Thoracic duct cannulation of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) for lymphocyte collection: thoracic approach.

The thoracic duct of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) was cannulated with medical grade tubing through a thoracatomy at right interspace 9-10. In 42 monkeys successfully cannulated, a mean of 1.194 x 10(9) lymphocytes was collected in the 70-hour period after surgery. A second collection, 1-3 weeks later, was possible for a shorter period (up to 60 hours) in a portion of these monkeys (15) with a smaller mean yield of lymphocytes (1.076 x 10(9). A third, but still shorter, collection period of up to 48 hours was possible in only five monkeys from which a mean yield of 0.698 x 10(9) lymphocytes was collected. A temporary postoperative weight loss in the monkeys was followed by a return to normal weight several months later.