title: An improved technique for cerebrospinal fluid collection of cisterna magna in Rhesus monkeys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently-used cerebellomedullary cistern puncture method for collecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from monkeys is simple, inexpensive, and practical, but with high risk for brainstem injury and CSF blood contamination. An improved technique was thus developed and characterized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Magnetic resonance imaging was used to identify the space and position of the cisterna magna in monkeys. Accordingly, a newly defined procedure for needle punctuation was tested in comparison with the traditional method. Blood contamination in CSF samples and brainstem injury were determined to define the superior of the improved method over the transitional method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cisterna magna in monkeys was found to be a "▽" shape. The needle was punctured into the cisterna magna aiming at the wider superior gap avoided brainstem injury. The improved method showed that the rate of blood contamination in the CSF samples was reduced from 66.7% to 16.7%, the higher rate of blood contamination was associated with higher risk for brainstem injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  In traditional method, the needle is punctured aiming at the inferior gap with high density of blood vessels. In improved method, the needle is punctured aiming at the superior gap, pointing to the nose root while advancing the needle and avoiding injury to blood vessels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This improved technique not only avoids blood contamination of CSF, but also prevents brainstem injury during the process of CSF collection. It is recommended for adaptation for CSF collection in monkeys.
authors: Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors: Xianglong
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors: Pengfei
authors: P
authors: Han
authors: Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors: Yingjia
authors: Y
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors: Huaiqiang
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Xiao
authors: Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. Electronic address: yjkang01@louisville.edu.
authors: Y James
authors: YJ
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002946:Cisterna Magna; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Cerebrospinal fluid; Cisterna magna; MRI; Rhesus monkey; Sampling procedure