Name: acrylic resin molding based head fixation technique in rodents
Uploaded: 2016-01-12T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Acrylic Resin Molding Based Head Fixation Technique in Rodents at JoVE.com

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the NRF funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2010-0022362) and (2012R1A2A2A02046812).

Ethics Statement: 
This experiment was approved by the Kyungpook National University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and was performed according to Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Institute of Health, 1996). After experiment, animals were sacrificed under carbon dioxide euthanasia.
1. Design of the Head-fixation Bar for Rats
NOTE: This step is a general guideline for a fixation bar design. Any modification...

<ol>
	<li>Mayrhofer, J. 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=Novel+two-alternative+forced+choice+paradigm+for+bilateral+vibrotactile+whisker+frequency+discrimination+in+head-fixed+mice+and+rats.">Novel two-alternative forced choice paradigm for bilateral vibrotactile whisker frequency discrimination in head-fixed mice and rats.</a> J Neurophysiol. 109, 273-284 (2013).</li><li>Bryant, J. L., Roy, S., Heck, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+technique+for+stereotaxic+recordings+of+neuronal+activity+in+awake,+head-restrained+mice.">A technique for stereotaxic recordings of neuronal activity in awake, head-restrained mice.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 178, 75-79 (2009).</li><li>Ollerenshaw, D. R., 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=Detection+of+tactile+inputs+in+the+rat+vibrissa+pathway.">Detection of tactile inputs in the rat vibrissa pathway.</a> J Neurophysiol. 108, 479-490 (2012).</li><li>Lee, M. G., Manns, I. D., Alonso, A., Jones, B. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sleep-wake+related+discharge+properties+of+basal+forebrain+neurons+recorded+with+micropipettes+in+head-fixed+rats.">Sleep-wake related discharge properties of basal forebrain neurons recorded with micropipettes in head-fixed rats.</a> J Neurophysiol. 92, 1182-1198 (2004).</li><li>Lutcke, H., 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=Optical+recording+of+neuronal+activity+with+a+genetically-encoded+calcium+indicator+in+anesthetized+and+freely+moving+mice.">Optical recording of neuronal activity with a genetically-encoded calcium indicator in anesthetized and freely moving mice.</a> Front Neural Circuits. 4, 9 (2010).</li><li>Dombeck, D. A., Khabbaz, A. N., Collman, F., Adelman, T. L., Tank, D. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+large-scale+neural+activity+with+cellular+resolution+in+awake,+mobile+mice.">Imaging large-scale neural activity with cellular resolution in awake, mobile mice.</a> Neuron. 56, 43-57 (2007).</li><li>Kimura, R., 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=Reinforcing+operandum:+rapid+and+reliable+learning+of+skilled+forelimb+movements+by+head-fixed+rodents.">Reinforcing operandum: rapid and reliable learning of skilled forelimb movements by head-fixed rodents.</a> Journal of neurophysiology. 108, 1781-1792 (2012).</li><li>Hadlock, T., Kowaleski, J., Mackinnon, S., Heaton, J. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+method+of+head+fixation+for+the+study+of+rodent+facial+function.">A novel method of head fixation for the study of rodent facial function.</a> Experimental neurology. 205, 279-282 (2007).</li><li>Roh, M., Jang, I. S., Lee, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Push-in+Head+Restraining+Apparatus+for+Intracranial+Self+Stimulation+Tasks+in+Rats.">Push-in Head Restraining Apparatus for Intracranial Self Stimulation Tasks in Rats.</a> Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. 18, 103-108 (2014).</li><li>Schwarz, 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=The+head-fixed+behaving+rat--procedures+and+pitfalls.">The head-fixed behaving rat--procedures and pitfalls.</a> Somatosensory &amp; motor research. 27, 131-148 (2010).</li><li>Guo, Z. V., 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=Procedures+for+Behavioral+Experiments+in+Head-Fixed+Mice.">Procedures for Behavioral Experiments in Head-Fixed Mice.</a> PLoS ONE. 9, (2014).</li><li>Osborne, J. E., Dudman, J. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RIVETS:+a+mechanical+system+for+in+vivo+and+in+vitro+electrophysiology+and+imaging.">RIVETS: a mechanical system for in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology and imaging.</a> PLoS One. 9, e89007 (2014).</li></ol>

This protocol demonstrates a simple and convenient head fixation method using materials at hand. For physically successful head fixation, the first critical steps during surgery is to rinse and dry the skull surface clearly before applying the dental adhesive resin cement. Second, this method does not uses screws implanting under temporal muscles and only depends on the screws on the skull, their perpendicular implantation against the surface of skull rim is crucial10. This reduces the possibility of accidenta...

Head fixation or head restraining is a technique of immobilizing the animal&#39;s head by attaching a frame or plate on the skull for rigid clamping. The technique has been adopted for precise sensory stimulation, behavioral sensing with or without neural recording in awake animals1-3 and for juxtacellular labeling during sleep-wake cycle4. It is also used for in vivo brain imaging5,6. Now head fixation technique is a commonly used tool in neuroscience and behavioral research.
Basically, traditional head fixation requires surgical attachment of metal head-posts on top of the skull6-8. The attachments are then clamped to a stationary platform, resulting in immobilization of the head. Neurophysiological research in awake animals such as neural and/or optical recording, brain circuitry intervention, brain imaging is accompanied by implantation surgery using dental acrylics. Therefore, it seems a simple task to implement the head fixation in those laboratories when it is experimentally necessary. The frames should be designed to be light-weight and small enough not to disturb animal&#8217;s natural behavior in their home cages. It also provides mechanical rigidity when clamped to the stationary platform. It further has biocompatibility depending on experimental purposes. Therefore, it is technically difficult to design and fabricate such head-posts in general laboratory equipment.
In this study, a novel head fixation method is described, providing mechanical rigidity through convenient clamping without using metal head-posts. By using the method, head fixation could be done under general laboratory conditions, where implantation surgery is usually performed in rodents for brain study. The metal head-posts are replaced with acrylic resin cement molded partially by a custom-made head fixation bar and the molding process is done during implantation surgery. The fixation bar provides high spatial compatibility with other implants, such as neural recording probes, stimulation electrodes. Also it simplifies steps of clamping the animal&#8217;s head on the fixation platform by removing screw-fastening. We used this method in the previous behavioral study and we concluded that this method is easy to implement and convenient in practical experimentation9.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="901">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:231px;">Dental acrylic resin</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Lang Dental Manufacturing</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Ortho-Jet</td>
			<td style="width:343px;">to make molded mounter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:231px;">Paraffin film</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Bemis</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Parafilm</td>
			<td>to prevent adhesion of acrylic resin to the bar</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:231px;">Dental adhesive</td>
			<td style="width:199px;">Sun Medical</td>
			<td style="width:129px;">Super-Bond C&#38;B</td>
			<td>to bond between acrylic resin and skull</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:231px;">Plexglass or other acrylic plate</td>
			<td style="width:199px;"></td>
			<td style="width:129px;"></td>
			<td>to make fixation bar and box platform</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:231px;">Cyanoacrylate</td>
			<td style="width:199px;"></td>
			<td style="width:129px;"></td>
			<td>to bond acrylic plates</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

acrylic resin molding based head fixation technique in rodents

Head fixation is a technique of immobilizing animal's head by attaching a head-post on the skull for rigid clamping. Traditional head fixation requires surgical attachment of metallic frames on the skull. The attached frames are then clamped to a stationary platform resulting in immobilization of the head. However, metallic frames for head fixation have been technically difficult to design and implement in general laboratory environment. In this study, we provide a novel head fixation method. Using a custom-made head fixation bar, head mounter is constructed during implantation surgery. After the application of acrylic resin for affixing implants such as electrodes and cannula on the skull, additional resins applied on top of that to build a mold matching to the port of the fixation bar. The molded head mounter serves as a guide rails, investigators conveniently fixate the animal&#8217;s head by inserting the head mounter into the port of the fixation bar. This method could be easily applicable if implantation surgery using dental acrylics is necessary and might be useful for laboratories that cannot easily fabricate CNC machined metal head-posts.

This head fixation method is applicable to both rats and mice. Total eight rats received bilateral implantation of stimulating electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle. For four out of them, customized tungsten wire electrodes (microdrives) were additionally implanted into the M1 forelimb area (Figure 2C). For mice (n = 2), four stainless steel wire electrodes were implanted into frontal/occipital cortical areas. During surgery, head mounters were molded for head fixation in both rats and mice, as des...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Acrylic Resin Molding Based Head Fixation Technique in Rodents at JoVE.com

Acrylic Resin Molding Based Head Fixation Technique in Rodents

Traditional head fixation techniques have used metallic frames attached on the skull as an interface for head fixation apparatus. This protocol demonstrates a frameless, acrylic resin molding based head fixation technique for behavioral tasks in rodents.

Head fixation is a technique of immobilizing animal's head by attaching a head-post on the skull for rigid clamping. Traditional head fixation requires ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Whole Animal Perfusion Fixation for Rodents

The goal of fixation is to rapidly and uniformly preserve tissue in a life-like state. While placing tissue directly in fixative works well for small ...

A Low Cost Setup for Behavioral Audiometry in Rodents

In auditory animal research it is crucial to have precise information about basic hearing parameters of the animal subjects that are involved in the ...

Recording and Analysis of Circadian Rhythms in Running-wheel Activity in Rodents

When rodents have free access to a running wheel in their home cage, voluntary use of this wheel will depend on the time of day1-5. Nocturnal rodents, ...

Transplantation of Olfactory Ensheathing Cells to Evaluate Functional Recovery after Peripheral Nerve Injury

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are neural crest cells which allow growth and regrowth of the primary olfactory neurons. Indeed, the primary olfactory ...

Deep Brain Stimulation with Simultaneous fMRI in Rodents

In order to visualize the global and downstream neuronal responses to deep brain stimulation (DBS) at various targets, we have developed a protocol for ...

Transcranial Electrical Brain Stimulation in Alert Rodents

Transcranial electrical brain stimulation can modulate cortical excitability and plasticity in humans and rodents. The most common form of stimulation in ...

Intracranial Pharmacotherapy and Pain Assays in Rodents

Pain is a salient sensory experience with affective and cognitive dimensions. However, central mechanisms for pain remain poorly understood, hindering the ...

The Power of Interstimulus Interval for the Assessment of Temporal Processing in Rodents

Temporal processing deficits have been implicated as a potential elemental dimension of higher-level cognitive processes, commonly observed in ...

A Revised Surgical Approach to Induce Endolymphatic Hydrops in the Guinea Pig

Endolymphatic hydrops is an enlargement of scala media that is most often associated with Meniere&#39;s disease, though the pathophysiologic mechanism(s) ...

Low-intensity Blast Wave Model for Preclinical Assessment of Closed-head Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Rodents

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a large-scale public health problem. Mild TBI is the most prevalent form of neurotrauma and accounts for a large number of ...