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Updated: Jul 9, 2025
Convection Enhanced Delivery of Optogenetic Adeno-associated Viral Vector to the Cortex of Rhesus Macaque Under Guidance of Online MRI Images
Published on: May 23, 2019
Protocol for MRI-guided virus injection in macaque deep brain regions
Panke Yu1, Zhiting Zhang2, Yuyin Wang2
1Shenzhen Technological Research Center for Primate Translational Medicine, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, the Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
This study presents a protocol for precise virus delivery into deep brain regions of monkeys using MRI guidance. This method overcomes challenges posed by the large and complex primate brain for optogenetics and chemogenetics research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Primate Research
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Optogenetics and chemogenetics require precise viral vector delivery for targeted gene expression in specific brain regions.
- Administering viral vectors to deep brain structures in non-human primates is technically challenging due to brain size and complexity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and describe a reliable protocol for accurate virus injection into deep brain regions of monkeys.
- To facilitate advanced neuroscience research, including optogenetic and chemogenetic studies, in primate models.
Main Methods:
- A protocol involving a guiding grid, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning, and MRI-based localization for precise targeting.
- Detailed description of the steps for surgical preparation, imaging, and viral vector administration.
Main Results:
- The presented protocol enables effective and precise delivery of viruses into deep brain regions in monkeys.
- The method addresses the limitations of previous techniques in primate deep brain surgery.
Conclusions:
- This MRI-guided protocol enhances the feasibility and accuracy of viral vector delivery in non-human primate deep brain regions.
- The protocol is a valuable tool for advancing optogenetic and chemogenetic research in primate models, crucial for understanding brain function.
