article published yes Alessandro Venturino author 41CB84B2-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0003-2356-9403 Sandra Siegert author 36ACD32E-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A870000-0001-8635-0877 SaSi department Microglia action towards neuronal circuit formation and function in health and disease project Enzymatic digestion of the extracellular matrix with chondroitinase-ABC reinstates juvenile-like plasticity in the adult cortex as it also disassembles the perineuronal nets (PNNs). The disadvantage of the enzyme is that it must be applied intracerebrally and it degrades the ECM for several weeks. Here, we provide two minimally invasive and transient protocols for microglia-enabled PNN disassembly in mouse cortex: repeated treatment with ketamine-xylazine-acepromazine (KXA) anesthesia and 60-Hz light entrainment. We also discuss how to analyze PNNs within microglial endosomes-lysosomes. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Venturino et al. (2021). https://research-explorer.ista.ac.at/download/10565/10570/2021_STARProt_Venturino.pdf application/pdfno Elsevier2021 eng 2666-166710.1016/j.xpro.2021.101012 24 Venturino, Alessandro, and Sandra Siegert. “Minimally Invasive Protocols and Quantification for Microglia-Mediated Perineuronal Net Disassembly in Mouse Brain.” <i>STAR Protocols</i>, vol. 2, no. 4, 101012, Elsevier, 2021, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101012">10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101012</a>. Venturino, A., &#38; Siegert, S. (2021). Minimally invasive protocols and quantification for microglia-mediated perineuronal net disassembly in mouse brain. <i>STAR Protocols</i>. Elsevier. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101012">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101012</a> Venturino A, Siegert S. 2021. Minimally invasive protocols and quantification for microglia-mediated perineuronal net disassembly in mouse brain. STAR Protocols. 2(4), 101012. Venturino A, Siegert S. Minimally invasive protocols and quantification for microglia-mediated perineuronal net disassembly in mouse brain. <i>STAR Protocols</i>. 2021;2(4). doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101012">10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101012</a> A. Venturino, S. Siegert, STAR Protocols 2 (2021). A. Venturino and S. Siegert, “Minimally invasive protocols and quantification for microglia-mediated perineuronal net disassembly in mouse brain,” <i>STAR Protocols</i>, vol. 2, no. 4. Elsevier, 2021. Venturino, Alessandro, and Sandra Siegert. “Minimally Invasive Protocols and Quantification for Microglia-Mediated Perineuronal Net Disassembly in Mouse Brain.” <i>STAR Protocols</i>. Elsevier, 2021. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101012">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101012</a>. 105652021-12-19T23:01:32Z2025-05-14T11:26:30Z