A detailed surgical method for mechanical decerebration of the rat

Abstract

Surgical methods currently employed for the mechanical decerebration of a rat are only briefly described in the literature; hence, an information void exists for researchers wishing to adopt this technique successfully. Decerebration can lead to a high rate of mortality owing to cranial bleeding, particularly if the operator is inexperienced and uninformed. The illustrated methodology presented here describes, in detail, steps in the decerebration process and indicates effective approaches, such as reversible occlusion of a carotid artery, the combined use of tissue adhesive and haemostatic sponge, and perisurgical monitoring of blood pressure, by which to control blood loss and thus maintain mean postsurgical blood pressure within acceptable physiological parameters. By using this methodology, animal losses can be minimized, particularly in the early stages of adoption of the technique, ultimately reducing the numbers required for a study of this nature.

Microneurosurgical techniques and perioperative strategies utilized to optimize experimental supracollicular decerebration in rats

“…In direct contradistinction, our experience generally yields normotensive or hypertensive animals which may remain stable in excess of fourteen hours Marchenko, 2015, 2016a,b;Ghali, 2015;Marchenko et al, 2012;Marchenko and Rogers, 2009, 2007, 2006a. In general agreement and concordance with our assessment, Dobson and Harris (2012) suggest the general lack of a detailed description of decerebration has also prevented more prevalent and facile use of this procedure in smaller mammals. The operative steps of classic mechanical decerebration were described with intermediate de-tail across several neurophysiological studies conducted in rats (de Almeida et al, 2010;Tsuchimochi et al, 2010).…”

“…In their technique performing decerebration in rabbits, Taylor et al (1991) describe leaving one carotid artery intact in order to reduce the frequency of paroxysmal hypotensive episodes, which could putatively ensue from loss of hypothalamic neuronal inputs to rostral ventrolateral medullary presympathetic units. We accordingly suggest silk suture ligation of the internal carotid arteries above the level of the pterygopalatine artery bilaterally Marchenko, 2015, 2016a,b;Ghali, 2015Ghali, , 2019aMarchenko et al, 2012Marchenko et al, , 2015 or reversible temporary clipping of the internal carotid arteries to be performed in conjunction with packing of the skull base and cranial cavity with cold thrombin-soaked gelfoam packing without or with concurrent use of tissue adhesive represent equivalently viable alternatives to achieving reduction of cranial arterial inflow (Dobson and Harris, 2012). Though studies have occasionally anecdotally described arterial blood pressure dynamics prior to, and following, decerebration (Faber et al, 1982;Sapru and Krieger, 1978), no study has sought to characterize time variant recovery of hemodynamic variables during the interregnum.…”

“…have accordingly described or advocated the use of packing the cranial vault using gelatin sponges or cotton balls soaked in cold thrombin solution (de Almeida et al, 2010) and/or tissue adhesive (Dobson and Harris, 2012) in order to prevent blood loss and mechanically secure vessels transected at the base of the cranial cavity (Dobson and Harris, 2012). Some studies have accordingly relied significantly or exclusively on the use of cold thrombin-soaked gelfoam packing of the cranial fossae to achieve hemostasis.…”

“…Marchenko et al, 2016 provided the strongest evidence supporting respiratory rhythmogenesis and pattern formation require fast inhibitory synaptic neurotransmission in anesthetized adult rats in vivo and unanesthetized decerebrate juvenile rats in situ. Neurophysiological studies evaluating neural control of gastrointestinal (Darling and Ritter, 2009), respiratory (Zhou et al, 1996), and nociceptive (Dobson and Harris, 2012) function may accordingly actualize significant benefit through the use of this preparation. In this discussion, we will accordingly evaluate the physiological and microsurgical variables governing successful decerebration in order to encourage and facilitate the widespread use of this experimental animal model in an economical, efficient, and systematically-reproducible manner.…”

Inorganic phosphate and lactate potentiate the pressor response to acidic stimuli in rats

“…The rat was decerebrated by sectioning the brain less than 1 mm rostral to the superior colliculus (Dobson & Harris, 2012). The isoflurane was then discontinued and the lungs ventilated with room air.…”