Semi-automatic microdrive system for positioning electrodes during electrophysiological recordings from rat brain

• Autorzy: Kublik E. , Dabrowski P. , Mozaryn J.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recording of local field potentials and spiking activity offers comprehensive insight into the functioning of neuronal populations. However, spikes are not easy to record in behaving rats implanted with chronic electrodes since glial wound isolates electrode’s tip from spiking neurons. It is thus essential to advance the electrode to recover spike recordings. This requires portable micro-manipulators that can be mounted on a head of experimental animal. Our aim is to develop a microdrive system for independent, precise positioning of up to 8 electrodes (tetrodes, optogenetical fibres), which will be semiautomatically controlled from the computer with a single step of ~12 µm. METHODS: Chronic micro-manipulators which can be purchased or hand-made consist of small screws with movable plastic elements. Their minimal step is limited by the screw thread (e.g. with M1,4 screw ¼ of a turn advances the electrode by ~90 µm) and a precision and repeatability highly depends on a quality of an assembly. Therefore, our prototype micro-drive system was created with a mechanism based on stepper micro-motor with halfstep controller to improve the overall performance of such system. RESULTS: The accuracy of the prototype was tested in experiments during which multiwire electrode was advanced in a boiled egg white, and in rat brain. LabView environment was used for remote control of electrode position and acquisition of control data. Prototype met initial requirements, showing small positioning errors (0.58–1.63 µm depending on stepper mode and a thickness of penetrated material) and ~12 µm repeatability. CONCLUSIONS: Further tests will include recording of electrophysiological signals from the brain of anaesthetized rat. Development of final version of the device will include its miniaturization to obtain total mass of less than 20 g, so that the device will be small enough to be mounted on a rat’s head. Supported by National Science Centre grant DEC-2013/08/W/ NZ4/00691.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis
• Rocznik: 2015
• Tom: 75
• Numer: Supl.
• Opis fizyczny: p.S110

Twórcy

autor

Kublik E.

• Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland

autor

Dabrowski P.

• Institute of Automatic Control and Robotics, Faculty of Mechatronics, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland

autor

Mozaryn J.

• Institute of Automatic Control and Robotics, Faculty of Mechatronics, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland