Cellular Resolution Functional Imaging in Behaving Rats Using Voluntary Head Restraint

摘要: Summary High-throughput operant conditioning systems for rodents provide efficient training on sophisticated behavioral tasks. Combining these with technologies cellular resolution functional imaging would a powerful approach to study neural dynamics during behavior. Here we describe an integrated two-photon microscope and apparatus that allows of cortical regions epochs voluntary head restraint. Rats were trained initiate periods restraint up 8 s in duration, which provided the mechanical stability necessary in vivo while allowing free movement between trials. A registration system repositioned within few microns, same neuronal populations be imaged each trial. In proof-of-principle experiments, calcium-dependent fluorescence transients recorded from GCaMP-labeled neurons. contrast previous methods restraint, this can incorporated into high-throughput systems.