A new experimental model of obstructive hydrocephalus in the rat: the micro-balloon technique.
We used three types of specialized micro-balloons 0.7-1.35 mm in outer diameter instead of kaolin to develop a reproducible rat model of hydrocephalus with a low experimental mortality. The micro-balloon was inserted 6 mm deep into the cisterna magna via a burr hole immediately behind the lambda. The angle of introduction was 50 degrees. We also set up kaolin-induced hydrocephalic models in 25 rats as controls. The kaolin model revealed 52% mortality with an 80% induction rate of hydrocephalus, while the balloon model showed 9% mortality with a 60% induction rate. Balloon-induced hydrocephalus was maximal at 1 week and tended to decrease after 2-3 weeks. The pathological findings were not different between the two models. We concluded that the micro-balloon model for hydrocephalus is an easily reproducible model with low experimental mortality.
Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
D S
DS
Kim
S
S
Oi
M
M
Hidaka
O
O
Sato
J U
JU
Choi
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006849:Hydrocephalus; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D007616:Kaolin; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D007616:Kaolin