title: Technique for creating a permanent cecal fistula in the rat.
abstract: A method was developed to surgically implant a silicone/stainless steel fistula-cannula in the cecum of freely moving rats. The specially designed fistula-cannula allows sampling of cecal contents at any time without disturbing the physiologic functions of the intestinal tract, as evaluated by observation of general well-being and postmortem macroscopic inspection. The fistula-cannula was implanted in 12 male rats under general anesthesia. The animals remained in good health during the postoperative period lasting up to 9 weeks. They gained weight normally compared with a control group (n = 8) that had not undergone surgery. Samples of 0.2 to 1.0 g of contents could be collected with a microspatula, without the need to anesthetize the animal. The model provides a useful system for sampling cecal contents without the need to sacrifice the animal. Because it allows cross-over studies to be carried out, this approach may result in significantly reducing the number of animals required for digestive studies.
authors.affiliation: Unilever Research Laboratorium, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kloots
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Amelsvoort
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ritskes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Remie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002431:Cecostomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D002432:Cecum / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004867:Equipment Design; D005402:Fistula / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar / Q000601:surgery*