Chronic brain blood-flow imaging device for a behavioral experiment using mice

Chronic brain blood-flow imaging device for a behavioral experiment using mice

Citation

Haruta, M., Kurauchi, Y., Ohsawa, M., Inami, C., Tanaka, R., Sugie, K., ... & Ohta, J. (2019). Chronic brain blood-flow imaging device for a behavioral experiment using mice. Biomedical Optics Express, 10(4), 1557-1566. 

 

Brief

This article describes a new chronic brain blood-flow imaging device developed for use in behavioral experiments on mice. 

Summary

This 2019 article in Biomedical Optics Express by Makito Haruta et al. describes a device for chronic brain blood-flow imaging in freely moving mice. Here are the key takeaways:

  • What it is: The device is a small, implantable CMOS image sensor with a chronic fiber-optic plate (FOP) window placed on a mouse's head.
  • What it does: The device allows for long-term observation of cerebral blood flow and brain activity in mice without requiring anesthesia or head fixation.
  • How it works: It uses green LEDs (chosen because their wavelength is absorbed by hemoglobin) to illuminate the brain surface, and the CMOS sensor captures the reflected light. Changes in reflection correspond to blood flow changes.
  • Why it's important: This device allows for behavioral experiments in mice that were previously difficult due to the limitations of existing brain imaging techniques The authors suggest it could help in developing treatments for cerebrovascular diseases.
  • Key experiment: The researchers used the device to observe blood flow changes in the sensory cortex of mice in response to stimulation. They found that the device successfully measured changes in blood flow velocity and brain activity.

Origin: https://opg.optica.org/boe/fulltext.cfm?uri=boe-10-4-1557&id=406960

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