Measurement of cardiovascular and renal function in unrestrained hamsters

We describe a preparation for measuring blood pressure, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, heart rate, and renal excretory variables (volume, electrolytes, glomerular filtration rate) in hamsters. The new approach offers an advantage over previously described methods by eliminating the problems associated with restraint. Hamsters were surgically implanted with venous and arterial catheters. A specially constructed bladder catheter, which allows flushing to minimize errors due to dead space and permits urine collection without restraining the animals, was also implanted. The hamsters were allowed to recover from surgery for 3 hours before being studied in a specially designed lucite housing unit. Representative results were obtained in cardiomyopathic and healthy hamsters.