs and have aided studies on cortical development3,4 . More recently this was applied to study the postnatal rodent forebrain5-7. This technique results in robust labeling of SVZ NSCs and their progeny. Thus, postnatal SVZ electroporation provides a cost and time effective alternative for mammalian NSC genetic engineering.

We demonstrate a minimally invasive technique referred to as neonatal subventricular zone electroporation. The technique consists of injecting plasmid DNA into the lateral ventricles of neonatal pups and applying electrical current to deliver and genetically manipulate neural stem cells

Neural stem cells (NSCs) line the postnatal lateral ventricles and give rise to multiple cell types which include neurons, astrocytes, and ependymal ...

Neonatal Pial Surface Electroporation

Over the past several years the pial surface has been identified as a germinal niche of importance during embryonic, perinatal and adult neuro- and gliogenesis, including after injury. However, methods for genetically interrogating these progenitor populations and tracking their lineages had been limited owing to a lack of specificity or time consuming production of viruses. Thus, progress in this region has been relatively slow with only a handful of investigations of this location. Electroporation has been used for over a decade to study neural stem cell properties in the embryo, and more recently in the postnatal brain. Here we describe an efficient, rapid, and simple technique for the genetic manipulation of pial surface progenitors based on an adapted electroporation approach. Pial surface electroporation allows for facile genetic labeling and manipulation of these progenitors, thus representing a time-saving and economical approach for studying these cells.

The pial surface is a unique progenitor zone in the CNS that is receiving increasing attention. Herein, we detail a method for rapid genetic manipulation of this progenitor zone using a modified electroporation method. This procedure can be used for cellular and molecular investigations of cell lineages and signaling pathways involved in cell differentiation and to elucidate the fate and properties of daughter cells.

Over the past several years the pial surface has been identified as a germinal niche of importance during embryonic, perinatal and adult neuro- and ...

Intracerebroventricular Viral Injection of the Neonatal Mouse Brain for Persistent and Widespread Neuronal Transduction

With the pace of scientific advancement accelerating rapidly, new methods are needed for experimental neuroscience to quickly and easily manipulate gene expression in the mouse brain. Here we describe a technique first introduced by Passini and Wolfe for direct intracranial delivery of virally-encoded transgenes into the neonatal mouse brain. In its most basic form, the procedure requires only an ice bucket and a microliter syringe. However, the protocol can also be adapted for use with stereotaxic frames to improve consistency for researchers new to the technique. The method relies on the ability of adeno-associated virus (AAV) to move freely from the cerebral ventricles into the brain parenchyma while the ependymal lining is still immature during the first 12-24 hr after birth. Intraventricular injection of AAV at this age results in widespread transduction of neurons throughout the brain. Expression begins within days of injection and persists for the lifetime of the animal. Viral titer can be adjusted to control the density of transduced neurons, while co-expression of a fluorescent protein provides a vital label of transduced cells. With the rising availability of viral core facilities to provide both off-the-shelf, pre-packaged reagents and custom viral preparation, this approach offers a timely method for manipulating gene expression in the mouse brain that is fast, easy, and far less expensive than traditional germline engineering.

Here we demonstrate a technique for widespread neuronal transduction by intraventricular injection of adeno-associated virus into the neonatal mouse brain. This method provides a rapid and easy way to attain lifelong expression of virally-delivered transgenes.

With the pace of scientific advancement accelerating rapidly, new methods are needed for experimental neuroscience to quickly and easily manipulate gene ...

A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice

Cold hypersensitivity is a serious clinical problem, affecting a broad subset of patients and causing significant decreases in quality of life. The cold plantar assay allows the objective and inexpensive assessment of cold sensitivity in mice, and can quantify both analgesia and hypersensitivity. Mice are acclimated on a glass plate, and a compressed dry ice pellet is held against the glass surface underneath the hindpaw. The latency to withdrawal from the cooling glass is used as a measure of cold sensitivity.
Cold sensation is also important for survival in regions with seasonal temperature shifts, and in order to maintain sensitivity animals must be able to adjust their thermal response thresholds to match the ambient temperature. The Cold Plantar Assay (CPA) also allows the study of adaptation to changes in ambient temperature by testing the cold sensitivity of mice at temperatures ranging from 30 &#176;C to 5 &#176;C. Mice are acclimated as described above, but the glass plate is cooled to the desired starting temperature using aluminum boxes (or aluminum foil packets) filled with hot water, wet ice, or dry ice. The temperature of the plate is measured at the center using a filament T-type thermocouple probe. Once the plate has reached the desired starting temperature, the animals are tested as described above.
This assay allows testing of mice at temperatures ranging from innocuous to noxious. The CPA yields unambiguous and consistent behavioral responses in uninjured mice and can be used to quantify both hypersensitivity and analgesia. This protocol describes how to use the CPA to measure cold hypersensitivity, analgesia, and adaptation in mice.

The Cold Plantar Assay (CPA) measures cold responsiveness between 30 &#176;C and 5 &#176;C, and can also measure cold adaptation. This protocol describes how to use the CPA to measure cold hypersensitivity, analgesia, and adaptation in mice.

Cold hypersensitivity is a serious clinical problem, affecting a broad subset of patients and causing significant decreases in quality of life.  The cold ...

Utilizing Combined Methodologies to Define the Role of Plasma Membrane Delivery During Axon Branching and Neuronal Morphogenesis

During neural development, growing axons extend to multiple synaptic partners by elaborating axonal branches. Axon branching is promoted by extracellular guidance cues like netrin-1 and results in dramatic increases to the surface area of the axonal plasma membrane. Netrin-1-dependent axon branching likely involves temporal and spatial control of plasma membrane expansion, the components of which are supplied through exocytic vesicle fusion. These fusion events are preceded by formation of SNARE complexes, comprising a v-SNARE, such as VAMP2 (vesicle-associated membrane protein 2), and plasma membrane t-SNAREs, syntaxin-1 and SNAP25 (synaptosomal-associated protein 25). Detailed herein isa multi-pronged approach used to examine the role of SNARE mediated exocytosis in axon branching. The strength of the combined approach is data acquisition at a range of spatial and temporal resolutions, spanning from the dynamics of single vesicle fusion events in individual neurons to SNARE complex formation and axon branching in populations of cultured neurons. This protocol takes advantage of established biochemical approaches to assay levels of endogenous SNARE complexes and Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy of cortical neurons expressing VAMP2 tagged with a pH-sensitive GFP (VAMP2-pHlourin) to identify netrin-1 dependent changes in exocytic activity in individual neurons. To elucidate the timing of netrin-1-dependent branching, time-lapse differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy of single neurons over the order of hours is utilized. Fixed cell immunofluorescence paired with botulinum neurotoxins that cleave SNARE machinery and block exocytosis demonstrates that netrin-1 dependent axon branching requires SNARE-mediated exocytic activity.

Light microscopy techniques coupled with biochemical assays elucidate the involvement of SNARE-mediated exocytosis in netrin-dependent axon branching. This combination of techniques permits identification of molecular mechanisms controlling axon branching and cell shape change.

During neural development, growing axons extend to multiple synaptic partners by elaborating axonal branches. Axon branching is promoted by extracellular ...

Video Imaging and Spatiotemporal Maps to Analyze Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice

The enteric nervous system (ENS) plays an important role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility and can function independently of the central nervous system. Changes in ENS function are a major cause of GI symptoms and disease and may contribute to GI symptoms reported in neuropsychiatric disorders including autism. It is well established that isolated colon segments generate spontaneous, rhythmic contractions known as Colonic Migrating Motor Complexes (CMMCs). A procedure to analyze the enteric neural regulation of CMMCs in ex vivo preparations of mouse colon is described. The colon is dissected from the animal and flushed to remove fecal content prior to being cannulated in an organ bath. Data is acquired via a video camera positioned above the organ bath and converted to high-resolution spatiotemporal maps via an in-house software package. Using this technique, baseline contractile patterns and pharmacological effects on ENS function in colon segments can be compared over 3-4 hr. In addition, propagation length and speed of CMMCs can be recorded as well as changes in gut diameter and contraction frequency. This technique is useful for characterizing gastrointestinal motility patterns in transgenic mouse models (and in other species including rat and guinea pig). In this way, pharmacologically induced changes in CMMCs are recorded in wild type mice and in the Neuroligin-3R451C mouse model of autism. Furthermore, this technique can be applied to other regions of the GI tract including the duodenum, jejunum and ileum and at different developmental ages in mice.

This article describes a video imaging technique and high-resolution spatiotemporal mapping to identify changes in the neural regulation of colonic motility in adult mice. Subtle effects on gastrointestinal (GI) function can be detected using this approach in isolated tissue preparations to advance our understanding of GI disease.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) plays an important role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility and can function independently of the central ...

Recording EEG in Freely Moving Neonatal Rats Using a Novel Method

EEG is a useful method to detect electrical activity in the brain. Moreover, it is a widely used diagnostic tool for various neurological conditions, such as epilepsy and neurodegenerative disorders. However, it is technically difficult to obtain EEG recordings in neonates as it requires specialized handling and great care. Here, we present a novel method to record EEG in neonatal rat pups (P8-P15). We designed a simple and reliable electrode using computer pin loci; it can be easily implanted into the skull of a rat pup to record high-quality EEG signals in the normal and epileptic brain. Pups were given an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the neurotoxin kainic acid (KA) to induce epileptic seizures. The surgical implantation performed in this procedure is less expensive than other EEG procedures for neonates. This method allows one to record high-quality and stable EEG signals for more than 1 week. Furthermore, this procedure can also be applied to adult rats and mice to study epilepsy or other neurological disorders.

Here, we introduce a novel technique designed to record electroencephalography (EEG) in freely moving neonatal epileptic pups and describe its procedures, features, and applications. This method allows one to record EEG for more than 1 week.

EEG is a useful method to detect electrical activity in the brain. Moreover, it is a widely used diagnostic tool for various neurological conditions, such ...

Spinal Cord Neurons Isolation and Culture from Neonatal Mice

We present a protocol for the isolation and culture of spinal cord neurons. The neurons are obtained from neonatal C57BL/6 mice and are isolated on postnatal day 1-3. A mouse litter, usually 4-10 pups born from one breeding pair, is gathered for one experiment, and spinal cords are collected individually from each mouse after euthanasia with isoflurane. The spinal column is dissected out and then the spinal cord is released from the column. The spinal cords are then minced to increase the surface area of delivery for an enzymatic protease that allows for the neurons and other cells to be released from the tissue. Trituration is then used to release the cells into solution. This solution is subsequently fractionated in a density gradient to separate the various cells in solution, allowing for neurons to be isolated. Approximately 1-2.5 x 106 neurons can be isolated from one litter group. The neurons are then seeded onto wells coated with adhesive factors that allow for proper growth and maturation. The neurons take approximately 7 days to reach maturity in the growth and culture medium and can be used thereafter for treatment and analysis.

This study presents a technique for the isolation of neurons from WT neonatal mice. It requires the careful dissection of the spinal cord from the neonatal mouse, followed by the separation of neurons from the spinal cord tissue through mechanical and enzymatic cleavage.

We present a protocol for the isolation and culture of spinal cord neurons. The neurons are obtained from neonatal C57BL/6 mice and are isolated on ...

In Vivo Two-photon Imaging of Cortical Neurons in Neonatal Mice

Two-photon imaging is a powerful tool for the in vivo analysis of neuronal circuits in the mammalian brain. However, a limited number of in vivo imaging methods exist for examining the brain tissue of live newborn mammals. Herein we summarize a protocol for imaging individual cortical neurons in living neonatal mice. This protocol includes the following two methodologies: (1) the Supernova system for sparse and bright labeling of cortical neurons in the developing brain, and (2) a surgical procedure for the fragile neonatal skull. This protocol allows the observation of temporal changes of individual cortical neurites during neonatal stages with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Labeled cell-specific gene silencing and knockout can also be achieved by combining the Supernova with RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing systems. This protocol can, thus, be used for analyzing the developmental dynamics of cortical neurons, molecular mechanisms that control the neuronal dynamics, and changes in neuronal dynamics in disease models.

In Vivo Two-photon Imaging of Cortical Neurons in Neonatal Mice

We present an in vivo two-photon imaging protocol for imaging the cerebral cortex of neonatal mice. This method is suitable for analyzing the developmental dynamics of cortical neurons, the molecular mechanisms that control the neuronal dynamics, and the changes in neuronal dynamics in disease models.

Two-photon imaging is a powerful tool for the in vivo analysis of neuronal circuits in the mammalian brain. However, a limited number of in vivo imaging ...