This protocol is a quick guide to how to prepare a solution of LPS on the saline vehicle, how to inject a rat for an intraperitoneal injection, and how to monitor the animal after injection.

Protocol for rat brain processing to perform parallel histological analysis in one hemisphere and high dimensional flow cytometry in the other.

Protocol for Constant Potential Amperometry recordings in vitro of evoked dopamine release in the rat striatum

The sucrose preference test assesses the animal’s interest in a sweet-tasting sucrose solution relative to unsweetened water.

The open field test is a simple test to evaluate general motor and explorative behavior in rodents.

Protocol to assess motor coordination and balance by using an accelerating rod.

This protocol describes juxtacellular recordings in the VTA and LC of adult mice, involving anesthesia, precise brain targeting, and neuron labeling. Using specialized electrodes and a dual-channel amplifier, neuronal activity is recorded and modulated with current injections. Following recordings, brains are perfused, fixed, and sectioned for detailed morphological analysis.

This protocol details acute extracellular multi-unit recordings and optotagging in mice.

This protocol describes an optogenetic activation of neuromelanine-laden dopaminergic neurons in the SNc-VTA.

This protocol outlines a method for modulating noradrenergic and dopaminergic neuronal activity in the LC and SNc-VTA, respectively, using Cre-dependent hM3D and hM4D expression. It details stereotactic injection techniques for these chemogenetic tools and the preparation of the J60 agonist for intraperitoneal delivery. Developed for longitudinal studies spanning up to four weeks, the protocol aims to assess neuromelanin's activity-dependent accumulation through daily agonist administration.

The open field test is a classical test for the quantification of locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviors in laboratory animals. This protocol is optimized for mice, and it includes the automatic analysis of their movement by Biobserve Viewer.

The elevated plus maze is a classical test to screen anxiety-like behaviors in laboratory animals.

The parallel beam test protocol is designed to evaluate the motor coordination of mice. This protocol is designed to assess motor skills, particularly in neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

The Rotarod Test Protocol for Mice assesses their motor coordination and balance. Mice are trained to walk on a rotating rod in a dimly lit environment and then tested for their ability to maintain balance as the rod accelerates from 4 to 40 RPM. The test, repeated thrice with intervals, measures the latency to fall and speed at the fall. This protocol is vital to study neurological disease such as Parkinson disease.

This protocol describes the setup and execution of the light-dark box test for mice, a behavioral experiment used to assess anxiety-related responses. The protocol involves preparing a light-dark box in a controlled environment, utilizing specific lighting conditions and camera settings for optimal observation and recording.

The locomotion test is an open field test in darkness, so it does not aim to measure anxiety, only locomotor activity.