Intrathecal Delivery of a Test Compound to the Rat Central Nervous System

Abstract

Source: Chen, Y., et al. Intrathecal Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotides in the Rat Central Nervous System. J. Vis. Exp. (2019)

This video demonstrates the delivery of a test compound into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through a catheter implanted in the lumbar spinal column of a rat model. The compound circulates along the CSF to the brain and spinal cord, enters neurons, and offers therapeutic potential.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Surgery

1. With the rat supported by the 50 mL conical tube, identify the two natural pits between muscles above the pelvis (arrows in Figure 1A). With one hand holding those pits, use the other hand to gently press and feel the spine from caudal to rostral direction and find the first major indentation between vertebrae, and this is the intervertebral space between sacral 1 (S1) and lumbar 6 (L6) vertebrae (Figure 1B).
2. Move slightly rostrally to identify the next indenta....

Results

Figure 1: Identification of injection site and incision line. (A) With the abdomen of the rat supported by a 50 mL .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
BD intramedic PE tubing	BD	Polyethylene tubing PE50, diameter 0.023 in	BD 427400 (10 ft, Fischer Scientific 22-204008) or 427401 (100 ft, Fischer Scientific 14-170-12P)
BD intramedic PE tubing	BD	Polyethylene tubing PE10, diameter 0.011 in	BD 427410 (10 ft, Fischer Scientific 14-170-11B) or 4274011 (100 ft, Fischer Scientific 14-170-12B)
BD PrecisionGlide single-use needles 30G	BD		BD 305128
Guide cannula	BD	19G x 1 WT (1.1 mm x 25 mm) needle	BD 305186
Hamilton syringe 100 ul	Hamilton company	Hamilton syringe 100 ul
Hot bead sterilizer	Fine Science Tools		Sterilizer model no. FST 250
Povidone scrub	PDI		S48050
Saline	Baxter	Sodium chloride 0.9% intravenous infusion BP 50 ml	FE1306G
Scalpel	Feather	Disposable scalpel	No. 10
Small animal heating pad	K&H Manufacturing		Model no. 1060
Stylet wire	McMaster-Carr	1749T14	LH-36233780
Surgery towel drape	Dynarex		4410
Surgical scissors and forceps	FST and Fisher Scientific
Sutures	Ethicon		4-0 or 5-0
Alternative source for pre-made and sterilized materials for this procedure
Dosing catheter system	SAI Infusion Systems		RIDC-01
Guide cannula	SAI Infusion Systems		RIDC-GCA
Internal catheters	SAI Infusion Systems		RIDC-INC
Stylet wire	SAI Infusion Systems		RIDC-STY