title: A New Technique for Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Rat Pups.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuroprotective strategies to prevent or decrease brain injury in hypoxic ischemic newborns are one of the main research lines in neonatology. Animal models have been used to assess the efficiency of new therapeutic strategies. Brain damage biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are frequently used to evaluate the outcome at the bedside. Despite the importance of this approach in clinical practice, there are many difficulties in using it in small animals. The aim of this paper was to describe a new technique for collecting CSF in rat pups. Furthermore the reference values of S100β protein levels, commonly used in common clinical practice, were analyzed in animals between 7 to 12 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  42 Wistar rat pups aged 7 to 12 days were used. CSF was obtained by direct puncture of the cisterna magna with a 24-gauge needle. S100β protein levels were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CSF was successfully obtained in 96% of the cases, with an average amount of 21.28 μl (5-40 μl). Normal values for S100β were described. HI animals presented higher S100β values than controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A simple, reproducible technique for CSF collection in rat pups has been described. This new method will allow study of brain injury biomarkers in newborn hypoxic ischemic animal models.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Service, Hospital de Sant Joan de Déu Maternal, Fetal and Neonatology Center Barcelona (BCNatal), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Fanjul
authors.affiliation: Neonatology Service, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Galacia, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina Durán
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Fernández-Feijóo
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Service, Hospital de Sant Joan de Déu Maternal, Fetal and Neonatology Center Barcelona (BCNatal), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta Camprubí
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Camprubí
keywords: S100B-protein; cerebrospinal fluid collection; hypoxic-ischemic; rat pups