title: Ultrasound as a safe and reliable guidance for subarachnoid puncture in rabbits.
abstract: To evaluate a model for studying the toxicity in nervous tissue and meninges using ultrasound to guide needle insertion into the subarachnoid space of rabbits, with the objective of avoiding injuries triggered by the puncture and by intraneural injection of solutions.
  Forty-five adult female rabbits were divided into 3 groups (G): G1 underwent subarachnoid puncture, G2 underwent subarachnoid injection of saline solution and G3 underwent subarachnoid injection of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. A needle was inserted into the S1-S2 subarachnoid space guided by ultrasound. The sensitivity and motility of the animals were evaluated for 3 days, after which the animals were sacrificed for removal of lumbar and sacral portions of the spinal cord for histological examination by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry.
  All animals had motor function and pain sensitivity on the evaluation period. No animal had complication during or after the procedures.
  Ultrasound is a useful and safe method for the correct identification of the subarachnoid space of rabbits.
authors.affiliation: PhD, Department of Anesthesiology, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu-SP, Brazil. Conception and design of the study.
authors.forename: Ivan Dias Fernandes
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Fellow PhD degree, Postgraduate Program in Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil. Statistical analysis, critical revision.
authors.forename: Roberto Bezerra
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Vital
authors.affiliation: Fellow PhD degree, Postgraduate Program in Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil. Statistical analysis, critical revision.
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Graduate student, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil. Acquisition of data, technical procedures.
authors.forename: Felipe Gilberto
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Valerini
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil. Acquisition of data, technical procedures.
authors.forename: Vania Maria de Vasconcelos
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil. Histopathological examinations.
authors.forename: Mariangela Esrher
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil. Statistical analysis.
authors.forename: Helio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miot
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil. Critical revision.
authors.forename: Lais Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: PhD, Full Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, UNESP, Botucatu-SP, Brazil. Intellectual and scientific content of the study, manuscript writing, critical revision.
authors.forename: Eliana Marisa
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ganem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000379:methods*; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*