Simultaneous Non-Invasive Electrocardiogram and Respiration Rate Recordings in Head-Fixed Awake Mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Autonomic regulation of heart and respiratory rates is crucial for understanding brain-body interactions.
• Current preclinical methods (anesthesia, telemetry) introduce confounds like stress and impaired recovery.
• There is a need for minimally invasive, high-quality physiological recordings in awake animals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a minimally invasive protocol for simultaneous electrocardiography and respiratory signal acquisition in awake mice.
• To enable stable, long-term physiological recordings alongside in vivo microscopy.
• To enhance the translational relevance of preclinical cardiovascular-cerebral dynamics studies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an in-house-modified physiological monitor in awake, head-fixed mice.
• Implemented a brief habituation protocol to minimize stress.
• Integrated physiological monitoring with in vivo imaging without surgical implantation or telemetry.

Main Results:

• Achieved simultaneous acquisition of high-quality electrocardiography and respiratory signals.
• Enabled stable, long-term physiological recordings in conscious, head-fixed mice.
• Demonstrated a robust, low-stress method for physiological signal acquisition.

Conclusions:

• The presented protocol offers a robust, low-stress method for acquiring physiological signals in awake mice.
• This technique facilitates the simultaneous study of cardiovascular-cerebral dynamics.
• Enhances the translational relevance of preclinical measurements in neuroscience.