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Lookup NU author(s): Michael Ortiz Rios, Dr Marcus Haag, Dr Fabien BalezeauORCiD, Professor Alexander Thiele, Professor Michael SchmidORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).
© 2018 The Author(s) Background: Neuroscientists commonly use permanently implanted headposts to stabilize the head of nonhuman primates (NHPs) during electrophysiology and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Here, we present improved methodology for MRI-compatible implants without the use of acrylic for head stabilization in NHPs. New method: MRI is used to obtain a 3D-reconstruction of NHP skulls, which are used to create customized implants by modeling intersections with the bone. Implants are manufactured from PEEK using computer numerical control machining and coated with hydroxyapatite to promote osseointegration. Surgically, implants are attached to the skull with ceramic screws, while the skin flap is pulled over the implant and closed subcutaneously. Results: Quality of blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI signal is improved in animals implanted with our method as compared to traditional acrylic implants. Additionally, implants are well-integrated with the skull, remain robust for more than a year and without granulation tissue around the skin margin. Comparison with existing method(s): Previous improvements on NHP implants (Chen et al., 2017; McAndrew et al., 2012; Mulliken et al., 2015; Overton et al., 2017) lacked fMRI-compatibility, as they relied on titanium headposts and/or titanium screws. Thus, most fMRI studies in NHPs today still rely on the use of acrylic-based headposts for stabilization and the use of contrast-enhanced agents to improve MRI signal. Conclusions: Our method preserves fMRI-compatibility and results in measurable improvement in BOLD signal without the use of contrast-enhanced agents. Furthermore, the long-term stability of our implants contributes positively to the wellbeing of NHPs in neuroscience research.
Author(s): Ortiz-Rios M, Haag M, Balezeau F, Frey S, Thiele A, Murphy K, Schmid MC
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Year: 2018
Volume: 308
Pages: 377-389
Print publication date: 01/10/2018
Online publication date: 16/09/2018
Acceptance date: 10/09/2018
Date deposited: 08/10/2018
ISSN (print): 0165-0270
ISSN (electronic): 1872-678X
Publisher: Elsevier BV
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.09.013
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.09.013
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