An Intracerebroventricular Injection to Analyze Murine Cytomegalovirus Distribution in a Neonatal Mouse Brain

Source: Kawasaki, H., et al. Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain. J. Vis. Exp. (2016). This video demonstrates the intracerebroventricular injection process for studying murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) distribution in the neonatal mouse brain. MCMV, engineered to express an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) for visibility, is injected into the lateral ventricle of a mouse pup's brain. The injected virus circulates through the cerebrospinal fluid, infecting cells in the periventricular region, including the marginal zone, choroid plexus, and subventricular zone.