<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><italic>In vivo</italic> study of cerebral metabolism in neonatal animals by high-resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an important tool for deciphering the developmental origins of adult diseases. Up to date, all in vivo spectrum acquisition procedures have been performed in neonatal rodents under anesthesia. However, it is still unknown if the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane, which is commonly used in magnetic resonance imaging studies, could affect metabolite levels in the brain of neonatal rats. Moreover, the unanesthetized MRS preparation that uses neonatal rodent pups is still lacking.</p><p>Here, a novel restraint protocol was developed for neonatal rats in accordance with the European Directive 2010/63/EU. This protocol shares the same gradation of severity as the protocol for non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging of animals with appropriate sedation or anesthesia. Such immobilization of neonatal rats without anesthesia can be implemented for MRS studies when an interaction between anesthetic and target drugs is expected. Short-term isoflurane treatment did not affect the levels of key metabolites in the hippocampi of anesthetized pups and, in contrast to juvenile and adult rodents, it is suitable for MRS studies in neonatal rats when the interaction between anesthetic and target drugs is not expected.</p></abstract>

In vivo study of cerebral metabolism in neonatal animals by high-resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an important tool for deciphering the developmental origins of adult diseases. Up to date, all in vivo spectrum acquisition procedures have been performed in neonatal rodents under anesthesia. However, it is still unknown if the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane, which is commonly used in magnetic resonance imaging studies, could affect metabolite levels in the brain of neonatal rats. Moreover, the unanesthetized MRS preparation that uses neonatal rodent pups is still lacking.Here, a novel restraint protocol was developed for neonatal rats in accordance with the European Directive 2010/63/EU. This protocol shares the same gradation of severity as the protocol for non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging of animals with appropriate sedation or anesthesia. Such immobilization of neonatal rats without anesthesia can be implemented for MRS studies when an interaction between anesthetic and target drugs is expected. Short-term isoflurane treatment did not affect the levels of key metabolites in the hippocampi of anesthetized pups and, in contrast to juvenile and adult rodents, it is suitable for MRS studies in neonatal rats when the interaction between anesthetic and target drugs is not expected.

The neurochemical profile of the hippocampus in isoflurane-treated and unanesthetized rat pups

Functional Neurogenomics Laboratory, Institute of Cytology and Genetics SBRAS, Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk State University MES RF, Novosibirsk, SFO, Russia

Laboratory of Ecological Mammalian Genetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics SBRAS, Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, SFO, Russia

Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

In vivo study of cerebral metabolism in neonatal animals by high-resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an important tool for deciphering the...

The neurochemical profile of the hippocampus in isoflurane-treated and unanesthetized rat pups

Published Online: Mar 07, 2016

Page range: 113 - 117

Received: Apr 13, 2015

Accepted: Aug 13, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/intox-2015-0017

Keywords
neonatal rat, unanesthetized, isoflurane, hippocampus, magnetic resonance spectroscopy

© 2015 Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The neurochemical profile of the hippocampus in isoflurane-treated and unanesthetized rat pups

Published Online: Mar 07, 2016

Page range: 113 - 117

Received: Apr 13, 2015

Accepted: Aug 13, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/intox-2015-0017

Keywordsneonatal rat, unanesthetized, isoflurane, hippocampus, magnetic resonance spectroscopy

© 2015 Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
neonatal rat, unanesthetized, isoflurane, hippocampus, magnetic resonance spectroscopy