Small Animal Model Hemodialysis Set-Up

Sprague-Dawley rats will be purchased from Harlan. These pre-manipulated animals will have been catheterized prior to shipment. We will feed them an adenine rich diet to induce uremia, high levels of urea in the blood. Once uremic, a rat will be connected via blunted needles to the dialysis system. Heparin, or other substances, may be added to the blood volume via injection ports. Samples can be taken before or after the dialyzer. Regular sampling will be performed during the 4 hour to 8 hour dialysis experiment. The blood pumped by the arterial/venal differential pressure of the animal. The counter current of dialysate along the backside of the dialysis chips will be motivated by gravity, the height of the IV bag determining the available pressure to induce flow.
This layout is in flux and represents a ‘stake in the ground’. Next week (Dec 16, 2013) Jim and I will meet with the Chief of Nephrology at UB to discuss his work with rodent dialysis. Hopefully this meeting will yield practical information which can be used to refine the initial design shown here.