Safety and function of a new clinical intracerebral microinjection instrument for stem cells and therapeutics examined in the Göttingen minipig.
BACKGROUND
A new intracerebral microinjection instrument (IMI) allowing multiple electrophysiologically guided microvolume injections from a single proximal injection path in rats has been adapted to clinical use by coupling the IMI to an FHC microTargeting Manual Drive, designed to be used with standard stereotactic frame-based systems and FHC frameless microTargeting Platforms.


METHODS
The function and safety of the device was tested by conducting bilateral electrophysiologically guided microinjections of fluorescent microspheres in the substantia nigra of 4 Göttingen minipigs.


RESULTS
The device was easy to handle and enabled accurate electrophysiologically guided targeting of the substantia nigra with minimal local tissue damage.


CONCLUSIONS
The IMI is suitable for clinical use and may prove useful for various stereotactic procedures that require high levels of precision and/or three-dimensional distribution of therapeutics within the brain.
Bjarkam
Carsten R
CR
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.
Glud
Andreas N
AN
Margolin
Lee
L
Reinhart
Karl
K
Franklin
Ron
R
Deding
Dorthe
D
Ettrup
Kåre S
KS
Fitting
Lise M
LM
Nielsen
Mette S
MS
Sørensen
Jens-Christian H
JC
Cunningham
Miles G
MG
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008845:Microinjections / Q000295:instrumentation*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature