| What type of surgical services does Charles River offer? |
| Charles River offers catheterizations, soft tissue removal, neurological, cardiovascular, and device implant procedures in rats, mice, and guinea pigs produced by Charles River. Hamster and gerbil surgeries may also be available upon request. Charles River will also work with customers to develop new procedures on these species. |
| What type of material is used for the catheters? |
| Depending on the application, the material may be polyurethane, polyethylene, or silicone. For certain procedures where a long piece of the catheter is exposed we blend two materials together. Customers can request that a specific material, or gauge of material, be used to meet their application. |
| What is the expected patency duration for a venous catheter? |
| Assuming a heparinized dextrose or heparinized glycerol locking solution was used, one can expect on average 5-7 days patency without any manipulation. After this period patency can be extended by routine flushing and replacement of the lock solution. |
| What is the expected patency of a bile duct catheter? |
| The bile duct catheter system Charles River provides is a continuous loop. Generally patency of a week or more can be expected, which can be extended by flushing with saline. |
| What locking solutions are used? |
| Charles River offers four different locking solutions for venous and arterial catheters: heparinized saline, heparinized dextrose, heparinized glycerol, and heparinized Polyvinyl-Pyrrolidone (PVP). Heparinized dextrose is the default solution if you do not specify the type. |
| Is every procedure available in every species? |
| No. Of the 62 surgeries offered by Charles River, all are available in rats. Currently, 28 surgeries are available in mice and 15 are approved for guinea pigs. Should your research require a procedure / species combination not currently offered, please contact us and we will endeavor to make it available. |
| My research requires catheterized mice, what do you offer? |
| We currently are able to provide mice with jugular vein, carotid artery, and bile duct catheters. Since certain stocks and strains present greater technical challenges these procedures are not offered in every mouse model. |
| Can you implant the particular device I require for my project? |
| We are experienced in most commercially available devices, including: telemetry units, microdialysis probes, infusion pumps, vascular access ports, and specialized catheters. |
| Where are your surgical facilities located? |
| Currently we have surgical suites located in Raleigh, NC; Kingston, NY; Hollister, CA; and Portage, MI. |
| How are surgically altered animals shipped? |
| All catheterized and cannulated animals are shipped in individual compartments of divided crates. Your Customer Service Representative can provide specifics based on your order. |
| What anesthetics are used? |
| A Ketamine / Xylazine combination is the standard anesthetic for all species. Isoflurane is available and is used for certain specialized procedures or upon customer request. |
| What analgesics are used? |
| Buprenorphine analgesia is used with all procedures. Flunixin may be substituted upon request. |
| What lead times are recommended? |
| Specific lead times vary based on the type of surgery and the quantity of animals required. For non-recurring or first-time orders, at least a 2-3 week lead time is desired. Standing orders are encouraged whenever possible. |
| Are any extended postoperative holding times required that I need to know about? |
| Standard operating procedure is to hold all Hypophysectomized animals for at least 5 days post-surgery to monitor the animals for weight gain. Animals having had the Parkinson procedure are held for at least 7 days prior to being challenged with apomorphine. |
| Do the animals require any special dietary supplements following surgery? |
| Certain procedures do require dietary supplements. Specifically, 5% glucose or sucrose in the drinking water is required for animals following a Hypophysectomy procedure. Animals having had a Parathyroidectomy or a Thyroid / Parathyroidectomy procedure require 1% calcium gluconate in their drinking water. Animals having had an Adrenalectomy or an Adrenal Demedulation require 0.85 - 1% saline as their drinking water. In the case of all of the above, these should be given as the only source of water. |
| Who can I speak to should I have any questions? |
| Please contact Charles River's Technical Assistance Department (1.800.338.9680) with any questions. As always, you can also contact your regional Sales Manager or Charles River's Customer Service Department. |
| Is additional information readily available? |
| Information regarding the surgical services offered can be found online. If you are unable to find what you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact Technical Assistance. |