A novel stereotaxic apparatus for neuronal recordings in awake head-restrained rats

Chaniary, Kunal D.; Baron, Mark S.; Robinson, Pete; Rice, Ann C.; Wetzel, Paul A.; Shapiro, Steven M.

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.02.025

“…On the first day of recordings, the head holder was clamped into a manufactured positioning mechanism via tapered grooves in its walls (Chaniary et al, 2011 ). The positioner is mounted onto a standard sized, commercial large animal stereotaxic frame.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Toward the present studies, we advanced techniques to record extracellular neuronal discharge activity from basal ganglia nuclei in dystonic rats without the requirement of ear bars and sedation (Chaniary et al, 2011 ) and developed objective EMG indicators of dystonia (Chaniary et al, 2008 ). For our animal model, we used the well-established jaundiced Gunn rat model which has clinical and pathological changes closely resembling human kernicterus (Byers et al, 1955 ; Perlstein, 1960 ; Volpe, 2008 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Neuronal Recordings in the Basal Ganglia in Normal and Dystonic Rats

Baron¹,

Chaniary²,

Rice³

et al. 2011

Front. Syst. Neurosci.

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Classical rate-based pathway models are invaluable for conceptualizing direct/indirect basal ganglia pathways, but cannot account for many aspects of normal and abnormal motor control. To better understand the contribution of patterned basal ganglia signaling to normal and pathological motor control, we simultaneously recorded multi-neuronal and EMG activity in normal and dystonic rats. We used the jaundiced Gunn rat model of kernicterus as our experimental model of dystonia. Stainless steel head fixtures were implanted on the skulls and EMG wires were inserted into antagonistic hip muscles in nine dystonic and nine control rats. Under awake, head-restrained conditions, neuronal activity was collected from up to three microelectrodes inserted in the principal motor regions of the globus pallidus (GP), subthalamic nucleus, and entopeduncular nucleus (EP). In normal animals, most neurons discharged in regular or irregular patterns, without appreciable bursting. In contrast, in dystonic animals, neurons discharged in slow bursty or irregular, less bursty patterns. In normal rats, a subset of neurons showed brief discharge bursts coinciding with individual agonist or antagonist EMG bursts. In contrast, in dystonics, movement related discharges were characterized by more prolonged bursts which persist over multiple dystonic co-contraction epics. The pattern of movement related decreases in discharge activity however did not differ in dystonics compared to controls. In severely dystonic rats, exclusively, simultaneously recorded units often showed abnormally synchronized movement related pauses in GP and bursts in EP. In conclusion, our findings support that slow, abnormally patterned neuronal signaling is a fundamental pathophysiological feature of intrinsic basal ganglia nuclei in dystonia. Moreover, from our findings, we suggest that excessive movement related silencing of neuronal signaling in GP profoundly disinhibits EP and in turn contributes to sustained, unfocused dystonic muscle contractions.

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“…Variations of the Go/No-go task have long been applied to electrophysiological, lesion and pharmacological studies 4– 7 . This type of behavioral task has a high level of construct validity and clinical utility when studying the brain motivation/reward pathways and behaviors such as impulsivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Go/No-Go task, a canonical paradigm in animal behavior and psychology, requires the subject to initiate an operant conditioned response during one stimulus (CS+) and withhold from such a response during the presence of the opposite type of stimulus (CS-) 1 , 3 . Variations of the Go/No-go task have long been applied to electrophysiological, lesion and pharmacological studies 4 – 7 . This type of behavioral task has a high level of construct validity and clinical utility when studying the brain motivation/reward pathways and behaviors such as impulsivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel variable delay Go/No-Go task to study attention, motivation and working memory in the head-fixed rodent

Dolzani

¹

,

Nakamura

²

,

Cooper

³

2014

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In order to parse the causal elements underlying complex behaviors and decision-making processes, appropriate behavioral methods must be developed and used in concurrence with molecular, pharmacological, and electrophysiological approaches. Presented is a protocol for a novel Go/No-Go behavioral paradigm to study the brain attention and motivation/reward circuitry in awake, head-restrained rodents. This experimental setup allows: (1) Pharmacological and viral manipulation of various brain regions via targeted guide cannula; (2) Optogenetic cell-type specific activation and silencing with simultaneous electrophysiological recording and; (3) Repeated electrophysiological single and multiple unit recordings during ongoing behavior. The task consists of three components. The subject first makes an observing response by initiating a trial by lever pressing in response to distinctive Go or No-Go tones. Then, after a variable delay period, the subject is presented with a challenge period cued by white noise during which they must respond with a lever press for the Go condition or withhold from lever pressing for the duration of the cue in the No-Go condition. After correctly responding during the challenge period (Challenge) and a brief delay, a final reward tone of the same frequency as the initiation tone is presented and sucrose reward delivery is available and contingent upon lever pressing. Here, we provide a novel procedure and validating data set that allows researchers to study and manipulate components of behavior such as attention, motivation, impulsivity, and reward-related working memory during an ongoing operant behavioral task while limiting interference from non task-related behaviors.

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“…The head-immobilized rodent Go/No-Go task we have developed is a procedure that provides the framework for performing repeated electrophysiological recordings and simultaneous molecular and pharmacologic interventions during ongoing operant behavioral tasks. In addition, this technique allows for accurate stereotaxic localization during electrophysiological recordings, daily anesthesia-free recordings in various brain regions, rapid electrode repositioning during chronic recording sessions, and high quality stabilized recordings 3 . With the advent of optogenetics, the head-restrained procedure allows for these recordings to be coupled with cell-type specific silencing and activation, free from electrophysiological artifacts 4,5 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel variable delay Go/No-Go task to study attention, motivation and working memory in the head-fixed rodent

Dolzani

¹

,

Nakamura

²

,

Cooper

³

2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In order to parse the causal elements underlying complex behaviors and decision-making processes, appropriate behavioral methods must be developed and used in concurrence with molecular, pharmacological, and electrophysiological approaches. Presented is a protocol for a novel Go/No-Go behavioral paradigm to study the brain attention and motivation/reward circuitry in awake, head-restrained rodents. This experimental setup allows: (1) Pharmacological and viral manipulation of various brain regions via targeted guide cannula; (2) Optogenetic cell-type specific activation and silencing with simultaneous electrophysiological recording and; (3) Repeated electrophysiological single and multiple unit recordings during ongoing behavior. The task consists of three components. The subject first makes an observing response by initiating a trial by lever pressing in response to distinctive Go or No-Go tones. Then, after a variable delay period, the subject is presented with a challenge period cued by white noise during which they must respond with a lever press for the Go condition or withhold from lever pressing for the duration of the cue in the No-Go condition. After correctly responding during the challenge period (Challenge) and a brief delay, a final reward tone of the same frequency as the initiation tone is presented and sucrose reward delivery is available and contingent upon lever pressing. Here, we provide a novel procedure and validating data set that allows researchers to study and manipulate components of behavior such as attention, motivation, impulsivity, and reward-related working memory during an ongoing operant behavioral task while limiting interference from non task-related behaviors.

show abstract

A novel stereotaxic apparatus for neuronal recordings in awake head-restrained rats

Cited by 10 publications

References 18 publications

Multi-Neuronal Recordings in the Basal Ganglia in Normal and Dystonic Rats

Multi-Neuronal Recordings in the Basal Ganglia in Normal and Dystonic Rats

A novel variable delay Go/No-Go task to study attention, motivation and working memory in the head-fixed rodent

A novel variable delay Go/No-Go task to study attention, motivation and working memory in the head-fixed rodent

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