title: Composition of cerebrospinal fluid in clinically normal adult ferrets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the protein and cellular composition of CSF in healthy adult ferrets.
  
  
  METHODS
  42 clinically normal adult ferrets.
  
  
  METHODS
  CSF samples were collected from the cerebellomedullary cistern of anesthetized ferrets by use of disposable 25-gauge, 1.6-cm-long hypodermic needles. Samples were processed within 20 minutes after collection. The number of WBCs and RBCs per microliter of CSF was counted by use of a hemacytometer. The total protein concentration was determined by use of an automated chemistry analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total WBC counts (range, 0 to 8 cells/microL; mean, 1.59 cells/microL) in CSF of ferrets were similar to reference range values obtained for CSF from other species. Twenty-seven CSF samples had <100 RBCs/microL (mean, 20.3 RBCs/microL). A small but significant effect of blood contamination on WBC counts was found between the 27 CSF samples with <100 RBCs/microL and the remaining samples. Protein concentrations in CSF of ferrets (range, 28.0 to 68.0 mg/dL; mean, 31.4 mg/dL) were higher than has been reported for the CSF of dogs and cats. A significant effect of blood contamination on the CSF protein concentration was not found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have established reference range values for WBC counts and protein concentrations in CSF from healthy adult ferrets that may be useful in the clinical investigation of CNS disease. Results of our study indicate that the WBC count is significantly affected by blood contamination of the CSF sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Leo J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McSherry
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chrisman
authors.forename: R Avery
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005289:Ferrets / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007530:Isoflurane; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D007530:Isoflurane