Protocol for canalostomy in rats to enable inner ear injection

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Accurate delivery of substances to the inner ear is crucial for studying auditory and vestibular functions.
• Existing methods for inner ear access can lack precision and reproducibility.
• The semicircular canals offer a potential target for localized delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a standardized and precise protocol for accessing the rat inner ear.
• To enable reproducible microinjection of agents into the inner ear via a refined canalostomy technique.
• To validate the efficacy of the developed surgical approach.

Main Methods:

• Surgical exposure of the rat mastoid bone.
• Precise localization of the target semicircular canal.
• Fenestration using a cranial drill for canalostomy.
• Quantitative microinjection of agents into the inner ear.
• Fluorescence-based assessment for validation.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of the refined canalostomy technique in rats.
• Demonstrated precise delivery of agents to the inner ear.
• Fluorescence imaging confirmed accurate agent distribution.
• The protocol allows for reproducible microinjections.

Conclusions:

• The presented canalostomy protocol offers a precise and reproducible method for inner ear access in rats.
• This technique facilitates targeted delivery of chemicals or viruses for inner ear research.
• The standardized approach enhances the reliability of experimental outcomes in otology and neuroscience.