title: Novel method for functional brain imaging in awake minimally restrained rats.
abstract: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in rodents holds great promise for advancing our knowledge about human brain function. However, the use of anesthetics to immobilize rodents during fMRI experiments has restricted the type of questions that can be addressed using this technique. Here we describe an innovative procedure to train rats to be constrained without the need of any anesthesia during the whole procedure. We show that with 8-10 days of acclimation rats can be conscious and remain still during fMRI experiments under minimal stress. In addition, we provide fMRI results of conscious rodents in a variety of commonly used fMRI experimental paradigms, and we demonstrate the improved quality of these scans by comparing results when the same rodents were scanned under anesthesia. We confirm that the awake scanning procedure permits an improved evaluation of brain networks and brain response to external stimuli with minimal movement artifact. The present study further advances the field of fMRI in awake rodents, which provide more direct, forward and reverse, translational opportunities regarding brain functional correspondences between human and rodent research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois;
authors.forename: Pei-Ching
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; and.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Procissi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Hand Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiyuan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois;
authors.forename: Maria Virginia
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Centeno
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois;
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baria
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; a-apkarian@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: A Vania
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Apkarian
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004867:Equipment Design; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology; D007858:Learning; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009038:Motion; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007530:Isoflurane; D003345:Corticosterone
keywords: awake rat; functional MRI