Real-time cortical cerebral blood flow follow-up in conscious, freely moving rats by laser Doppler flowmetry.
This article describes a laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) system that enables repeated measurements and thereby long-term followup of cortical cerebral blood flow (CBF) in awake and freely moving rats. The system consists of a specially designed flow probe adapter, a flow probe connector, and a LDF flow probe, which may thereby rotate through its own axis. During the experiment, the flow adapter is permanently mounted onto the rat's skull bone. A thin layer of skull bone is left intact at the site for cortical CBF measurements. The probe connector and the flow probe may be repeatedly detached and remounted to the adapter, which allows for cortical cerebral blood flow recording from exactly the same anatomical location. The laser Doppler flowmetry system enables stable cortical CBF recordings in the conscious rat while it moves freely in a bowl cage.
Umeå Stroke Center UKBF 5B, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, University of Umeå, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
Weigang
W
Gu
Wei
W
Jiang
Per
P
Wester
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003243:Consciousness; D004867:Equipment Design; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012039:Regional Blood Flow