Reinforced thinned-skull window for repeated imaging of the neonatal mouse brain.

ABSTRACT: Significance: Two-photon microscopy is a powerful tool for in vivo imaging of the mammalian brain at cellular to subcellular resolution. However, resources that describe methods for imaging live newborn mice have remained sparse. Aim: We describe a non-invasive cranial window procedure for longitudinal imaging of neonatal mice. Approach: We demonstrate construction of the cranial window by iterative shaving of the calvarium of P0 to P12 mouse pups. We use the edge of a syringe needle and scalpel blades to thin the bone to ∼15-μm thickness. The window is then reinforced with cyanoacrylate glue and a coverslip to promote stability and optical access for at least a week. The head cap also includes a light-weight aluminum flange for head-fixation during imaging.

SUBMITTER: Coelho-Santos V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9163199 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature