title: A removable silicone elastomer seal reduces granulation tissue growth and maintains the sterility of recording chambers for primate neurophysiology.
abstract: The maintenance of the sterility of craniotomies for serial acute neurophysiological recordings is exacting and time consuming yet is vital to the health of valuable experimental animals. We have developed a method to seal the craniotomy with surgical grade silicone elastomer (Silastic) in a hermetically sealed chamber. Under these conditions the tissues in the craniotomy and the inside surface of the chamber remain unpopulated by bacteria. The silicone elastomer sealant retarded the growth of granulation tissue on the dura and reduced the procedures required to maintain ideal conditions for neurophysiological recordings.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Room 4104, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Spitler
authors.forename: Katalin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gothard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000517:prevention & control; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015194:Diffusion Chambers, Culture / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000187:drug effects*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011323:Primates / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012828:Silicones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D012828:Silicones; C013830:baysilon