Intraspinal injection of adeno-associated viruses into the adult mouse spinal cord

STAR Protoc. 2021 Sep 1;2(3):100786. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100786. eCollection 2021 Sep 17.

Abstract

Genetic dissection of neural circuits has been accelerated by recent advances in viral-based vectors. This protocol describes an effective approach to performing intraspinal injections of adeno-associated viruses, which can be used to label, manipulate, and monitor spinal and supraspinal neurons. By avoiding invasive laminectomies and restrictive spinal-clamping and by adopting injectable anaesthetics and tough quartz glass micropipettes, our protocol presents a time-saving and efficient approach for genetic manipulation of neural circuits nucleated in the spinal cord. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Sathyamurthy et al. (2020).

Keywords: Microscopy; Model organisms; Neuroscience.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dependovirus*
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage*
  • Injections, Spinal / methods*
  • Mice
  • Spinal Cord / anatomy & histology*
  • Spinal Cord / diagnostic imaging