Two approaches for time-resolved sampling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
in rats were compared regarding performance, reproducibility, and ext
ent of the inevitable trauma caused by the implantation of a sampling
tube, Several parameters were checked to evaluate the injury: blood ce
ll contamination of CSF; concentrations in CSF of the cytosolic protei
ns neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 (chiefly present in astrocy
tes); blood-brain barrier leakage of a dye-protein complex; viability
of nervous tissue cells as assessed by dye exclusion; light and electr
on microscopy. In one sampling method, a tube was forced epidurally in
to the cisterna magna via a hole in the calvarium, consistently damagi
ng the meninges and the nervous tissue. When using the alternative sam
pling method, the tube was instead affixed to the posterior atlanto-oc
cipital membrane and connected with the cisterna magna via a hole in t
he membrane. Such a procedure caused negligible damage, Both technique
s induced an inflammatory response. We advocate the use of the second
approach, i.e., to sample CSF via a hole in the atlanto-occipital memb
rane, as the method of choice due to its high reproducibility, It is f
airly rapid, and associated with a negligible injury. Copyright (C) 19
96 Elsevier Science Inc.