Cynthia Favara wrote:

>         Have missed the communication through the net, just got overwhelmed
> and had to drop out. Needless to say I'm in need of expertise that am
> confident can be found though this group.
>         I have perfusions pumps to perfuse mice and want to know if anyone
> has any suggested rates so as not to cause artificial ventricular expansion
> in the brain. I can vary the rate from 0.03 ml/min to 8.2ml/min. Also is
> there a desired amount of fix to perfuse? 2-3 times the normal blood volume
> or something like that? If there are no suggestions I will proceed with
> rates between 0.05 and 2 ml/ minute.
>         As always thanks for your input.
>
> Cynthia Favara
> Rocky Mountain Laboratories
> 903 S. 4th Street
> Hamilton, MT 59840
> 406-363-9317
> FAX 406-363-9286
>
>

Dear Cynthia:

    When perfusing a 25-30 gram mouse I use 60-75 ml of fixative, perfused in
about 5-7 minutes via a 21 or 23 gague needle in the left ventricle.
    The "artificial ventricular expansion" you are concerned about is not
uncommon in mice, ie. it is not artificial. I know of no way by which too
large  a volume of fixative or too high a pressure of perfusate could expand
the ventricles of the brain.

Geoff
--
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Geoff McAuliffe, Ph.D.
Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854
voice: (732)-235-4583; fax: -4029
mcauliff@umdnj.edu
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