How can a loop be placed on a rat? - briefly
Secure the animal with a brief sedation, attach a lightweight metal or plastic loop to a custom-fitted collar or harness, and fasten it around the neck using a quick-release clasp to ensure stability and minimal stress. This method allows precise positioning while maintaining the rat’s safety and mobility.
How can a loop be placed on a rat? - in detail
Attaching a loop to a laboratory rat requires careful preparation, appropriate equipment, and adherence to ethical standards. The procedure can be divided into three phases: pre‑operative preparation, surgical implantation, and post‑operative care.
Pre‑operative preparation
- Select a healthy adult rodent, verify weight within the experimental range.
- Administer a suitable anesthetic (e.g., isoflurane inhalation or injectable ketamine‑xylazine) and confirm loss of reflexes.
- Shave the dorsal region, cleanse with an antiseptic solution, and drape to maintain sterility.
- Prepare a sterile loop made of biocompatible material (e.g., stainless‑steel wire or silicone tubing) with a diameter compatible with the animal’s size (typically 2–4 mm).
Surgical implantation
- Make a midline incision of 1–2 cm along the dorsal skin, exposing the underlying fascia.
- Separate the fascia from the underlying muscle using blunt dissection.
- Position the loop beneath the fascia, ensuring the opening faces upward for later access.
- Secure the loop to the surrounding tissue with two 5‑0 sutures placed at opposite ends of the loop, avoiding tension that could cause tissue necrosis.
- Close the fascia with a continuous absorbable suture (e.g., 5‑0 Vicryl).
- Approximate the skin edges with a simple interrupted suture or wound clips.
Post‑operative care
- Maintain the animal on a warming pad until full recovery from anesthesia.
- Provide analgesia (e.g., buprenorphine 0.05 mg/kg subcutaneously every 12 h for 48 h).
- Monitor the incision daily for signs of infection or dehiscence; replace sutures or clips if necessary.
- Allow a recovery period of 5–7 days before utilizing the loop for experimental purposes.
Compliance with institutional animal care guidelines and proper documentation throughout each step are essential for reproducibility and ethical responsibility.