PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Michael Dietrich
AU  - Andrés Cruz-Herranz
AU  - Hao Yiu
AU  - Orhan Aktas
AU  - Alexander U Brandt
AU  - Hans-Peter Hartung
AU  - Ari Green
AU  - Philipp Albrecht
TI  - Whole-body positional manipulators for ocular imaging of anaesthetised mice and rats: a do-it-yourself guide
AID  - 10.1136/bmjophth-2016-000008
DP  - 2016 Nov 02
TA  - BMJ Open Ophthalmology
PG  - e000008
VI  - 1
IP  - 1
4099  - http://bmjophth.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000008.short
4100  - http://bmjophth.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000008.full
AB  - Background In vivo retinal imaging of rodents has gained a growing interest in ophthalmology and neurology. The bedding of the animals with the possibility to perform adjustments in order to obtain an ideal camera-to-eye angle is challenging.Methods We provide a guide for a cost-effective, do-it-yourself rodent holder for ocular imaging techniques. The set-up was tested and refined in over 2000 optical coherence tomography measurements of mice and rats.Results The recommended material is very affordable, readily available and easily assembled. The holder can be adapted to both mice and rats. A custom-made mouthpiece is provided for the use of inhalant anaesthesia. The holder is highly functional and assures that the rodent’s eye is the centre of rotation for adjustments in both the axial and the transverse planes with a major time benefit over unrestrained positioning of the rodents.Conclusion We believe this guide is very useful for eye researchers focusing on in vivo retinal imaging in rodents as it significantly reduces examination times for ocular imaging.