Catheter Based Intravenous Injection of Experimental Agents: A Technique for Delivering Experimental Agents Intravenously Through Jugular Vein in Mouse Model

The jugular vein is a paired vasculature in the neck that transports deoxygenated blood from the brain, face, and neck to the heart. Through the jugular vein, experimental agents such as fluorescent tracers and drugs are delivered intravenously to the head region.

To catheterize the right jugular vein, place an anesthetized mouse in the supine position on a heating pad. Prepare the mouse by removing the fur surrounding the neck region.

Make a skin incision right to the ventral midline, starting beneath the lower mandibular region and extending to the sternum. The jugular vein is present adjacent to the pectoralis muscle.

Next, take a catheter pre-filled with a warm, sterile, physiological saline and insert a needle into it. Penetrate the catheter-needle assembly through the pectoralis muscle into the jugular vein. The pectoralis muscle acts as a compression point and prevents bleeding at the site of vein injection.

Gently remove the needle from the catheter and connect a syringe containing fluorescent tracer solution to the catheter. Use a drop of glue to secure the catheter in its position.

The catheterized mouse is now ready for the intravenous injection of fluorescent tracers into the jugular vein.