Serial blood sampling and comparison of three 91-day continuous intravenous infusion models in the rat in safety assessment studies

SOT 2024 -- The rat is a commonly used animal model for preclinical continuous intravenous infusion. Many continuous intravenous infusion models have been developed. Due to the possible irritant properties of some test articles, the favoured catherisation site has become the femoral vein. The exit site of the catheter is the main difference between the various continuous intravenous infusion models. The catheter may exit via the tail using a tail cuff (TC) and spring device, which is held in place with sterile surgical wire, via the scapular region and secured by a jacket or vascular access harness (VAH) or via a vascular access button (VAB). The objectives for this 13-week continuous infusion period were to determine (1) which exteriorisation methodology was most reliable and (2) which exteriorisation method facilitated successful blood sample collection after initiation of dosing.