ICV_Injections - KravitzLab/KreedLabWiki GitHub Wiki

For intracranial injections in awake mice, we use a pressure system where a syringe pump pushes mineral oil, which pushes the injection out of a small injector.

We use cannulas and injectors from RWD

Protocol:

  1. Fill the PE50 tubing with mineral oil using a 1mL syringe and 27 gauge needle.

  1. Push the syringe plunger all the way forward.

  2. Slide the end of the mineral oil filled tubing onto the syringe ~1cm.

  1. Pull back on the plunger, you should see the oil move towards the syringe, creating an air bubble at the other end of the tubing.

  2. Cut the air bubble off of the other end of the tubing, and slide that end onto the injector fully. It should look like this:

  1. Push the plunger forward, you should see mineral oil eject from the tip of the injector. Give the system ~5 minutes to rest to make sure an elasticity in the tubing relaxes.

  2. Check the system and tubing for any air bubbles. If there are any, reload everything.

  3. Place the injector tip into the drug solution you want to inject and pull back slowly on the syringe. You should see the drug fill the tubing, and see a meniscus between the oil and the drug. If you get a bunch of air bubbles push the plunger forward and repeat this step.

  1. Set the pump.
  1. Push the injector into the guide cannula and inject. You can leave it in place for 5-10 minutes after the injection before removing it.