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Methodological protocol details bilateral dorsal vagal complex injections via the atlanto-occipital membrane in mice, enabling advanced brainstem and gut-brain axis investigations.
The dorsal vagal complex (DVC) is a critical brainstem hub for gut-brain communication, yet detailed accounts for targeting it in mice remain lacking. Here, we present a protocol for bilateral DVC injections via the atlanto-occipital membrane joint. We describe steps for exposing and dissecting the atlanto-occipital membrane, bilateral administration of injectable agents into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), closure of the wound, and post-operative monitoring. This protocol enables studies using tracings, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and related neuroscience techniques.
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Robar et al. (2026) studied this question.
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