AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 255, Issue 2 191-G193, Copyright © 1988 by American Physiological Society
A simple method for chronic cannulation of the portal vein in intact unrestrained rats
A. Braillon and M. J. Brody
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
A simple new method is described for chronic cannulation of the portal vein
in rats. A Silastic catheter (0.64 mm OD) with an internal metallic leader
is directly inserted in the junction of the two small ileal veins. The
catheter is advanced into the mesenteric vein to the portal vein. Then the
leader is removed and the catheter tunneled out the back of the neck. This
method allows for the measurement of portal vein pressure, direct injection
of substances in the portal vein, or blood samples for at least 1 wk in
intact unrestrained rats. Validation included the presence of elevated
portal vein pressure in portal hypertensive rats compared with normal rats
and the absence of clot development in the portal vein. This method should
help provide a better understanding of hepatic physiology and pharmacology
in normal and disease states.
