Mouse IV Self-Administration

The Vascular Access Button™ is ideal for mouse IVSA studies because the combined tether/IV line can be quickly and aseptically connected or disconnected when moving the mouse into or out of the operant chamber. Mice can be group housed when not in the chamber.

The sterile 2Fr mouse jugular vein catheter is made to fit the 25ga connector on the button perfectly, has a round tip for extended patency and a collar for precise positioning of the catheter tip (13mm insertion length for 25g mice if you are following the Instech/Lapierre surgical procedure).

Slosky et al at Duke report patency half-life of over 100 days using the VAB™ and note "unprecedented success in mouse self-administration approaches." 

The responsive spring counter-balanced lever arm is critical when working with mice, and, unlike some older Med Associates designs, will not snag the tubing on the tether.

Operant chamber systems are available from the following manufacturers:

• Med Associates, Inc. (components listed are compatible with this system)
• Lafayette Instrument
• TSE Systems GmbH
• Panlab SL (Harvard Apparatus)