A Technique for the Perfusion of Small Animals

Abstract

Perfusion of an animal as small as a newborn rat can be accomplished readily by the use of a device that holds a size 12 hypodermic needle in the left ventricle of the heart. The device consists of a double-walled brass cylinder which holds the needle inside the inner wall and allows suction to be applied to the space between the inner and outer wall. A ring of 200 mesh gauze prevents the wall of the heart from being drawn into this space.