An improvement on the Bollman method of restraining and collecting thoracic duct lymph from the rat

A method of obtaining rat thoracic duct lymphocytes is described, including a review of the surgical technique, with several modifications, and including an outline of a newly designed rat restrainer that helps to triple thoracic duct output compared to the Bollman restrainer. The new restrainer allows the rat increased mobility but protects the thoracic duct cannula. Unanesthetized 200 g rats yielded 80 ml/day thoracic duct lymph containing 4.2 x 10(4) lymphocytes/ml.