Stereotaxic surgery for implantation of guide cannulas for microinjection into the dorsomedial hypothalamus in young rats

Stereotaxic surgery to implant guide cannulas into the rodent brain is a frequently used technique to deliver drugs to targeted brain regions in awake, freely moving animals. There are limited reports, however, of central injections in young animals, and no information on cannula implantation for drug administration into the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) in young rats. Our protocol describes a simple and successful method for implanting guide cannulas in the brains of young, male Sprague-Dawley rats and outlines newly developed stereotaxic coordinates to accurately target the dorsomedial hypothalamus. • Stereotaxic surgical procedure for guide cannula implantation in the DMH in young rats. • Development of stereotaxic coordinates of the DMH in young rats. • Microinjection of drugs into the young rat brain.