Changes in physiological parameters of rat cerebrospinal fluid during chronic sampling: evaluation of two sampling methods

Although rat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is increasingly being used in pharmacological and biochemical research, methodological studies on basic physiological data are lacking. We have determined the albumin content and number of erythrocytes and leukocytes in CSF obtained by two different methods of sampling from cisterna magna-repeated sampling from an implanted cannula and by repeated punctures. In the initial samples the albumin content was 0.08 +/- 0.03 micrograms/microliters. Chronic cannulation of the cisterna magna resulted in a meningeal reaction with increased cell and albumin content: a reaction that could be reduced but not prevented by using a sterile cannula. The number of leukocytes but not erythrocytes was highly correlated to the albumin content. Repeated sampling in the absence of a permanent cannula did not significantly increase albumin content but carried a higher risk for erythrocyte contamination.