Stressfree administration of drugs by intraperitoneal cannulation in small laboratory animals.

Abstract

A simple technique of chronic intraperitoneal cannulation in small laboratory animals has been described. It can be used for repeated i.p. administration of drugs without causing any remarkable disturbance to the animal as demonstrated by significantly less increase of corticosterone level compared to usual i.p. injection procedure. A simple device for producing a fixative ring on the cannula in order to hold the cannula in the proper place is described as well.