USE OF A POLYPROPYLENE MESH IN FIXING A CHRONIC INTRACEREBROVENTRICULAR CANNULA

Surgical implantation of an intracerebroventricular cannula allows inv estigators to determine the effects of central administration of compo unds on physiological/pathological events taking place in the peripher y. Attempts to examine the influence of repeated, chronic drug adminis tration on gastrointestinal function have been hampered by the tendenc y of cannulae to become dislodged and lost during the course of such s tudies. We describe hemin the insertion of surgical polypropylene mesh between the skull and the fixative during surgical implantation of an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) cannula. This inexpensive addition t o a standard surgical procedure extends the period of time during whic h the cannula remains viable for i.c.v. drug administration. Extending the active life of the cannula, in turn, allows the investigator to r educe the number of animals used.