Refinement of a chronic cranial window implant in the rat for longitudinal in vivo two-photon fluorescence microscopy of neurovascular function.

ABSTRACT: Longitudinal studies using two-photon fluorescence microscopy (TPFM) are critical for facilitating cellular scale imaging of brain morphology and function. Studies have been conducted in the mouse due to their relatively higher transparency and long term patency of a chronic cranial window. Increasing availability of transgenic rat models, and the range of established behavioural paradigms, necessitates development of a chronic preparation for the rat. However, surgical craniotomies in the rat present challenges due to craniotomy closure by wound healing and diminished image quality due to inflammation, restricting most rat TPFM experiments to acute preparations. Long-term patency is enabled by employing sterile surgical technique, minimization of trauma with precise tissue handling during

SUBMITTER: Koletar MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6445076 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature