title: A simple technique for determining stereotaxic coordinates for brain implantation of probes at rotated angles in one or two planes.
abstract: A simple method for deriving stereotaxic coordinates for angular approaches to brain target sites is described. This method requires the use of a stereotaxic instrument with two micromanipulators and is based on the relative measurement of stereotaxic zero and the target site. This is achieved using a conventional (perpendicular) angle of approach with a probe held in one micromanipulator to visually guide the placement of the angled micromanipulator which holds a second probe. The technique may be used to derive angular approach coordinates for any angle in the coronal and/or sagittal planes. Once the coordinates are derived, they may be used with a single micromanipulator, as in the case of conventional placements. The derivation of the angular approach coordinates involves simple subtraction; no trigonometrical calculations are used. This method is simple and efficient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. andy.greenshaw@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Greenshaw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004566:Electrodes; D017551:Microdialysis; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques