Controlled Cortical Impact Injury in Mice

Animals were prepared for CCI as previously described^{36 (link)}. Male CD1 mice at postnatal (P) day 21 and P60-75 were anesthetized with ketamine (100 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneal injection and positioned in a stereotaxic frame. Body temperature was monitored with a homeothermic blanket system (Harvard apparatus, Lewes, DE) containing a rectal probe and maintained at 37 °C with an autoregulated heating pad. A 4 mm craniotomy was made using a portable drill over the right parietal-temporal cortex (−2.5 mm A/P and 2.0 mm lateral from bregma). Injury was induced by moderate CCI using the eCCI- 6.3 device (Custom Design & Fabrication; 3 mm beveled steel impact tip) at a velocity of 5.0 +/− 0.3 m/s, 1.0 mm depth and 150 ms impact duration^{19 (link),37 (link)}. Sham controls received craniotomy only.