Name: rodent blood sampling methods
Uploaded: 2016-09-14T17:56:01.000Z
Duration: 6 min 32 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

High School

Life Science

from-molecules-to-organisms-structures-and-processes

From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

HS-LS1-2

Blood Withdrawal II

All animal procedures described here must be conducted in accordance with institutional animal ethics guidelines and approved by IACUC. All procedures must follow the principles of the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—and must be performed by trained personnel.
1. Submandibular bleed in mice: 
Submandibular and facial vein sampling are often combined in IACUC protocols because they refer to the same anatomical region and closely related blood collection technique in rodents. The puncture site targets vessels in the cheek area, and terminology may vary between institutions or literature. Combining them avoids confusion and ensures standardized training, technique, and welfare considerations for a single procedure.
<ol>
	<li>Equipment
	<ol>
		<li>Collection of the blood is from a free catch into a blood tube or an Eppendorf tube. In some cases, it is desirable to collect directly into hematocrit tubes.</li>
		<li>18-22 gauge needles are selected based on the appropriate size for the animal according to age and sex.
		<ol>
			<li>Needles are selected according to the age/size of mice and as per the approved IACUC guideline: 
			22 gauge: 3-4 week old mice (under 15 grams body weight) 
			20 gauge: female mice under 10 weeks (under ~20 grams body weight) 
			20 gauge: male mice under 6 weeks (under ~20 grams body weight) 
			20 gauge: for single-drop samples (for blood smears) 
			18 gauge: female mice over 10 weeks (over ~20 grams body weight) 
			18 gauge: male mice over 6 weeks (over ~20 grams body weight) 
			18 gauge: large samples</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Restraint
	<ol>
		<li>Mice are restrained using the scruffing technique.</li>
		<li>It is important that side-to-side movement of the head be minimized. This ensures accurate and safe venipuncture with the needle.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Blood withdrawal
	<ol>
		<li>The needle is held perpendicular to the surface of the skin.</li>
		<li>While restraining the mouse, locate the approximate area of the submandibular vein by the point where a line from the corner of the mouth intersects a line from the lateral canthus of the eye. This coincides with a small, hairless dimple found caudal to the corner of the mouth and slightly below the jaw line.</li>
		<li>For better accuracy in puncturing the vessel, position the mouse in lateral recumbency.</li>
		<li>Pierce the skin with the tip of the needle at that point. This is done with a firm push and not as throwing a dart.</li>
		<li>The needle is not inserted beyond the tip of the bevel.</li>
		<li>Upon removal of the needle, blood will begin to flow.</li>
		<li>To assist blood flow, position the mouse with the head lower than the heart.</li>
		<li>Collect the blood in the desired collection vessel.</li>
		<li> Blot the puncture site with a gauze pad, taking care not to touch the cornea of the eye</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
<img alt="Rodent injection procedure; laboratory research; gloved hands, needle, mouse; scientific method." src="/files/ftp_upload/10247/10247fig1v2.jpg" data-altupdatedat="1784001604000" data-alt="Figure 1"> 
Figure 1. Submandibular (facial) vein bleed in mice.
2. Saphenous bleed
<ol>
	<li>Equipment
	<ol>
		<li>27–25 gauge needle or blood lancet (for mice)</li>
		<li>Hair removal tool (electric shaver preferred)</li>
		<li>Haematocrit tubes or appropriate blood collection tubes</li>
		<li>Sterile gauze or swabs</li>
		<li>Aseptic supplies (e.g., gloves, disinfectant)</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Restraint
	<ol>
		<li>Gentle manual restraint or use restrain tube</li>
		<li>The mouse is restrained gently by hand for the minimum duration necessary.</li>
		<li>The hind leg is extended and immobilised by applying gentle downward pressure just above the knee joint.</li>
		<li>This position stretches the skin over the ankle and stabilises the limb for sampling.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Blood withdrawal
	<ol>
		<li>Hair is removed from the lateral aspect of the hind leg, from just above the foot to below the knee, using an electric shaver.</li>
		<li>Aseptic technique is followed throughout the procedure.</li>
		<li>Gentle pressure is applied above the knee joint to stretch the skin and visualise the lateral saphenous vein.</li>
		<li>
		<div>The needle is held perpendicular to the skin over the vein.</div>
		<div>Puncture the vessel carefully, avoiding deep insertion into the underlying tissue.</div>
		</li>
		<li>
		<div>Blood is allowed to bead on the skin surface and is collected by capillary action into a haematocrit tube or allowed to passively drip into a collection tube.</div>
		</li>
		<li>
		<div>If required, alternate legs may be used for repeated sampling. No more than three needle sticks should be attempted per sampling session, and no more than four samples should be collected within 24 hours.</div>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>
	<div>Haemostasis and recovery</div>
	<ol>
		<li>
		<div>Blood flow is stopped by relaxing the grip on the leg and applying gentle pressure with a sterile swab over the puncture site.</div>
		</li>
		<li>
		<div>Ensure complete haemostasis before returning the animal to its home cage.</div>
		</li>
		<li>
		<div>The animal is monitored for adverse effects such as bruising, haemorrhage, infection, or favouring of the opposite limb.</div>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Catheterization
<ol>
	<li>Equipment
	<ol>
		<li>Appropriate sterile catheter/cannula</li>
		<li>Sterile tubing, caps, and connectors</li>
		<li>Aseptic supplies (gloves, disinfectant, sterile solutions)</li>
		<li>Protective bandaging materials</li>
		<li>Restraint system if required (e.g., harness, tether, swivel)</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Restraint
	<ol>
		<li>Animals may require restraint to prevent removal of the catheter.</li>
		<li>Where restraint systems (e.g., harness and tether) are used, animals should be acclimatised prior to the procedure.</li>
		<li>Where possible, social housing should be maintained; appropriate protection of the catheter allows group housing in some species.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Catheter placement and use
	<ol>
		<li>Catheterisation is used to enable repeated blood sampling while reducing stress associated with repeated restraint and needle puncture.</li>
		<li>This technique is recommended when multiple samples are required over short time periods.</li>
		<li>The procedure is performed using aseptic technique with sterile equipment to minimise infection risk.</li>
		<li>Animals selected for catheterisation should be assessed for good health and suitable temperament to tolerate handling and catheter maintenance.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Post-procedure care and monitoring
	<ol>
		<li>Catheterisation may cause discomfort; appropriate analgesia should be provided post-operatively.</li>
		<li>Animals must be monitored closely for the duration the catheter is in place.</li>
		<li>The catheter site and system should be checked regularly for signs of infection, blockage, or displacement.</li>
		<li>Strict hygiene and aseptic handling should be maintained during all sampling procedures.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
Key Terms and Definitions 
There is a submandibular/facial vein in the mouse that runs along the lower jaw. Both vessels converge into the jugular vein just below the jaw line, making them easily accessible. Serial samples can be taken from either vessel by alternating the side used. However, neither side should be used more often than every 5-7 days. 
When bleeding from the submandibular vein, the insertion depth of the needle is critical. An insertion depth exceeding 4-5.5 mm may result in trauma to the muscles, nerves, and other vessels that are in the head, neck, and oral cavity. Subsequent complications include excessive hemorrhage resulting in hypovolemia, drowning caused by the fluid in the mouth, and damage to oral structures that interfere with eating and drinking. 
Restraint of the animal is crucial for a successful bleed for both facial vein and submandibular vein procedures. If the grip on the scruff is too tight, the blood flow to the facial vein can be restricted. This will result in a reduction in the volume collected. Collection volumes will vary on both the facial vein and submandibular vein bleed. It is imperative to limit collection volumes so that they do not exceed the maximum volume for survival blood collection in accordance with institutional policies and an approved animal protocol. Ensuring hemostasis once the desired amount is collected will prevent additional or excessive blood loss. 
Blood collection from the saphenous vein is another viable alternative for serial bleeds. The lateral saphenous vein is a superficial vessel that runs dorsally, and then laterally, across the tarsal joint.  Although this procedure may be more aesthetically acceptable than the retro-orbital bleed, because of the preparation required-and no use of anesthesia for this method-it may actually be more stressful to the animal. Complications that can arise from a saphenous bleed are related to the puncture site. If the needle puncture is not directly on the vessel, blood may pool subcutaneously, resulting in a hematoma. Bruising, possible infection, and favoring of the limb are other possible problems. This method requires training, but it is easily grasped. Volumes collected with this method are between 10-150 µL, depending upon the frequency of sampling. The samples are variable in quality as they may contain tissue products. No more than four blood samples should be taken within a 24 hour period from the same leg. 
Questions that this video will help you answer 
The method of blood collection can cause a variation in the analysis of the sample. The skill level of the technician performing the sample collection has an impact on the quality of the sample and the welfare of the animal. The use of anesthetics can also affect the sample quality. The methods described here are all performed without the use of anesthesia, thus that variable has been eliminated. Also, all of these techniques can be used for serial sampling with minimal discomfort to the animal.

blood withdrawal ii

Source: Kay Stewart, RVT, RLATG, CMAR; Valerie A. Schroeder, RVT, RLATG. University of Notre Dame, IN
The collection of blood from mice and rats for analysis can be done through a variety of methods. Each method of collection has variations in the type of restraint required, the invasiveness of the procedure, and the necessity of a general anesthetic.1Historically, the use of the retro-orbital sinus cavity has been used, but not without debate. The controversy related to the potential tissue damage,or even blindness,caused by retro-orbital bleeds has led to the development of facial and submandibular vein bleeding methods in mice.Blood collection from the saphenous vein in both mice and rats is another technique that has been developed. These procedures do not require anesthesia and therefore are suitable when the use of anesthetics may confound blood results or other data.

Source: Kay Stewart, RVT, RLATG, CMAR; Valerie A. Schroeder, RVT, RLATG. University of Notre Dame, IN
The collection of blood from mice and rats for ...

Collecting blood from rodents is necessary for a wide variety of scientific studies, and researchers have developed different methods to achieve specific experimental goals. 
In the first video, we discussed general blood withdrawal considerations and reviewed the tail vein bleed, tail snip, intracardiac blood collection, as well as retroorbital eye bleed. 
Here, we will outline the procedures for blood collection from the submandibular vein and the saphenous vein.&#160; 
These methods are less invasive and do not require anesthesia, which makes them methods-of-choice when the use of anesthetics may confound blood results or other data. 
Now, let&#39;s review the submandibular vein bleed method. This procedure must be performed only by trained personnel in accordance with institutional animal welfare guidelines.&#160; 
The submandibular vein runs along the lower jaw of the mouse and converges with another facial vein, into the jugular vein.&#160; 
Open all lancets or needles and gauze sponges required for the procedure.&#160; The selection of the lancet size and needle gauge is dependent on the age, animal&#39;s weight, and sample size. See text protocol for details. 
Now using the dominant hand, restrain the mouse and secure the tail to minimize mouse movement. Next, use the dominant hand to retrieve an open three-millimeter lancet.&#160; 
Locate the small hairless spot just beyond the mouth and trace a straight line toward the ear. Stop where the line intersects with the outer corner of the eye.&#160; 
Now, insert the lancet at this intersection to ensure an ample blood supply and use the flat lateral edge of the lancet to collect a single drop of blood.&#160; 
Using a gauze sponge, apply gentle pressure to the puncture site for 5 to 10 seconds and return the mouse to its cage. 
&#160;Furthermore, for experiments requiring repeated sampling, sufficient recovery time must be provided between collections. Serial samples can be taken by alternating the side used.&#160; 
Now, let&#39;s learn how to collect blood from the saphenous vein. This vein is a superficial vessel that runs dorsally and then laterally across the tarsal joint.&#160; 
The animal can be either awake or anesthetized based on institutional guidelines for this procedure. 
&#160;Restrain the animal manually or using a restraint device to expose the leg. Shave the hair on the lateral portion of the leg,&#160; just above the foot to below the knee.&#160; 
Apply gentle pressure to visualize the saphenous vein and prick it with a needle.&#160;&#160; 
It is recommended to use a 25-27 gauge needle for mice and a 23-25 gauge needle for larger rodents. Collect the blood into an appropriate container.&#160; 
Apply gauze with gentle pressure to stop bleeding.&#160;&#160; 
Ensure hemostasis before returning the animal to the home cage. Monitor the mouse for distress and ensure proper recovery. This method is minimally invasive and allows repeated sampling. 
In addition, if the animal is habituated and trained for handling and blood collection procedures, this technique can be performed with minimal stress using gentle manual restraint.&#160; 
Further, for repeated blood collection for long-term sampling or multiple sampling over a relatively short period,&#160; vascular catheterization is done. See the text for details. 
After discussing the basics of blood collection techniques, let&#39;s review some examples of why these procedures may be useful for scientific research. Blood is often analyzed to confirm the immune response during vaccine development.&#160; 
Here, researchers delivered a peptide vaccine to animals suffering from bladder cancer. Next, they collected blood via the submandibular vein and separated the serum to detect the levels of different cytokines, which serve as indicators of vaccine effectiveness. 
Blood collection is also commonly performed to test the efficacy of a treatment by studying biomarkers of the human disease, like glucose levels in diabetes.&#160; 
These researchers were interested in testing the efficacy of a novel gene therapy delivered via the tail vein in diabetic animals. 
&#160;Following injection, these investigators collected blood from the saphenous vein at several time points to analyze the effect of different treatment protocols on blood glucose levels. 
Lastly, for some experiments, it is important to know the basic status of the animal, such as levels of inflammation or stress. In this example, blood plasma was collected from a rat before and after a stressful event.&#160; 
As you can see, the corticosterone, or the stress hormone, level is higher in animals ten minutes following the stressful event. 
You&#39;ve just watched JoVE&#39;s second installment on blood withdrawal techniques for mice and rats.&#160; 
After watching both these videos, you should have a better understanding of the considerations and procedures for blood collection from these animals and how they are being used in biomedical research today.&#160;

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Rodents

rodent blood sampling methods

Blood collection from mice and rats can be done with several methods. The choice depends on the restraint needed, how invasive the procedure is, and whether a general anesthetic is required. These factors help determine which method is best for a given analysis.

One older method uses the retro-orbital sinus cavity, which is located behind the eye. This approach has been debated because it may cause tissue damage or even blindness. For that reason, facial vein and submandibular vein bleeding methods were developed in mice.

Another option is blood collection from the saphenous vein. This technique can be used in both mice and rats. It does not require anesthesia, so it can be useful when anesthetics might change blood results or affect other data.

Rodent Blood Sampling Methods

rodent handling and restraint techniques

Minimizing Stress in Mouse and Rat Handling

Mouse and rat handling can create stress, even when the procedure is brief. Cage changing and other noninvasive tasks can raise heart rate, blood pressure, and serum corticosterone levels. These changes may last for several hours. Restraint for injections and blood withdrawal can also affect the animals and may influence scientific data. Because of this, proper training is needed when working with mice and rats. The goal is to reduce the effect of handling on the animals as much as possible. <br...

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blood withdrawal i

Rodent Blood Collection Methods

Blood collection in mice and rats is a common part of research studies. The method used depends on how much blood is needed, how often samples must be taken, the animal's health, and the technician's skill level. This topic includes three blood withdrawal methods: retro-orbital sinus bleeds, initial tail snip bleeds, and intracardiac bleeds. Each method requires general anesthesia, which means the animal is made unconscious before the procedure begins.

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All animal procedures described here must be conducted in accordance with institutional animal ethics guidelines and approved by IACUC. All procedures must follow the principles of the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—and must be performed by trained personnel. Environmental enrichment involves objects and practices that encourage natural behaviors, improve psychological well-being, and promote better welfare in laboratory rodents. Environmental enrichment should be tailored to the...

rodents

Compare common blood collection methods in mice and rats, including retro-orbital, facial, submandibular, and saphenous vein techniques, and when anesthesia is avoided.

Rodent Blood Sampling Methods | JoVE K12

new-york-state-science-learning-standards

New York State Science Learning Standards

Structure and Function

HS-LS1-2.

HS-LS1-3.

Kay Stewart

Valerie A. Schroeder

University of Notre Dame

Overview

Submandibular (Facial) Vein Bleed

Saphenous Vein Bleed

Applications

Summary

Characteristics of Life

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Protein digestion begins in the stomach, where the highly acidic environment can easily disrupt protein structure by exposing the peptide bonds of ...

Carbohydrate Digestion

Carbohydrate digestion and metabolism break down simple and complex carbohydrates from food into saccharides (i.e., sugars) for the body to use as energy. ...

What is a Nervous System?

Overview

The nervous system is the collection of specialized cells responsible for maintaining an organism&rsquo;s internal environment and coordinating ...

The Parasympathetic Nervous System

Overview

The parasympathetic nervous system is one of the two major divisions of the autonomic nervous system. This parasympathetic system is responsible ...

The Sympathetic Nervous System

Overview

The sympathetic nervous system&mdash;one of the two major divisions of the autonomic nervous system&mdash;is activated in times of stress. It ...

Oogenesis

In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from ...

What is a Sensory System?

Sensory systems detect stimuli&mdash;such as light and sound waves&mdash;and transduce them into neural signals that can be interpreted by the nervous ...

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ...

What is the Skeletal System?

Overview

The adult human skeleton comprises 206 bones that are connected through cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. The skeleton provides a rigid ...

an-introduction-to-the-zebrafish-danio-rerio

An Introduction to the Zebrafish: Danio rerio

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are small freshwater fish that are used as model organisms for biomedical research. The many strengths of these fish include their ...

Physiology of the Circulatory System

Homeostasis
Conditions in the external environment of an organism can change rapidly and drastically. To survive, organisms must maintain a fairly ...

Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on functions at the organism system level such as nutrient uptake, water delivery, and organism movement in response to neural stimuli. An example of an interacting system could be an artery depending on the proper function of elastic tissue and smooth muscle to regulate and deliver the proper amount of blood within the circulatory system.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include interactions and functions at the molecular or chemical reaction level.]

Rodent Blood Sampling Methods

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