Procedure for the decerebration of the rat.

A procedure for the decerebration of the rat was devised. The internal and external carotid arteries were ligated under halothane anesthesia. A transection was made at the mid-collicular level of the brain and the transected forebrain was removed. The posterior communicating arteries were occluded by suction and oxidized cellulose was packed around these vessels. The cut surface of the brain was covered with oxidized cellulose and the cranial cavity was filled with cotton balls. Head-up tilt, carotid occlusion and sodium cyanide responses indicated that the orthostatic, baro-, and chemo- reflexes were intact in these preparations. The stability of the preparation (for at least 8-10 hr) and the integrity of these reflexes indicate that the decerebrate rat may be a suitable alternative for studies involving brain stem regulatory mechanisms in this species when it is desirable to avoid general anesthetics.