To begin, remove the anesthetized rat from the anesthetic chamber once reflexes are no longer observed. Place it into the surgical space and deliver continuous isoflurane at 3%via face mask. After conducting a toe pinch test, administer 30 units of heparin through the penile vein of the animal.
Shave the rat across the entire abdomen and upper chest area. Then remove the fur shavings from the surgical field. Secure each limb with tape to prevent movement during surgery.
Now make a horizontal midline incision in the skin of the lower abdomen to expose the abdominal muscles. Then make a second horizontal midline incision through the abdominal muscles to expose the internal organs. Next, expose the sternum.
Secure it with a hemostat and retract it cranially to display the liver and portal vein. Using a 16 gauge angiocatheter, insert a catheter into the portal vein and connect a 60 milliliter syringe of heparinized saline to the angiocatheter. Then, create an incision in the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta for venting.
Flush the entire amount of saline through the portal vein. Afterward, make a horizontal cut in the diaphragm, followed by a proximal cut through the ribs on both sides of the sternum to reveal the thoracic cavity. Remove the heart from the cavity and immediately place it on a Petri dish with saline on ice.
Then identify the aortic arch. Clamp it with hemostats and expose the descending aorta by clearing any remaining connective tissue. Using dissecting micro scissors, make a horizontal cut halfway across the descending aorta and insert a 14 gauge angiocatheter.
Secure the cannula with a suture above the cuff and release the hemostat.
