Performing Laser-Induced Brain Injury in a Rat Model

Take an anesthetized rat placed on a rectal temperature-regulated heating pad to maintain its body temperature.

Remove the fur and disinfect the surgical site.

Next, secure the rat in a prone position on a stereotaxic unit.

Make a midline surgical incision. Then, expose the area between the skull reference points.

Position the laser appropriately above the right hemisphere to target the motor cortex.

Administer longer wavelength, high-energy light pulses to the exposed area of the skull, penetrating deeply into the motor cortex.

The tissue absorbs these pulses, causing localized heating and cellular damage, inducing brain injury.

After laser exposure, remove the rat from the stereotaxic unit.

Suture the surgical incision and return the rat to its cage.

Allow it to recover. The laser-induced brain injury rat model can be used for neurological analysis.