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Brain striata preparation a. Following behavioral testing, mice are sacrificed in a random order by cervical dislocation.
b. Brains are quickly harvested and placed on ice.
c. The right and left striata are dissected (see Figures 1 A-I below), quickly frozen on dry ice, and then stored at -80°C freezer until analysis.
Figure 1 A-I: Schematic dissection of the striatum for the determination of striatal neurotransmitters. Fig. 1-A: Dorso-ventral view of the harvested brain and the transection of the cerebellum. Fig. 1-B: The forebrain is transversely resected at midline beginning at the red line. Fig. 1-C: Schematic cross-section of the brain showing the left and right regions of the striatum (green). Fig. 1-D: Using 2 stiff brushes, the partially halved brain in Fig. 1B is gently spread apart (yellow arrows). Fig. 1-E:While the left brush is used to stabilize the brain, the right brush iscarefully placed into the hippocampal groove (green arrow in Fig. 1D) and gently rotated until the hippocampus is displaced. Fig. 1-F: The hippocampus (hip) is shown displaced from its groove. Fig. 1-G:Using the brush to further undermine the brain, the right hippocampusis completely severed from the right cortex and in turn the cortex isflipped medial-laterally to expose the medial surface of the rightstriatum (demarcated by red lines). Fig. 1-H: Usingthe same brush, the lateral limit of the right striatum is bluntlydissected along its perimeter in order to move it medially forharvesting. Fig. 1-I: The right striatum is transected along the dashed red lines (Fig. 1H and I) using an iris scissor. Steps Figs. 1E-I are repeated for the left half of the brain to harvest the left striatum. |
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