Abstract #3080
Foregoing Anesthesia Entirely: Resting-State Functional MRI of Completely Awake Rats
Axel P. Mathieu 1,2 , Maxime J. Parent 3 , Blandine Courcot 1,2 , Jamie Near 1,2 , and Pedro Rosa-Neto 3
1
Brain Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health
Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada,
2
Department
of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada,
3
Translational
Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill Centre for Studies on
Aging, Montreal, QC, Canada
Functional connectivity as measured by resting-state
functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rsfMRI) is a
promising early biomarker for several neurodegenerative
diseases. Since anesthesia is known to affect this
measure, it is preferable when studying animal models to
forego anesthesia entirely. Here, we demonstrate the
feasibility of acquiring rsfMRI data in conscious rats
by training them in a custom-designed restraining
apparatus. After 4 days of training, head movements did
not differ significantly from those observed while the
rats are under isoflurane anesthesia. Additionally,
rsfMRI connectivity was demonstrably stronger in awake
rats. This shows great potential for completely
conscious animal rsfMRI acquisition.
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