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Neuromethods 121
In Vivo Neuro-
pharmacology
and Neuro-
physiology
NEUROMETHODS
Series Editor
Wolfgang Walz
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Edited by
Athineos Philippu
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Editor
Athineos Philippu
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University of Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Austria
Experimental life sciences have two basic foundations: concepts and tools. The Neuromethods
series focuses on the tools and techniques unique to the investigation of the nervous system
and excitable cells. It will not, however, shortchange the concept side of things as care has
been taken to integrate these tools within the context of the concepts and questions under
investigation. In this way, the series is unique in that it not only collects protocols but also
includes theoretical background information and critiques which led to the methods and
their development. Thus it gives the reader a better understanding of the origin of the
techniques and their potential future development. The Neuromethods publishing program
strikes a balance between recent and exciting developments like those concerning new ani-
mal models of disease, imaging, in vivo methods, and more established techniques, includ-
ing, for example, immunocytochemistry and electrophysiological technologies. New
trainees in neurosciences still need a sound footing in these older methods in order to apply
a critical approach to their results.
Under the guidance of its founders, Alan Boulton and Glen Baker, the Neuromethods
series has been a success since its first volume published through Humana Press in 1985. The
series continues to flourish through many changes over the years. It is now published under
the umbrella of Springer Protocols. While methods involving brain research have changed a
lot since the series started, the publishing environment and technology have changed even
more radically. Neuromethods has the distinct layout and style of the Springer Protocols
program, designed specifically for readability and ease of reference in a laboratory setting.
The careful application of methods is potentially the most important step in the process
of scientific inquiry. In the past, new methodologies led the way in developing new disci-
plines in the biological and medical sciences. For example, Physiology emerged out of
Anatomy in the nineteenth century by harnessing new methods based on the newly discov-
ered phenomenon of electricity. Nowadays, the relationships between disciplines and meth-
ods are more complex. Methods are now widely shared between disciplines and research
areas. New developments in electronic publishing make it possible for scientists that
encounter new methods to quickly find sources of information electronically. The design of
individual volumes and chapters in this series takes this new access technology into account.
Springer Protocols makes it possible to download single protocols separately. In addition,
Springer makes its print-on-demand technology available globally. A print copy can there-
fore be acquired quickly and for a competitive price anywhere in the world.
v
Preface
vii
Contents
PART I STEREOTAXY
1 Principles of Stereotaxy in Small Animals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Ariane Hornick and Athineos Philippu
ix
x Contents
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
Contributors
xi
xii Contributors
Stereotaxy
Chapter 1
Abstract
Under the methods of background research to study neuronal communication in the central nervous
system (CNS) connected to its vital functions, learning and degenerative processes are techniques that
enable in vivo stimulation and determination of neurotransmitters and second messengers in the brain of
small animals, mainly rats and mice.
In distinct brain areas, the collection of samples, measurement of signaling molecules, and recording
responses to manipulation from and in the brain area of interest can be reached by various techniques. The
distinct brain area is reached using brain coordinates that are documented in brain maps of these rodents.
For this purpose, the head of an anaesthetized animal is fixed in a stereotaxic frame and either a microdialysis
probe or an amperometric sensor, a modified push–pull cannula (PPC), a cannula for intracerebroventricu-
lar- (i.c.v.) and micro-injections, or electrodes are inserted stereotactically with skull-flat orientation.
A microdrive is used for the exact insertion of the device into the brain tissue or brain ventricle through a
hole in the skull. The experiment may be carried out in anesthetized or conscious, freely moving animals. At
the end of the experiment the brain is removed from the skull of the sacrificed animal—prior anesthetized if
the experiment was carried out on a conscious animal—and kept in order to validate histologically correct
localization of the inserted device.
Key words Brain map, Coordinates, In vivo, Microdrive, Skull-flat orientation, Stereotaxy, Stereotaxic
frame
1 Introduction
In the last years, young scientists have often asked the corresponding
author “how can I learn carrying out brain research using stereo-
tactic frames for exact insertion of probes and electrodes”? The
usual reply was “go for some weeks to somebody who carries out
routinely stereotactic operations”. Our scope is now the detailed
description of all necessary manipulations so that the reader may
get all information he needs. This guide may be adequate for this
purpose or at least it may help him to be familiar with the stereo-
tactic techniques he will be confronted with when visiting the
expert. As far as we know, this is the first attempt to describe
Athineos Philippu (ed.), In Vivo Neuropharmacology and Neurophysiology, Neuromethods, vol. 121,
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4939-6490-1_1, © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017
3
4 Ariane Hornick and Athineos Philippu
2 Theoretical Aspects
Fig. 1 Modified push–pull cannula with guide cannula and stylet. A PPC
(blue/red)—a short double-wall cannula—implanted into the brain (brown). The
brain area is superfused smoothly with aCSF that is pushed through the inner
cannula (black arrow—in). The liquid rises in the outer cannula because of the
adhesion to the cannula wall. The upper end of the outer cannula is open so that
pressure at the superfused area remains unchanged. The aCSF is quickly
removed by a pump through a branch of outer arm (black arrow—out) so as to
avoid decomposition of endogenous transmitters during the transport. An elec-
trode (violet) may be inserted into the outer cannula for electrical stimulation or
EEG and potential recordings. The green elements denote the guide cannula nec-
essary for chronic PPC implantation
2.2 Stereotactic For the precise insertion of a device in flat-skull position, the use of
Coordinates a brain atlas is essential [27, 28]. For rat, the stereotactic maps
illustrate coronal sections of the brain at intervals of about 0.25 mm
in anterior–posterior (AP) direction. For every slide its median-
lateral (ML) and dorsal-ventral (DV) coordinates are depicted. In
addition, sections of the saggital and horizontal plane are pictured.
The atlas for rat brain corresponds to male adult Wistar rats [27],
for male mice to the C57BL/J6 strain [28]. Coordinates have to
be slightly adjusted to sex differences, strains, and weight.
As an example localization of the nucleus accumbens shell
(Acbsh) of a rat is indicated in Fig. 2 for the three directions:
anterior–posterior from bregma (AP), lateral from the midline
(ML), and ventral from the dorsal cortical surface (VD).
In order to find the way through the skull to the targeted area
of the brain, the coordinates have to be transferred to the skullcap.
The illustration in dorsal and lateral views of rat skull in horizontal
position with the incisor bar as a fixed and the intraaural line
6 Ariane Hornick and Athineos Philippu
Fig. 2 Stereotactic coordinates of rat brain [27]. Cross indicates the end position of a PPC tip at the Acbsh (AP
1.2, ML 1.8, DV 8.2)
2.3 Stereotactic Once the coordinates are known, the head of the animal is fixed in
Frame and Mounted the stereotactic frame (Fig. 4) with the ear bars (Fig. 5). The micro-
Microdrive drive (Fig. 6) is mounted in 90° position to the frame. The microdrive
is versatile in three dimensions: AP, ML, and DV. There is a 50 mm
of AP travel and 30 mm of ML travel and may be set by means of
a 0.1 mm calibrated vernier scale. The mounting to the frame
allows a fast AP movement on both sides and may be fixed at every
possible starting position needed. A holder mounted also in 90°
position to the microdrive allows the vertical insertion (Fig. 6).
A complete setup is shown in Fig. 7.
Principles of Stereotaxy 7
Fig. 3 Illustration of the rat skull in flat-skull position: dorsal and lateral view. The red dot indicates the stereo-
tactically drilled hole in the skull so as to reach the Acbsh [27]
Fig. 4 Stereotactic frame for small animals (David Kopf) with base plate, frame
bar, microdrive for (A) anterior–posterior adjustment (coronal planes), (B) lateral
adjustment (saggital planes), (C) holder for fixing of devices with depth adjust-
ment, (D) holder with driller, (E) incisor bar, (F) ear bar
8 Ariane Hornick and Athineos Philippu
Fig. 5 Stereotactic frame with mounted (A) ear bars for rats
Fig. 6 Microdrive with cannula holder (A) microdrive, (B) holder, (C) vertical ver-
nier adjustment (horizontal planes), (D) cannula holder
Principles of Stereotaxy 9
3.1 Anesthesia Kind of anesthesia and analgesia depend on kind of experiment and
and Analgesia species. Animals are closely and periodically checked under narco-
sis before and throughout procedure. Monitoring of respiratory
pattern, skin color, responses to manipulations, and the rear foot
reflex help to assess the depth of anesthesia.
During recovering period, the animal’s social, nocturnal, and
feeding behavior are important indicators for their well-being. For
detailed information see [29–31].
3.3 Chemicals Ethanol, formaldehyde, distilled and autoclaved water, and physi-
and Solutions ological saline solution.
10 Ariane Hornick and Athineos Philippu
4 Methods
4.1 Calibration The PPC or another appropriate device is fixed to the holder of the
of the Microdrive microdrive and the microdrive is positioned to one bar of a stereo-
to Zero Position tactic frame. With the help of a set square it is secured that micro-
of the Stereotactic drive with holder and PPC are vertical in AP and ML directions.
Frame The holder is lowered until the tip of PPC is between the ear bars
(Fig. 5). The AP, ML, and DV positions of the microdrive corre-
spond to the zero point of the stereotactic frame. The DV position
of the microdrive is necessary so as to check the correctness of the
DV when the skull surface is used as a reference point (see below).
When stereotactic atlases for cats or rabbits are used, the zero point
of the stereotactic frame corresponds to the zero point of the
atlases.
4.2 Stereotactic Before starting surgery, the instruments are sterilized and cannulae
Surgery autoclaved or if not possible disinfected with 70 % ethanol. The
operating table is set clear and clean.
Animal weight is scaled to calculate the dosage of anesthetics
and analgesics.
After the animal is successfully anesthetized its head is shaved
between ears and eyes. The ear bars (Fig. 5) are inserted as deeply
as possible into the external auditory canal and the animal fixed
with them to a stereotactic frame at the side of the head holder
which locates the head by means of a plate holder and incisor bar
(Figs. 4, 5, and 8). A nose clamp holds the head firmly in place in
the flat skull position. If necessary, the mouth is opened and the
tongue removed from the throat with a forcep. For mouse, an
adaptor (Fig. 8) is used with ear bar cups—to minimize breathing
problems associated with ear bar insertion—mounted on a dovetail
which can be moved up and down for correct position.
Fig. 8 Mouse adaptor with (A) incisor bar, (B) nose clamp
Principles of Stereotaxy 11
4.3 Adjustment After mounting the microdrive together with the holder to the
of Stereotaxic frame bar of the stereotaxic instrument, a dental driller is inserted
Coordinates in the holder of the Microdrive. The microdrive is moved and posi-
tioned exactly vertical above bregma. That is the position zero of
the stereotactic atlas. The microdrive is moved along the skull sur-
face from zero point to the calculated location by using the AP and
ML drive screws. First AP position from map coordinates and then
ML position is adjusted. This is the point for drilling a hole at
1 mm diameter gently into the skull. For small holes a hand driller
or pin vise driller is used. Because of possible bleedings, location at
skull suture should be avoided. The dura—if not already ripped by
the drilling procedure—is cautiously cut with a small sterile needle.
The dental driller is replaced by the PPC and the vertical position
is checked again with the set square. PPC is slowly lowered to the
calculated ventral coordinate and superfusion starts immediately.
An electrode may be placed within the outer cannula until it
reaches the superfused area.
4.4 Contra-, Mono-, For i.c.v.- or micro-injections into a distinct brain area, a stainless
and Bilateral steel cannula is mounted, adjusted, and stereotactically inserted as
Intracerebro- mentioned above. Drugs or vehicles are slowly injected using a
ventricular- or syringe connected to the stainless steel cannula via polyethylene
Micro-Injections tubing.
into Brain Tissue
spatula. Thus the cement forms a cap around the cannula and is
allowed to dry for 10–15 min. A stainless steel stylet is inserted
inside and slightly screwed together with the guide cannula to
maintain patency. The wound is closed with surgical staples
between the two plates of the guide cannula and the entire area
treated with triple antibiotic ointment. Instead of a guide cannula,
an electrode may be implanted for investigations in the awake state.
Screw-free, glue-based methods for implanting devices are avail-
able [32]. Electrodes are implanted without guide cannula.
The animal is removed from the stereotaxic frame to the cage
and recovers for 3–5 days prior to experiment. During their recov-
ering they are observed regarding behavior, drinking, feeding, and
whether the operated area is free from inflammatory processes. On
the day of experiment, the stylet is removed and the PPC inserted.
The final position of PPC or other devices should be 2 mm deeper
than the tip of the guide cannula. In this way, the devices reach an
intact brain area.
Drug solutions or vehicles are applied through the injector
connected to a syringe. At the end of the injection, the injector
remains in place for an additional minute to allow diffusion of the
drug away from the injector tip, after which the stylet is placed
again to prevent clogging.
For PPC superfusion, the inlet of the PPC is connected
through polyethylene tubing with a syringe-infusion pump, the
outlet is connected with a peristaltic pump. The brain is superfused
with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) or drugs dissolved in
aCSF. A fraction collector enables to collect continuously superfus-
ate in predefined time periods.
4.6 Histology At the end of the experiments, the animal is sacrificed by an over-
dose of anesthetics and is decapitated. The removed brain is
immersed in a solution of formaldehyde (4 %) for later histological
examination of brain slices to verify the correct localization of the
device. Serial coronal sections from anterior lobe to lesion tracks
are sliced in intervals of 50 μm with a cryostat. Every second slice
is collected to examine the localization. The slices are collected in
a water bath filled with isotonic solution and transferred with a
humid small brush to the microscope slide.
Slices are stained with cresylviolet (Nissl’s staining) [33, 34]. For
histological localization of cannulae inserted i.c.v. 10 μl trypan-blue
0.4 % are injected through the cannula before decapitation [35].
The lesion placement is evaluated under a light microscope
at low magnification. Also stimulation electrodes produce a small
slight lesion at the tip of the electrode through currents passing
through. Localizations of the devices are marked in stereotaxic
coordinates of the brain. Experiments with incorrect positions are
excluded from data analyses.
Principles of Stereotaxy 13
5 Notes
Acknowledgments
References
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Part II
Brain Function
Chapter 2
Abstract
The EEG is a highly sensitive marker for brain state, such as development, different states of consciousness,
and neuropsychiatric disorders. The classical spectral quantification of EEG suffers from requiring analysis
epochs of 1 s or more that may contain several, and potentially quite different brain-functional states.
Based on the identification of subsecond time periods of stable scalp electric fields, EEG microstate analysis
provides information about brain state on a time scale that is compatible with the speed of human informa-
tion processing. The present chapter reviews the conceptual underpinnings of EEG microstate analysis,
introduces the methodology, and presents an overview of the available empirical findings that link EEG
microstates to subjective experience and behavior under normal and abnormal conditions.
Key words EEG, Microstates, Networks, Working memory, State-dependent information processing,
Development
1 Introduction
The scope of the book with the title “In vivo Neuropharmacology
and Neurophysiology” is to present methods developed for and
applied to the study of the brain functions which create and form
subjective experience and behavior.
Our work in neurophysiology uses the electrically manifested
brain-functional states (the electroencephalogram; EEG) during
different stages of development and of consciousness in order to
investigate individual variance of subjective experiences and behav-
ior. We have discussed the subject on the basis of an integrative
brain model, a theoretical framework that in agreement with
related attempts [1, 2] proposes that the human brain is a self-
organizing system that creates individual variance of subjective
experiences and behavior on the basis of its biography (e.g.
[3–6]).
Athineos Philippu (ed.), In Vivo Neuropharmacology and Neurophysiology, Neuromethods, vol. 121,
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4939-6490-1_2, © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017
17
18 Thomas Koenig et al.
2.1 The EEG State Studies of information processing operations have shown differing
Dependency results depending on the momentary brain-functional state as mea-
of the Memory Driven sured with the EEG. In other words, the same information treated
Brain Information during different brain-functional states has different results in sub-
Processing jective experiences and behavior. The brain can be said to be in one
Operations: particular global functional state at each moment in time, however
The Concept complex that state might be [3].
of Multifactorially Based on the proposals of the model of the brain functions,
Defined Brain- which create and form subjective experiences and behavior we have
Functional States summarized:
with EEG State- (a) the brain-functional state as manifested in the scalp EEG
Dependent represents the level of achieved complexity and the level of the
Accessibility momentary excitability of the neuronal network (of the repre-
of Knowledge sentational network),
for the Organization (b) at each given age and time moment, a multifactorially and
of Behavior dynamically determined representational network is active and
thus, accessible as contents of working memory to the memory-
driven information processing operations for the organization
of behavior (EEG-state-dependent information processing)
and
(c) dynamically readjust via the continuously functioning memory-
driven information processing operations which underlie the
initiation of a non-unitary, adaptive orienting response and its
“habituation” and which are the pre-attentive operations
underlying allocation of attention [9].
This continuous readjustment of the brain-functional state
corresponds to the updating of working memory; it can be mea-
sured as EEG reactivity [4, 5, 10]; it reflects the dynamics of the
associative memory described as semantic priming and semantic
inhibition.
The functional state of the brain is reflected in numerous
subjective and objective parameters, among them brain electro-
magnetic activity (EEG). EEG offers a high sensitivity to state
changes as well as a high time resolution—down to split-second
range—that is adequate for the assessment of the brain functions of
perception, cognition, and emotion. The temporal–spatial EEG
20 Thomas Koenig et al.
2.2 From Macro EEG The central concepts described were developed on the basis of
States to Micro EEG research findings that have shown close relations between cogni-
States tive, emotional, and action styles with EEG macrostates during
development and during wakefulness and sleep as well as more
specifically with EEG macrostates during adult wakefulness.
However, the traditional method of quantifying EEG macrostates,
namely the spectral analysis of EEG, has the shortcoming that it is
typically based on analysis epochs that extend over periods that
may contain several, and potentially quite different brain-functional
states. In order to overcome this problem, so-called EEG micro-
states can be extracted, which provide information about brain
state on a time scale that is compatible with the speed of human
information processing.
Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
facility: www.gutenberg.org.