Mouse Headpost Implantation: A Method for Head Fixation in Rodents

On an anesthetized mouse whose head is shaved and prepared for surgery, make a length-wise incision to expose the skull. Next, gently remove the periosteum membrane to expose the surface of the skull. This will help the cement adhere better to the bone.

Apply activator to increase bone permeability. Then, in the area between the lambda and bregma landmarks of the skull, apply freshly mixed cement. Slide the headpost from lambda to bregma and apply more cement to ensure it is securely fixed.

Once the cement is completely dry, apply freshly mixed resin on top of the cement and around the headpost. Once the resin is dry, close the cut by suturing the skin.

After confirming a lack of response to toe pinch in a sedated mouse, use a pair of blunt forceps to grasp the skin at the back of the head and use scissors to make a 1.5-centimeter longitudinal incision to expose the skull. Gently scratch the periosteum with a scalpel and apply a drop of green activator onto the middle of the skull to increase the bone permeability.

Next, mix one spoonful of polymer from the implantation kit with five drops of monomer and one drop of catalyzer, and brush a generous amount of cement mix between the lambda and bregma skull landmarks. Using a swiping motion from lambda to bregma, quickly place the headpost onto the cement, and reapply additional cement around the inferior part of the post to ensure that the headpost sticks securely to the skull.

While the cement is drying, mix the resin powder with the resin liquid to a smooth consistency and apply the resulting resin mixture to the dried cement and around the headpost. After allowing the resin to dry for 3 minutes, use a vicryl 4-0 suture to close the skin at the back of the ears and use a cotton swab to apply a 10% to 20% iodine solution to the incision. Then, place the animal under a red light with monitoring until full recovery.