Measurement of Mean Arterial Pressure by Carotid Artery Cannulation in Isoflurane Anesthetized Wistar Rats

Experimental studies on small lab animals, particularly rats are a widely-used model (Ordodi et. all 2004). Blood pressure measurement is one of the fastest and most informative means of assessing cardiovascular function and provides an accurate indication of drug effects, surgical events and hemodynamic trends (Tranquilli et. all, 2007). A close monitoring of the animals during the experiment is important to detect early imbalances and prevent any changes that could compromise the results.Blood pressure measurement is one of the basic procedures in biomedical research and it can be done by non-invasive or invasive technics. The gold standard procedures with the most accuracy are the invasive technics. This includes radial, femoral, brachial or carotid cannulation (Parasuraman et. all 2012). Carotid artery catheterization is a common procedure that allows precise monitoring of the blood pressure but surgery is required to perform them (Plehm et. all 2006).Experimental surgery on small lab animals, especially rats, it’s a widely used model. In order to perform surgery, anaesthesia must be used and it usually causes a slowdown of the respiration that induces metabolic imbalances. It could cause cardiovascular collapse and death if left unbalanced. A close monitoring of the respiration, ECG, blood pressure is necessary during the experiment (Ordodi et. all 2004).Because it may not be always available or the prohibitive cost of the special equipment used to perform these tasks, we adapted a simple device and method to record the mean arterial pressure (MAP) in rats by carotid catheterisation and the results obtained were sustainable

RODENT BONE EXPERIMENTAL MODELS AS A TRANSLATIONAL TOOL FOR BIOCOMPATIBILITY TESTING OF NEW BIOMATERIALS

In vivo experimental models are a key factor for the study of normal and pathologic tissue regeneration. This requires the use of advanced site-specification bone defect in small animals. Nowadays rodent models are comparable directly to the standards in large animal models and humans due to advances in ostheosynthesis techniques. This review is discussing the most available and commonly used bone defects (mandibular defects, calvarian defect and large bone defects) in laboratory animals (mice, rats) for testing various biomaterials (polymers, ceramics, cells, etc.). These site defects are the most frequently used to test innovative biological biomaterials as bone substitutes. It further describes procedures, methods, clinical exams, paraclinical exams (imagistics: CT, micro-CT, morph metric analyze, biochemistry) and histopathological results from various studies that can help attest the biomaterials performance and respect the wellbeing of animals. These models are used for the testing of biocompatibility, toxicity and osteointegration of a biomaterial at the locus of bone deficiency. Thus, in vivo bone defects are essential tools for certifying the biocompatibility, biophysical effects and biosafety in using biomaterials in regenerative medicine

Urinary N-Acetyl-Beta-D-Glucosaminidase Activity in Rat Experimental Ischemic and Toxic Models of Acute Kidney Injury

The identification of a suitable prevention method which facilitates limiting the deleterious effects of acute kidney injuries is highly required. In order to identify a proper treatment for acute kidney injuries, a suitable experimental model that replicates the structural, metabolic and inflammatory lesions that occur in the natural acute injured kidney is highly necessary. Intense urinary NAG activity can be found in a variety of renal disease such as toxic nephropathies, ischemic renal injury following cardiac surgery or renal transplantation but also in glomerular disease especially in diabetic nephropathy. Rises in urinary NAG enzyme activity strongly suggests tubular cell damage and support NAG enzyme as a biomarker of renal tubular injury. The aim of this paper is to obtain a stable in vivo acute kidney injury experimental model, in Wistar, rats and to evaluate the urinary activity of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) enzyme, blood levels of urea and creatinine and microstructural renal alterations induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury respectively gentamicin nephrotoxicity. For this purpose we have used a rat experimental model. Adult male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 3 groups with 8 rats in each group. Group 1 served as a model for the renal ischemia/reperfusion injury experiment, group 2 served for toxic kidney injury experimental model and group 3 served as control group. All individuals in both groups 1 and 2 presented marked elevations in blood urea and creatinine at the moment of euthanasia (day 3 for group 1 and day 9 for group 2) compared to the control group where biochemical values remained within normal limits. Urine analysis of both group 1 and 2 showed marked urinary NAG index activity which suggests acute tubular injury, suggestion confirmed by histological evaluation of the renal parenchyma sampled from this subject