# Protocol for intraventricular injection of retinoids and hypothalamic application of viral vectors in the rat and mouse brain

## TL;DR

This paper describes a protocol for studying vitamin A balance in rodents by injecting retinoids and using viral vectors in the brain.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is a detailed protocol for intraventricular retinoid injection and viral vector application in rodent brains to study vitamin A homeostasis.

## Key findings

- A protocol for intraventricular retinoid injection in rat brains is presented.
- Steps for viral vector application in the mouse arcuate nucleus to knock down vitamin A homeostatic genes are described.
- The approach is applicable for studying vitamin A homeostasis in rodents.

## Abstract

The brain, specifically the hypothalamus, is a key regulator of the homeostatic balance of numerous biomolecules in the body via its control of the neuroendocrine system. Here, we present a protocol to study body vitamin A balance by injecting synthetic retinoids into the third ventricle of the rat brain. We also describe steps for the intraventricular application of viral vectors to the arcuate nucleus of a mouse brain to knock down vitamin A homeostatic genes. This approach is applicable to the study of vitamin A homeostasis.

For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Imoesi et al.1

•Protocol to study vitamin A homeostasis in the rodent body•Steps for injecting synthetic retinoids into the third ventricle of the rat brain•Procedures for the intraventricular application of viral vectors

Protocol to study vitamin A homeostasis in the rodent body

Steps for injecting synthetic retinoids into the third ventricle of the rat brain

Procedures for the intraventricular application of viral vectors

Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

The brain, specifically the hypothalamus, is a key regulator of the homeostatic balance of numerous biomolecules in the body via its control of the neuroendocrine system. Here, we present a protocol to study body vitamin A balance by injecting synthetic retinoids into the third ventricle of the rat brain. We also describe steps for the intraventricular application of viral vectors to the arcuate nucleus of a mouse brain to knock down vitamin A homeostatic genes. This approach is applicable to the study of vitamin A homeostasis.