Across disciplines, access to the circulatory system in lab animals for research is essential. Particularly for pharmacological studies, chronically implanted catheters can be used to administer drugs, sample blood, and directly measure blood pressure and the heart rate. With proper technique, catheters can be maintained in healthy animals for several weeks.
"While there are many excellent resources as to the catheterization procedure, Jove provides the unique ability to not only read the step-by-step instructions, but also watch as an investigator performs the procedure," said paper author Dr. Carrie Northcott from Michigan State University.
To see the procedure in action, please click here.