A rapid and simple cannulation technique for repeated sampling of cerebrospinal fluid in freely moving rats.
A cannulation technique for frequent sampling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in unanaesthetized freely moving rats is described. A permanent stainless steel cannula, constructed in such a way that no loss of CSF occurs, is placed into the rat's cisterna magna and fixed to the skull by anchoring screws and dental cement. A special CSF outflow opening of the cannula is connected to polyethylene tubing for CSF sampling. Amounts of 50-150 microliters CSF can be collected repeatedly without any sign of disturbing the animal. The technique lends itself not only to pilot studies in which within a short period of time a large amount of CSF is wanted, but also to experiments in which physiological conditions are required.
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D002946:Cisterna Magna; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats