Long-term recording from the chorda tympani nerve in rats

Cuff electrodes with headcap connectors were implanted around the rat chorda tympani nerve. Whole nerve recordings under anesthesia were made from these nerves every week to chemical, thermal and tactile stimuli applied to the anterior tongue. The signal/noise ratio of these recordings was similar to acute recordings from the chorda tympani nerve, and the nerves were spontaneously active. Responses to chemical as well as thermal and mechanical stimulation of the tongue were recorded as early as 2 and 3 weeks after implantation and recordings from the same nerve were made for more than 3 months. These results have demonstrated the feasibility of making long-term chronic recordings of chemosensory activity in the chorda tympani nerve. The cuff electrode has great potential to provide correlative information between neurophysiological and behavioral data.