Day 8

Microinjections

This morning, we ran group D rats.  All of group D1 received 0.3M Saccharin, all of group D2 received 0.3M MSG, and rats of group D3 in Box 1 and Box 2 received 0.3M NaCl and rats of group D3 in Box 3 and Box 4 received 0.5M NaCl.   We had another issue with the microinjections.  During microinjections for the D2 set of rats, the aCSF injectors seemed to be clogged because they did not run properly.  This put us back a little on time, but we quickly made up for it.  A rat in the D3 group had to have a second microinjection on its right side because the air bubble did not move on the first try.  While the rats were running, Julia and I made the solutions for the next trials.  We added 400 mL of water to the MSG concentration and allocated them equally (about 100 mL each) between the four baby bottles.  We also added 200 mL of water to each of the NaCl concentrations and then allocated them between the four baby bottles. After adding the water and before pouring the solution in the bottles, we added a stir bar to the beaker and allowed the solution to stir for 10 minutes.  We covered the baby bottles with cling wrap until they were ready for the next trial.  We also gave group C water for 60 minutes and group D water for 15 minutes.