Name: A Technique for Serial Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from the Cisterna Magna in Mouse (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2008-11-10T00:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 8 min 8 s
Description: Learn a refined technique for serial cerebrospinal fluid collection from the cisterna magna in mice. This method enables longitudinal monitoring of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers like Aβ and tau.

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Our work is supported by NIH grants NS048447 and AG017216to KD. Li Liu would like to thank Dr. Heikki Tanila (University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland) for his supervision and support during the development of the original protocol.

Pulling the glass capillary tube
<ol>
<li>The glass capillary tube is purchased from The Sutter Instrument Inc (Borosilicate glass, B100-75-10). </li>
<li>Pull the capillary tubes on a Sutter P-87 Flaming micropipette puller, with the heat index set at 300 and the pressure index set at 330. </li>
<li>Trim the tip of the glass capillary tube with scissors, so that the tapered tip has an inner diameter of about 0.5 mm.</li>
</ol>
Cisterna magna puncture technique for CSF
CSF samples are taken from the cisterna magna (Figure 1) using a method that was published previously 1. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/old/960_2008_10_13_2/960_Figure-01.png" alt="Brain anatomy diagram: cerebellum, cisterna magna, cortex, brain stem labels." width="432" height="184" data-altupdatedat="1754907495000" data-alt="Figure 1"> Figure 1
1. The mice are anesthesized by Ketamine (100mg/kg) and xylazine (10mg/kg), administered intraperitoneally. During the time of anesthesia induction, the mice are kept in a 37oC incubator.
2. The skin of the neck is shaved, and the mouse is then placed prone on the stereotaxic instrument with direct contact of a heating pad. A rectal temperature probe is inserted into the rectum so that the heat produced by the heating pad is adjusted in response to the changes of body temperature. The head is secured with the head adaptors. The surgical site is swabbed with 10% povidone iodine, followed by 70% ethanol (repeat 3 times), and a sagittal incision of the skin is made inferior to the occiput.
3. Under the dissection microscope, the subcutaneous tissue and muscles (m. biventer cervicis and m. rectus capitis dorsalis major) are separated by blunt dissection with forceps. A pair of microretractors is used to hold the muscles apart.
4. The mouse is laid down so that the head forms a nearly 135o angle with the body.
5. Under the dissection microscope, the dura mater of the cisterna magna appears as a glistening and clear reverse triangle through which the medulla oblongata and a major blood vessel (arteria dorsalis spinalis), and the CSF space are visible (Figure 2). <img src="/files/ftp_upload/old/960_2008_10_13_3/960_Figure-02.png" alt="Surgical anatomy demonstration; dissection procedure; tissue exposure; educational purposes." width="304" height="307" data-altupdatedat="1754907495000" data-alt="Figure 2"> Figure 2
6. The dura mater is blotted dry with sterile cotton swab. Penetrate the capillary tube into the citerna magna through the dura mater, lateral to the arteria dorsalis spinalis (Figure 2). Following a noticeable change in resistance to the capillary tube insertion, the CSF flows into the capillary tube.
7. Carefully remove the capillary tube, and connect it to a 3 ml syringe through a polyethylene tubing that has a 1 mm internal diameter. Inject the CSF into a pre-marked 0.5 ml eppendorf tube, and freeze the tube immediately on dry ice and then transfer it into a -80°C freezer.
8. After CSF sampling, the muscles are re-aligned, and skin is sutured (4-0, Ethicon, Johnson &amp; Johnson). About 1 ml of 0.9% NaCl is injected subcutaneously to prevent de-hydration. The mouse is kept at the incubator to maintain body temperature until it recovers; the weight of the mouse is monitored 1 day, and 1 week after the surgery.
Results and Discussion
We described a highly reliable protocol for serial sampling of CSF from mice without detectable plasma contamination.
1. The whole procedure usually takes 10 min per mouse (including anesthesia). The volume of CSF obtained is dependent on the mouse strains. In the PS/APP double Tg mice we used 2, the average volume is about 5 μl (3 to 7 μl), while the P301L (JNPL3) mice 3 give a yield of about 10 μl- 15 μl. For serial sampling, a maximum of 7-8 μl can be safely taken each time at an interval of 2-3 months.
2. During the surgery, it's important to position the head and the body of the mouse properly on the stereotaxic frame so that the dura mater of cisterna magna can be exposed sufficiently. Carefully avoid the blood vessels when penetrating the dura mater with the capillary tube to prevent contamination from plasma proteins, which can be monitored in the CSF sample by immunoblotting for ApoB 4.
3. Minimizing the tissue damage during each surgery is important, as tissue conglutination can increase the difficulty by predisposing bleeding for the following sampling.
4. The body temperature needs to be well maintained during the surgery because hypothermia caused by anesthesia can significantly affect the phosphorylated tau levels in the brain very rapidly 5.
5. The Ab ELISA protocol and antibodies that we used were described in detail in Refolo et al. 6. Two μl of CSF from the PS/APP mice will give satisfactory results when diluted 1:50-1:60. For the tau ELISA, 4-5 μl CSF from P301L (JNPL3) mice will be sufficient for the detection of total tau, or tau phosphorylated at threonine 231 (Kits are purchased from Bio-Source).
6. This technique can be applied to other mouse models of neurological diseases, for which a small volume of CSF is satisfactory for desired assays.

<ol><li>Liu, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Longitudinal+observation+on+CSF+Abeta42+levels+in+young+to+middle-aged+amyloid+precursor+protein%2Fpresenilin-1+doubly+transgenic+mice%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neurobiol+Dis%22%5BJournal%5D)">Longitudinal observation on CSF Abeta42 levels in young to middle-aged amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 doubly transgenic mice.</a> Neurobiol Dis. 17, 516- (2004).</li>
<li>Holcomb, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Accelerated+Alzheimer-type+phenotype+in+transgenic+mice+carrying+both+mutant+amyloid+precursor+protein+and+presenilin+1+transgenes%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nat+Med%22%5BJournal%5D)">Accelerated Alzheimer-type phenotype in transgenic mice carrying both mutant amyloid precursor protein and presenilin 1 transgenes.</a> Nat Med. 4, 97(1998).</li>
<li>Lewis, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Neurofibrillary+tangles%2C+amyotrophy+and+progressive+motor+disturbance+in+mice+expressing+mutant+%28P301L%29+tau+protein%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nat+Genet%22%5BJournal%5D)">Neurofibrillary tangles, amyotrophy and progressive motor disturbance in mice expressing mutant (P301L) tau protein.</a> Nat Genet. 25, 402- (2000).</li>
<li>DeMattos, R. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Plaque-associated+disruption+of+CSF+and+plasma+amyloid-beta+%28Abeta%29+equilibrium+in+a+mouse+model+of+Alzheimer%27s+disease%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurochem%22%5BJournal%5D)">Plaque-associated disruption of CSF and plasma amyloid-beta (Abeta) equilibrium in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.</a> J Neurochem. 81, 229(2002).</li>
<li>Planel, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Anesthesia+leads+to+tau+hyperphosphorylation+through+inhibition+of+phosphatase+activity+by+hypothermia%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22J+Neurosci%22%5BJournal%5D)">Anesthesia leads to tau hyperphosphorylation through inhibition of phosphatase activity by hypothermia.</a> J Neurosci. 27, 3090(2007).</li>
<li>Refolo, L. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+cholesterol-lowering+drug+reduces+beta-amyloid+pathology+in+a+transgenic+mouse+model+of+Alzheimer%27s+disease%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Neurobiol+Dis%22%5BJournal%5D)">A cholesterol-lowering drug reduces beta-amyloid pathology in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.</a> Neurobiol Dis. 8, 890(2001).</li>
</ol>

We described a highly reliable protocol for serial sampling of CSF from mice without detectable plasma contamination.
1. The whole procedure usually takes 10 min per mouse (including anesthesia). The volume of CSF obtained is dependent on the mouse strains. In the PS/APP double Tg mice we used2, the average volume is about 5 &#956;l (3 to 7 &#956;l), while the P301L (JNPL3) mice 3 give a yield of about 10 &#956;l- 15 &#956;l. For serial sampling, a maximum of 7-8 &#956;l can be safely taken...

a technique for serial collection of cerebrospinal fluid from the cisterna magna in mouse 

A Technique for Serial Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from the Cisterna Magna in Mouse 

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is pathologically characterized by extracellular deposition of &#946;-amyloid peptide (A&#946;) and intraneuronal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Because cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is in direct contact with the extracellular space of the brain, it provides a reflection of the biochemical changes in the brain in response to pathological processes. CSF from AD patients shows a decrease in the 42 amino-acid form of A&#946; (A&#946;42), and increases in total tau and hyperphosphorylated tau, though the mechanisms responsible for these changes are still not fully understood. Transgenic (Tg) mouse models of AD provide an excellent opportunity to investigate how and why A&#946; or tau levels in CSF change as the disease progresses. Here, we demonstrate a refined cisterna magna puncture technique for CSF sampling from the mouse. This extremely gentle sampling technique allows serial CSF samples to be obtained from the same mouse at 2-3 month intervals which greatly minimizes the confounding effect of between-mouse variability in A&#946; or tau levels, making it possible to detect subtle alterations over time. In combination with A&#946; and tau ELISA, this technique will be useful for studies designed to investigate the relationship between the levels of CSF A&#946;42 and tau, and their metabolism in the brain in AD mouse models. Studies in Tg mice could provide important validation as to the potential of CSF A&#946; or tau levels to be used as biological markers for monitoring disease progression, and to monitor the effect of therapeutic interventions. As the mice can be sacrificed and the brains can be examined for biochemical or histological changes, the mechanisms underlying the CSF changes can be better assessed. These data are likely to be informative for interpretation of human AD CSF changes.

Transgenic (Tg) mouse models of AD provide an excellent opportunity to investigate how and why A&#946; or tau levels in CSF change as the disease progresses in human patients. Here, we demonstrate a refined cisterna magna puncture technique for serial CSF sampling from the mouse.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is pathologically characterized by extracellular deposition of &#946;-amyloid ...

The procedure begins with anesthetizing the mouse and the preparation of the surgical site. The mouse is then placed prone on the stereotaxic instrument. A sagittal incision of the skin was made inferior to the occiput and the subcutaneous tissue and neck muscles through the midline are bluntly separated.Then the posterior part of the body is laid down so that the body forms a 135 degree angle with the fixed head, the dura mater of the CI sternum magna is penetrated with the glass capillary and the CSF will be collected. After CSF sampling, the muscles are realigned and skin is sutured about one milliliter of 0.9%NACL saline is injected subcutaneously to prevent dehydration and the mouse is kept warm until it recovers. Hi, my name is Liu from Dr.Karen Duff's lab at the The Top Institute of Columbia University.Today I will show you how to collect cerebral spinal of fluid from the system mag of the mouse. With this technique, we can collect serial CSF samples for up to three times from the same mouse with two to three months interval. In our lab, we use this technique to determine the CSFA beta or tau levels at a different ages of our transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease an

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Source: Joshi, K., et al. Stereotaxic Surgical Approach to Microinject the Caudal Brainstem and Upper Cervical Spinal Cord via the Cisterna Magna in Mice. J. Vis. Exp. (2022)This video demonstrates the cisterna magna stereotaxic approach for targeted delivery to the brainstem and upper spinal cord. By accessing the cerebrospinal fluid-filled cisterna magna, this approach enables precise injections into areas that are difficult to reach using standard stereotaxic methods.

Stereotaxic Cisterna Magna Approach for Therapeutic Delivery in a Mouse Model

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In this video, we describe the procedure to deliver human-derived tumor cells into the cisterna magna of a mouse’s brain. The orthotopic mouse model can be used to study metastatic spread of cancer to the cranial meninges.

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Source: Sweeney, A. M., et al. In Vivo Imaging of Cerebrospinal Fluid Transport through the Intact Mouse Skull using Fluorescence Macroscopy. J. Vis. Exp. (2019)This video demonstrates the process of visualizing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in a mouse brain using fluorescence imaging. A fluorescent tracer is injected into the cisterna magna (CM), allowing its movement with CSF to be tracked through the subarachnoid and perivascular spaces. Time-lapse imaging captures the tracer's journey,...

In Vivo Imaging of Cerebrospinal Fluid Transport in a Mouse Brain Using Fluorescence Macroscopy

This protocol describes an improved technique for the abundant collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with no contamination from blood. With greater sample collection and purity, more analyses can be performed using CSF to further our understanding of diseases that affect the brain and spinal cord.

An Improved Method for Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Anesthetized Mice

Here we describe a protocol to perform cisterna magna cannulation (CMc), a minimally invasive way to deliver tracers, substrates and signaling molecules into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Combined with different imaging modalities, CMc enables glymphatic system and CSF dynamics assessment, as well as brain-wide delivery of various compounds.

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In Vivo Imaging of Cerebrospinal Fluid Transport through the Intact Mouse Skull using Fluorescence Macroscopy

Elevated spinal fluid protein levels can either be the result of diffusion of plasma protein across an altered blood-brain barrier or intrathecal synthesis. An optimized testing protocol is presented in this article that helps to discriminate both cases and provides quantitative measurements of intrathecally synthesized proteins.

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Stereotaxic surgery to target brain sites in mice commonly involves access through the skull bones and is guided by skull landmarks. Here we outline an alternative stereotaxic approach to target the caudal brainstem and upper cervical spinal cord via the cisterna magna that relies on direct visualization of brainstem landmarks.

Stereotaxic Surgical Approach to Microinject the Caudal Brainstem and Upper Cervical Spinal Cord via the Cisterna Magna in Mice

Here, a protocol is presented to assess mouse meningeal lymphatic vessels (MLVs), which play an important role in multiple neurologic diseases. The goal of this protocol is to provide an integrated method that enables both functional evaluation of tracer drainage and detailed morphological characterization of the dorsal MLVs network.

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Learn a refined technique for serial cerebrospinal fluid collection from the cisterna magna in mice. This method enables longitudinal monitoring of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers like Aβ and tau.

A Technique for Serial Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from the Cisterna Magna in Mouse

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