Care and use of brain and intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannulated mice
The cannula implanted in mice consists of a guide cannula and a dummy cannula. The guide cannula is placed into the brain at predetermined coordinates through a hole drilled in the skull. The dummy cannula consists of a cap that screws onto the guide cannula and has a stylet that inserts into the guide cannula to prevent materials from entering it when it's not being used.
An internal/injector cannula, which is used to deliver material (e.g., drugs, test compounds) through the guide cannula into the ventricle, is shipped separately.
To administer a compound into the ventricle
- Use aseptic technique.
- Attach a length of PE50 tubing to the injector cannula. To the opposite end of the tubing, insert a 23g blunted needle attached to an appropriately sized micro-syringe loaded with the test compound.
- Fill the tubing and injector with the test compound.
- Immobilize the mouse. We recommend gas anesthesia.
- Unscrew the dummy cannula and set aside.
- Insert the injector cannula into the guide cannula. When correctly seated, the injector cannula locks onto the guide cannula.
- The test material can now be injected through the cannula.
- The total volume injected should not exceed 5µl and the infusion rate should not exceed 1µl/min.
- Remove the injector cannula and reinsert the dummy cannula into the guide cannula.
Housing of cannulated mice
- To prevent cannulated mice from chewing on each others' cannulas, we recommend housing them individually.
- We recommend housing them in cages without wire bar lids. Otherwise, the lids might interfere with the cannulas.
For additional information please contact Andree Lapierre at Surgical Services: 207-288-1468 or surgicalservices@jax.org.
