The Transcranial Cisternal Port (TCP): A Novel Technique for Repetitive Intrathecal Delivery in Mice

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-directed therapies are gaining importance in neuro-oncology, but long-term CSF access in preclinical murine models remains limited by anatomical constraints. The Transcranial Cisternal Port (TCP) is a skull-anchored cannula that provides repeated access to the murine intrathecal space.

The procedure is performed by: making an incision over the craniocervical junction and exposing the cisterna magna; performing a craniostomy on the interparietal bone and placing a guide cannula through it; verifying placement by threading a wire through the cannula and visualizing it within the cisterna magna; securing the cannula in place using surgical adhesive; and closing skin and inserting a mandrin to maintain patency. The TCP was validated via Evans blue dye injection, and long-term outcomes were assessed over 3 weeks in 43 athymic nude mice.

Evans blue dye distribution was observed throughout the cisterna magna, basal cisterns, and perivascular spaces. All animals recovered uneventfully without device-related complications. Functional retention was 93% at day 7, 86% at day 14, and 86% at day 21. Failure was related to intraluminal clogging (n = 4) and adhesive bonding of the dummy to the guide cannula (n = 2). Revision surgery was successful in all cases.

The TCP provides a skull-anchored access route to the murine CSF, enabling reliable intrathecal delivery. Cannula patency remains a limitation in some animals. Future iterations might mitigate this by improving guide cannula design. Overall, these findings establish the TCP as a scalable, functionally robust platform for modeling intrathecal regimens in preclinical studies.