Technique for creating a permanent cecal fistula in the rat.
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.
Kloots
W J
WJ
Unilever Research Laboratorium, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands.
van Amelsvoort
J M
JM
Brink
E J
EJ
Ritskes
J
J
Remie
R
R
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*