Development of a Percutaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection Technique in F-344 Rats and Evaluation of Cell Counts and Total Protein Concentrations

Abstract

A simple technique for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection was developed in F-344 rats. Cell counts and total protein concentrations were evaluated to assess sample quality. While the 50 to 70 µL samples of CSF collected on three different days showed a progressive decrease in the total erythrocyte and nucleated cell counts, no significant changes were observed in the total protein concentrations. Progressive decreases in the total erythrocyte count correlated positively with the decreases in volume of CSF collected. Our data suggest that collection of less than 50 µL of CSF will give a better quality of CSF in F-344 rats. This is the first report of cellular and protein parameters in the CSF of F-344 rats.

Technique for collection of cerebrospinal fluid from the cisterna magna in rat

“…While these procedures have significantly contributed to neuroscience research, blood contamination of the CSF is common. Visible blood contaminations of the CSF samples are 20-30% or higher (Ylitalo et al, 1976;De la Calle and Paíno, 2002;Sharma et al, 2006).…”

“…Unfortunately, blood contamination of the CSF is common for all of these established techniques (Ylitalo et al, 1976;De la Calle and Paíno, 2002;Sharma et al, 2006). Artifactitious blood contamination that often results from these collection procedures may lead to misinterpretation of experimental results.…”

“…Direct lumbar puncture into the intrathecal space is also used in CSF collection in rats (De la Calle and Paíno, 2002). More recently, percutaneous CSF collection in anesthetized animals or immediately following asphyxiation has also been reported (Sharma et al, 2006).…”

TNFα Causes Thrombin-Dependent Vagal Neuron Apoptosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…It was then centrifuged at 4° for 20minutes at approximately 1500G and the serum preserved at −80° until use. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from the cisterna magna as previously described(7), then stored at −80°. For all other cases, rats were deeply anesthetized prior to intra-cardiac perfusion with PBS.…”

Comparing levels of biochemical markers in CSF from cannulated and non-cannulated rats

“…In recent reports in which rat models are used for CNS research, two main techniques for collecting CSF are employed. Some investigators (Wang et al, 2004;El Mouedden et al, 2005;Hoistad et al, 2005) use rats having surgically implanted cannulas that access the cisterna magna while others (Takasugi et al, 2005;Best et al, 2006;Sharma et al, 2006) utilize a technique recently detailed (Nirogi et al, 2009) whereby a small 'butterfly' needle is guided, transcutaneously, into the cisterna magna at the time of collection. No other incision or surgical technique is employed in the latter method.…”