What is the process of castrating male rats? - briefly
Under general anesthesia, a small ventral incision is made, the testes are exteriorized, the spermatic cords are ligated and cut, and the wound is closed with sutures or tissue glue. Post‑operative care includes analgesia and monitoring for infection.
What is the process of castrating male rats? - in detail
Neutering male rats requires strict aseptic technique, appropriate anesthesia, and careful postoperative monitoring.
First, prepare a sterile surgical field. Use a clean bench, sterilized instruments (scalpel, forceps, scissors), and a surgical drape. Disinfect the animal’s ventral abdomen with an iodine solution or chlorhexidine, then rinse with sterile saline.
Second, induce anesthesia. Inhalation agents such as isoflurane delivered via a calibrated vaporizer provide rapid induction and recovery. Maintain a plane of surgical anesthesia by monitoring respiratory rate and reflexes; adjust the vaporizer flow as needed.
Third, perform the incision. Make a 1‑2 cm midline cut just caudal to the umbilicus. Gently spread the muscle layers with blunt forceps to expose the peritoneal cavity. Locate the testes, which lie within the scrotal sac attached to the abdominal wall by the spermatic cords.
Fourth, remove the gonads. Isolate each testis and its cord with a hemostat. Clamp the cord proximal to the testis, then cut between the clamps. Immediately ligate the proximal stump with a 5‑0 absorbable suture or apply a cautery device to prevent hemorrhage. Excise the testis and place it in a labeled container for disposal or research use.
Fifth, close the incision. Use a simple interrupted pattern with 5‑0 absorbable sutures for the muscle layer, followed by a subcuticular or skin suture. Apply a sterile gauze pad and a small amount of topical antibiotic ointment.
Finally, provide postoperative care. Place the rat in a warm recovery cage, monitor temperature and respiration until it regains consciousness. Administer analgesia (e.g., buprenorphine 0.05 mg/kg subcutaneously) every 8–12 hours for 48 hours. Inspect the incision daily for signs of infection or dehiscence and ensure the animal resumes normal feeding and grooming within 24 hours.
Adhering to these steps yields a reliable and humane neutering procedure for male rats.