【Animal Modeling】-Improved method of locating the supraoptic nucleus of hypothalamus in rats

  Objective: To improve the stereotactic oblique puncture method in rats.

  Method: Take 18 SD rats and randomly divide them into experimental group (oblique puncture group) and control group (vertical puncture group). The experimental group performed oblique puncture with a 20° angle from the left deflection to the sagittal plane, and the control group punctured the supraoptic nucleus from the vertical direction. The operation time, complications and mortality of the two groups were compared.

  Results: The nucleus positioning time in the oblique puncture group was longer than that in the vertical puncture group (59.55±3.64 s vs 27.44±2.18 s, P=0.000). The rate of death in the oblique puncture group was lower than that in the vertical puncture group at 24 h after surgery (0 vs 44.4%, P=0.082). The rate of rupture of the superior sagittal sinus during operation was lower in the oblique puncture group than in the vertical puncture group (11.1% vs 88.9%, P=0.003). Hemostasis time after craniotomy (52.89±24.05 s vs 157.44±38.19 s, P=0.000), hemostatic time after puncture (24.33±10.60 s vs 133.89±28.81 s, P=0.000), operation completion time (178.89±35.22 s vs. 362.44±66.52 s, P=0.000) are less than the vertical group.

  Conclusion: The improved method for positioning the supraoptic nucleus is simple to operate, stable and reproducible. It can effectively avoid important blood vessels and nuclei in the brain according to different experimental needs. It also provides more surgical paths for different experimental operators. It is worthwhile Promote in animal experiments.