HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (16) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Spinks, R. L. Articles by Lemon, R. N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Spinks, R. L. Articles by Lemon, R. N.

Innovative Methodology

Problem of Dural Scarring in Recording From Awake, Behaving Monkeys: A Solution Using 5-Fluorouracil

¹ Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG ² Wound Healing Research Unit, Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, UCL, London EC1V 9EL ³ Department of Anatomy, Cambridge CB2 3DY United Kingdom

Submitted 7 April 2003; accepted in final form 7 April 2003

ABSTRACT

In studies using single neuron recordings from awake, behaving monkeys, it is necessary to make repeated transdural penetrations using fragile microelectrodes. The tough connective tissue that accumulates after the dura mater is first exposed is often problematic because of electrode breakage and the mechanical stress to the underlying brain tissue caused by excessive dimpling during penetration. We describe the use of an antimitotic compound, 5-fluorouracil (5FU) to control the growth of this connective tissue. 5FU can be safely applied for short periods to the exposed dural tissue on a regular basis provided that it is thoroughly rinsed after application. The advantages of using 5FU are fourfold: first, it depresses fibroblast division and minimizes dural growth and scar tissue formation so that penetrations are easier with less electrode damage or breakage. Second, the frequency of surgical procedures required to remove this tissue are greatly reduced, which benefits both the experiment animal and the experiment. Third, 5FU reduces vascularization of the tissue so that its removal is far easier and without significant blood loss. Finally, 5FU seems to inhibit bacterial infections within the recording chamber. In macaque motor cortex, we performed a quantitative study of electrophysiological data recorded from monkeys with and without 5FU treatment. No significant deleterious side effects produced by 5FU could be detected. Likewise, histological examination of cortical tissue underlying treated dura did not reveal any obvious signs of damage by 5FU. We recommend this approach, with the appropriate safety precautions, to all those neurophysiologists using transdural microelectrode methods in chronically prepared experimental animals. It is also possible that this technique may be useful in other situations where there is dural scarring after surgical intervention or injury.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Schmidlin, T. Brochier, M. A. Maier, P. A. Kirkwood, and R. N. Lemon Pronounced Reduction of Digit Motor Responses Evoked from Macaque Ventral Premotor Cortex after Reversible Inactivation of the Primary Motor Cortex Hand Area J. Neurosci., May 28, 2008; 28(22): 5772 - 5783. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Umilta, T. Brochier, R. L. Spinks, and R. N. Lemon Simultaneous Recording of Macaque Premotor and Primary Motor Cortex Neuronal Populations Reveals Different Functional Contributions to Visuomotor Grasp J Neurophysiol, July 1, 2007; 98(1): 488 - 501. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Gray, B. Goodell, and A. Lear Multichannel Micromanipulator and Chamber System for Recording Multineuronal Activity in Alert, Non-Human Primates J Neurophysiol, July 1, 2007; 98(1): 527 - 536. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. C. Nelson and L. H. Carney Neural Rate and Timing Cues for Detection and Discrimination of Amplitude-Modulated Tones in the Awake Rabbit Inferior Colliculus J Neurophysiol, January 1, 2007; 97(1): 522 - 539. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Raiguel, R. Vogels, S. G. Mysore, and G. A. Orban Learning to see the difference specifically alters the most informative V4 neurons. J. Neurosci., June 14, 2006; 26(24): 6589 - 6602. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. G. Mysore, R. Vogels, S. E. Raiguel, and G. A. Orban Processing of Kinetic Boundaries in Macaque V4 J Neurophysiol, March 1, 2006; 95(3): 1864 - 1880. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Naselaris, H. Merchant, B. Amirikian, and A. P. Georgopoulos Spatial Reconstruction of Trajectories of an Array of Recording Microelectrodes J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2005; 93(4): 2318 - 2330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]