Chronic catheterization using vascular-access-port in rats: blood sampling with minimal stress for plasma catecholamine determination.

Chronic catheterization is illustrated using vascular-access-port model SLA where the port is surgically placed subcutaneously on the back of the rat. The catheter is tunnelled to the neck and inserted into the jugular vein. Within 24 h rats showed normal blood pressure and blood samples were collected at intervals with minimal stress to the animals. A comparison of the plasma catecholamine of blood collected from vascular-access-ports with that obtained from decapitation indicates that there was minimal stress to the rats when blood was drawn through the vascular-access-port.