Title
Procedure for minimizing stress for fMRI studies in conscious rats
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Psychiatry
Date
6-21-2005
Document Type
Article
Medical Subject Headings
Acclimatization; Adaptation, Psychological; Animals; Blood Pressure; Brain; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Corticosterone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Stress, Psychological
Disciplines
Psychiatry
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in conscious animals is evolving as a critical tool for neuroscientists. The present study explored the effectiveness of an acclimation procedure in minimizing the stress experienced by the animal as assessed by alterations in physiological parameters including heart rate, respiratory rate, and serum corticosterone levels. Results confirm that as the stress of the protocol is minimized, there is a significant decrease in head movements and enhancement in data quality. The feasibility of improving the quality of fMRI data acquired in alert rats by utilizing a relatively simple technique is presented.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: J Neurosci Methods. 2005 Oct 30;148(2):154-60. Epub 2005 Jun 16. Link to article on publisher's site
