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MRI-guided stereotaxic brain surgery in the infant and adult common marmoset

Nature Protocols volume 11, pages 1299–1308 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

In the past decade, the New World common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) has taken a seminal position in neurobiological research, fueled in part by its smooth cortical sheet, which allows cortical areas to be easily accessed by current technologies on the dorsal surface of the brain. In this protocol, we describe a method for the precision placement of agents (e.g., tracers or neurotoxins) into small brain regions of the infant and adult marmoset, using an MRI-guided approach. This strategy uses a protocol for prolonged anesthesia without the need for intubation that we have recently developed, alongside appropriate analgesia and monitoring. The protocol can be readily adapted to be used together with advanced research techniques, such as two-photon microscopy and optical imaging. Including a 5-d postoperative care plan, this protocol takes 7 d to complete. The protocol requires a team of personnel experienced in marmoset care and handling, and small-animal neurosurgery; an assistant for monitoring the animal and assisting with anesthesia; and an MRI technician.

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Figure 1: Cranial fiducial marker.
Figure 2: Infant gaseous anesthesia induction box.
Figure 3: Custom-built MRI-compatible stereotaxic frame, injection and MRI equipment and facemask for marmoset neurosurgery.
Figure 4: Method of calculation of stereotaxic coordinates from T2 MRI images for intracerebral injection.
Figure 5: Examples of MRI images and photomicrographs of an infant and adult marmosets demonstrating accuracy of MRI-guided stereotaxic injection of various agent.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank W. Kwan and Q. Wu for their assistance with surgeries and imaging, respectively, and A. Gibbon and T. Tecirlioglu for their assistance with the postsurgical monitoring sheet. The Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute is supported by grants from the State Government of Victoria and the Australian Government. This work was supported by an NHMRC Project Grant (APP1042893) and by ARC SRI (Stem Cells Australia). J.A.B. is supported by an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (APP1077677).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia

    Inaki-Carril Mundinano & James A Bourne

  2. Comparative Biology Centre, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle,, UK

    Paul A Flecknell

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  1. Inaki-Carril Mundinano
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  2. Paul A Flecknell
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  3. James A Bourne
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Contributions

I.-C.M. designed the MRI-guided protocol, performed the surgeries and wrote the manuscript; P.A.F. co-designed the anesthesia regimen and edited the manuscript; J.A.B. mentored the other authors, designed the protocol, obtained funding, performed the surgeries and wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to James A Bourne.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Table 1

Supplementary Table 1 (PDF 144 kb)

Supplementary Data 1

Supplementary Data 1 - 3D facemask (ZIP 240 kb)

Supplementary Data 2

Supplementary Data 2 - 3D facemask (PDF 178 kb)

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Mundinano, IC., Flecknell, P. & Bourne, J. MRI-guided stereotaxic brain surgery in the infant and adult common marmoset. Nat Protoc 11, 1299–1308 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2016.076

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