Intracranial Pressure Assessments - Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments - page 377

3.2. ICP-Probe
and Catheter

To implant an ICP-probe, different instruments are needed:

1. Stereotactic frame (e.g., Small animal stereotactic frame, ASI-
Instruments or David Kopf Instruments, Tujunga CA, USA).
2. Drill (e.g., Uni-Drive N, Starnberg, Germany; Drill: Aesculap
GD870, 0.8 × 5.1 mm).
3. Micromanipulator (e.g., Kopf Instruments, USA).
4. ICP-probes.
(a) Parenchymal: Codman microsensor basic parenchymal
probe (Codman, Germany).
(b) Cisternal/ventricular: 22/25—gauge needle, Polyethylene
(PE-50) tube and Pressure transducer (e.g., Statham P23,
Viggo-Spectramed, Oxnard, CA, USA, or: Sorenson
Transpac, Abbott, Laboratories).
To fi xate the ICP-probe to the skull, following products are needed:

5. Dental cement (e.g., Poly-F Plus Bondex, Dentsply DeTry,
Germany).

To sample CSF after ventricular or cisternal cannulation, following
products are needed:

3.3. Sampling Aids

1. Plastic or glass sample collection vials (Fisher scientifi c, USA).
2. 1.5 ml micro-centrifuge tubes (Fisher scientifi c, USA).

4. Procedures

1. Anesthetize the animal (Ketamine-Xylazine; 80mg/10mg;
e.g., Sigma; or: Halothan 1.5-2% in carrier gas of O 2 and N 2 O
(1:2), e.g., Hoechst AG, Germany)
2. Note: Body temperature should be kept at 37 ± 0.5°C. This
temperature is maintained via a rectal thermistor coupled to a
heating pad or a homeothermic blanket (e.g., Harvard Apparatus,
USA) during experimental procedures.
3. Place the rat on the stereotaxic table.
4. Midline skin incision and exposure of bregma, lambda, nuchal
ridge and dorsal cervical musculature.

4.1. General Surgical
Procedures

1. Drill a small burr hole (diameter: approximately 2 mm) at the
right/left cortex; 1 mm posterior from bregma; 1.4 mm lateral
from midline/sagittal suture; depth: 4 mm from skull top
(Fig. 1 ).
2. Incise dura.

4.2. ICP-Probe
Implantation

4.2.1. Ventricular ICP
Measurements