Rat Bile Sampling with Replacement Salts

If the volume of bile that you will remove from the animal might impact the animal’s health, replace bile salts simultaneously using a two-channel system. During surgery, connect the bile duct catheter to the red port of an implanted two-channel Vascular Access Button™ and the duodenal catheter to the white port. Prime then install the VABR2L to connect the two ports so that bile can flow in an extracorporeal loop while the animal recovers from surgery. Rats can be pair housed with the VAB™ and loop installed.

To sample, remove the loop and snap in a two-channel VAB™ tether with a two-channel swivel. Connect the bile duct (red port) to a primed line so that bile will flow at its natural rate through a swivel and down to a collection vile at the animal’s level. Infuse replacement bile salts using a syringe pump connected to the duodenal line (for replacement salts, Charles River suggests 2.3%-2.5% taurocholate in 0.9% saline at 1.2ml/hr).