Abstract
The spinal cord represents a complex system that serves in the encoding of sensory information and organization of autonomic and somatomotor outflow. As such, it has become a target of investigation for subjects ranging from pain to hypertension to motor spasticity. A primary method in such investigations is the specific delivery of drugs into the spinal intrathecal space to assess such agents with the actions limited to the spinal cord. The rat has served as a primary model in these investigations. It provides for the ability to deliver such agents both acutely and chronically in the absence of anesthesia or restraint. These goals can be accomplished by the placement of intrathecal catheters in the spinal space. This model, first demonstrating the feasibility of routinely catheterizing the lumbar intrathecal space in 1976, led directly to enabling a large number of studies focusing on spinal drug actions. As a test model, it has provided for the acquisition of an exceptional amount of information on the pharmacological and physiological mechanisms of spinal function, drug screening, drug efficacy and safety studies, and pharmacokinteics of spinally delivered drugs. The modified surgical method of intrathecal catheter placement, microinjection drug delivery, and behavioral parameters are described in detail.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Yaksh, T. L. and Rudy T. A. (1976) Chronic catheterization of the subarachnoid space. Physiol. Behav. 17, 1031–1036.
Malkmus, S. A., Myers, R. R., and Yaksh, T. L. (1997) Rat chronic spinal intrathecal infusion model for drug safety evaluation. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 36S, 276.
Kohn, F. R., Malkmus, S. A., Brownson, E. A., et al. (1998) Fate of the predominant phospholipid component of DepoFoam drug delivery matrix after intrathecal administration of sustained-release encapsulated cytarabine in rats. Drug Delivery 5, 143–151.
Yaksh, T. L. and Malkmus, S. A. (1999) Animal models of intrathecal and epidural drug delivery, in Spinal Drug Delivery (Yaksh, T. L., ed.), Elsevier Press, Amsterdam, Netherlands, pp. 317–344.
Fletcher, T. F. and Malkmus, S. A. (1999) Spinal anatomy of experimental animals, in Spinal Drug Delivery (Yaksh, T. L., ed.), Elsevier Press, Amsterdam, Netherlands, pp. 71–96.
Marsala, M., Malmberg, A. B., and Yaksh, T. L. (1995) The spinal loop dialysis catheter: characterization of use in the unanesthetized rat. J. Neurosc. Methods 62, 43–53.
Sakura, S., Hashimoto, K., Bollen, A. W., Ciriales, R., and Drasner, K. (1996) Intrathecal catheterization in the rat. Improved technique for morphologic analysis of drug-induced injury. Anesthesiology 85, 1184–1189.
Storkson, R. V., Kjorsvik, A., Tjolsen, A., and Hole, K. (1996) Lumbar catheterization of the spinal subarachnoid space in the rat. J. Neurosci. Methods 65, 167–172.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Humana Press Inc.
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Malkmus, S.A., Yaksh, T.L. (2004). Intrathecal Catheterization and Drug Delivery in the Rat. In: Luo, Z.D. (eds) Pain Research. Methods in Molecular Medicine, vol 99. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-770-X:011
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-770-X:011
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-103-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-770-3
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols