Protocol for synthesizing, implanting, and using polydimethylsiloxane as skull replacement in mice for imaging, electrophysiology, and optogenetics

Open Access
Authors
Publication date 09-2025
Journal STAR Protocols
Article number 103964
Volume | Issue number 6 | 3
Number of pages 20
Organisations
  • Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) - Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR)
  • Faculty of Science (FNWI) - Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS)
Abstract Many techniques to record and manipulate neuronal activity across large portions of the vertebrate brain are now available. However, few effective approaches enable both optical and mechanical access to the brain. Here, we present a protocol for synthesizing, implanting, and using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) windows as skull replacements for chronic wide-field and two-photon calcium imaging in mice. We also describe steps for performing viral injections and multi-site silicon probe implantation.
Document type Article
Language English
Published at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2025.103964
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