Intermittent vascular access for extracorporeal circulation in conscious rats: a new technique.

A new technique is described for repeated intermittent access to the systemic circulation in fully conscious rats for infusion or extracorporeal circulation. The femoral artery and vein of each rat were cannulated. The cannulas were then passed subcutaneously and exteriorized through the skin of the tail 2 cm from its base. The exposed cannulas were protected by a special plastic device. This new approach did not immobilize the rat except during access to the circulation; even then, only the distal portion of the tail was immobilized, thus allowing the animal to move freely. This way repeated access to the systemic circulation was easily achieved in the fully conscious rat.