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In vivo analysis of neuronal, metabolic activity and behavioral pattern in mice and rats

This section analyzes the in vivo neuronal and metabolic activity, and behavioral patterns in mice and rats which have been modified by their related genes and by exposure to various environmental conditions.
This section performs the following examinations:
 

• Single unit recording from motor related brain regions in an awake state (Figure 1).
• Regional neural activity detected as intrinsic signals with taking the advantage of light fluorescent dynamics of flavin or hemoglobin.
• Measurement of non-invasive echo-graphic imaging of tissue structure-function relationships (liver, kidney and blood vessels), 4-dimensional changes in cardiac functions, and capillary blood flow (brain and umbilical cord) using anesthetized mice.
• Behavioral analysis for the evaluation of emotion, learning and memory: Open field, Light-dark transition, Elevated plus maze, Forced swimming, Rota-rod, Passive avoidance, Fear conditioning, Morris water maze, Barnes maze, Y maze, 3-chamber social interaction, etc. (Figure 2).

Figure 1. To elucidate pathophysiology of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, neuronal activity of basal ganglia neurons in response to electrical stimulation of the motor cortex was analyzed.



Figure 2. We perform a number of behavioral analyses in mice to explore physiological functions of specific genes and molecules.

Selected publications