Long-term cannulation model for blood sampling and intragastric infusion in the rat

An improved methodology is described for long-term venous and gastric cannulation in the rat. The long-term efficacy of the cannulas for blood sampling and intragastric infusion of liquid diet was determined in 18 rats. No animals died after surgery, and weight gain was normal. During the first 6 wk, blood could be drawn repetitively in 94% of the rats, and continuous intragastric infusion of diet was maintained in all the animals. For an extended period of 11 wk, success rates for blood sampling and dietary infusion were 75 and 100%, respectively. Standard hematological, histopathological, and clinical laboratory tests showed no abnormal changes. Furthermore, plasma corticosterone levels were consistently low (0.5 +/- 0.11 to 1.52 +/- 0.55 micrograms/dl) from the third postoperative day throughout a period of 6 wk, indicating that animals were under minimal stress.