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

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

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

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

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.