Decerebrate mouse model for studies of the spinal cord circuits.

ABSTRACT: The adult decerebrate mouse model (a mouse with the cerebrum removed) enables the study of sensory-motor integration and motor output from the spinal cord for several hours without compromising these functions with anesthesia. For example, the decerebrate mouse is ideal for examining locomotor behavior using intracellular recording approaches, which would not be possible using current anesthetized preparations. This protocol describes the steps required to achieve a low-blood-loss decerebration in the mouse and approaches for recording signals from spinal cord neurons with a focus on motoneurons. The protocol also describes an example application for the protocol: the evocation of spontaneous and actively driven stepping, including optimization of these behaviors in decerebrate mice. The t

SUBMITTER: Meehan CF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8495891 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature