[Histonet] Mechanical tool for removing spinal cord from rats.

[John A. Kiernan]

A simple procedure is as follows:
1. Remove the head.
2. Cut through the spinal column just above
the sacrum.
3. Insert the nozzle of a 2 ml syringe
(filled with saline) into the spinal canal
and push the plunger. 
4. Catch the extruded cord (and cauda equina) 
in a small beaker of saline. 

The upper nerve roots are avulsed by this 
method but the histology of the cord itself 
is well preserved. Biochemists have used this
technique for many years. It was published as
"new" from an anatomical perspective 
24 years ago.
MEIKLE ADS & MARTIN AH  1981
A RAPID METHOD FOR REMOVAL OF THE SPINAL-CORD 
STAIN TECHNOLOGY 56 (4): 235-237. 
(According to Web of Science this paper has 
been cited 16 times.)
Alison Meikle was an MSc student in our 
department, supervised by Sandy Martin.

If cou need attached spinal nerves rostral
to the cauda equina this is not the method
to use.
-- 
-------------------------------
John A. Kiernan
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
The University of Western Ontario
London,   Canada   N6A 5C1
   kiernan[AT]uwo.ca
   http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/
   http://instruct.uwo.ca/anatomy/530/index.htm
_______________________________
Susan.Ferrigon <@t> sanofi-aventis.com wrote:
> 
> Hi
> 
> What do people use to remove spinal cords from rats during post mortems??
> At present we use large scissors to cut through the bone but are looking to
> try a mechanical tool to replace this.
> Does any one have any recomendations.??
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Susan