Cassella J V, Davis M
J Neurosci Methods. 1987 Feb;19(2):105-13. doi: 10.1016/0165-0270(87)90025-2.
A technique has been developed which permits the study of single-unit activity using glass micropipettes and conventional microdrives in restrained, awake rats. A unique feature of this preparation is that the rats are kept still during electrophysiological recording by infusing a small amount of local anesthetic through a catheter chronically implanted into the epidural space of the spinal cord resulting in a temporary mid-body to hind-limb motor blockade. The animal is held in a slightly modified stereotaxic device by a bolt attached to the top of its skull. The rats are responsive to acoustic, visual, or tactile stimulation, permitting the simultaneous recording of electrophysiological activity and behavioral or electromyographical activity rostral to the level of motor blockade. By employing the epidural anesthesia the animals are healthy and mobile prior to and following each recording session and can be tested across a number of days. Single unit activity recorded from the facial motor nucleus in response to an acoustic click is presented as an example of the viability of this preparation. Therefore, this preparation seems suitable for a variety of investigations involving neurophysiological recording with glass micropipettes or the correlation of such recording with simple behaviors in awake, restrained rats.
已开发出一种技术，该技术允许在清醒、受限的大鼠中使用玻璃微电极和传统微驱动装置来研究单神经元活动。这种制备方法的一个独特之处在于，在电生理记录过程中，通过一根长期植入脊髓硬膜外腔的导管注入少量局部麻醉剂，使大鼠保持静止，从而导致身体中部到后肢的暂时运动阻滞。动物通过连接在其颅骨顶部的螺栓固定在一个经过略微改装的立体定位装置中。大鼠对听觉、视觉或触觉刺激有反应，这使得能够同时记录运动阻滞水平以上的电生理活动以及行为或肌电图活动。通过采用硬膜外麻醉，动物在每次记录前后都保持健康且可活动，并且可以在数天内进行测试。作为该制备方法可行性的一个例子，展示了从面神经运动核记录到的对听觉咔哒声的单神经元活动。因此，这种制备方法似乎适用于各种涉及使用玻璃微电极进行神经生理记录或在清醒、受限的大鼠中将此类记录与简单行为相关联的研究。
