Protocol for continuous video-EEG/EMG recording to study brain function in neonatal rats

Anamika Choudhary; Cezar Gavrilovici; Andy Cheuk-Him Ng; Morris H Scantlebury

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103205

Protocol for continuous video-EEG/EMG recording to study brain function in neonatal rats

STAR Protoc. 2024 Sep 20;5(3):103205. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103205. Epub 2024 Jul 18.

Authors

Anamika Choudhary¹, Cezar Gavrilovici², Andy Cheuk-Him Ng³, Morris H Scantlebury⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
² Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is crucial for real-time brain physiology research in epilepsy. However, maternal care reliance limits its use in immature rodents. Our "pup-in-cup" setup overcomes this, enabling continuous, uninterrupted video-EEG/electromyogram (EMG) recordings in neonatal rats. This protocol details the steps for video-EEG/EMG system setup, EEG headmount implantation, and recording continuous video-EEG/EMG traces from postnatal days 4-12. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Choudhary et al.¹.

Keywords: model organisms; neuroscience; systems biology.

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Newborn*
Brain* / physiology
Electroencephalography* / methods
Electromyography* / methods
Female
Rats
Video Recording* / methods