Animal Brain Stereotactic Instruments Based On 3D Coordinate Systems

Brain stereotactic instruments leverage three-dimensional coordinate systems to accurately determine the spatial location of target brain regions, enabling precise interventions in specific brain structures of animals.

Stereotactic surgery is a widely adopted method for manipulating live animal brains. This technique allows researchers to locate deep brain structures with high precision using stereotactic atlases, which provide the three-dimensional coordinates of brain regions relative to anatomical landmarks on the skull. Following the exposure of the skull, anesthetized animals are secured onto specialized instruments, known as stereotactic frames, enabling precise placement of experimental tools at predetermined coordinates.

The technology is indispensable for conducting a wide array of experiments, including activating or inhibiting specific nuclei or brain regions, drug delivery, viral labeling, and signal acquisition. Utilizing a stereotactic instrument and standard brain atlases, researchers can accurately determine target coordinates using external skull landmarks (e.g., the bregma and lambda in rodents) and perform precise interventions at the designated locations, even without direct visual exposure.

Importance of Primate Models in Translational Research

Due to the substantial species differences between rodents and humans, findings from rodent models often fail to translate effectively into clinical applications. As primates share the closest evolutionary and physiological similarities with humans, research on non-human primates (NHPs) offers the most promising pathway for direct clinical translation. Prisys Biotech provides advanced large-animal stereotactic systems, critical for developing animal models of human neurological diseases.

The stereotactic system operates on the principle that a 3D coordinate system can pinpoint any spatial location. Animals are secured within the stereotactic frame, and brain atlases specific to the species are used to identify target coordinates for brain regions or nuclei.

Key Features:

• Instrument Types: Includes classic mechanical, digital, CNC (computer numerical control), dual-arm, and quad-arm models.
• Multiple Arm Design: Six operational arms can be mounted on parallel tracks, allowing independent targeting in one subject.
• Adjustability: Arms are controlled via threaded guides for lateral and vertical movement, and wedge-shaped joints for anterior-posterior control.
• Locking Mechanism: Improved locking components prevent slippage and enable fixation at any angle, offering vertical and horizontal stabilization.
• Smooth Operation: Standard instruments employ triple-threaded screws for linear positioning, with optional fine-tuning modules.
• For NHP studies, specialized stereotactic instruments feature dual left and right operational arms, parallel guide rails, and head fixation devices, tailored for precise interventions in monkeys.

Applications

• Targeted Injections: Coupled with injection pumps or delivery cannulas, the system delivers drugs or viruses into specific brain regions with precision.
• Optogenetics and Fiber Photometry: Facilitates the implantation of ceramic probes for optogenetic manipulation or fiber photometry experiments.
• Calcium Imaging: Enables the embedding of lenses in target regions to monitor intracellular calcium ion changes in neurons.
• In Vivo Electrophysiology: Permits the implantation of electrodes for neural signal recording in active animals.

Integrating advanced imaging modalities like MRI(MRI-Guided Drug Delivery For CNS Research) and PET with stereotactic systems will enhance targeting precision and expand research capabilities. Innovations such as machine learning algorithms for optimized targeting and wireless technology to reduce animal stress are anticipated to revolutionize neuroscience research.

Conclusion

Prisys Biotech specializes in large-animal stereotactic systems, offering comprehensive services for CNS studies using NHPs. With expertise in creating preclinical models of neurological diseases, our solutions bridge the gap between research and clinical application, providing unparalleled support to the global neuroscience community.