[Chronic vascular catheterization in the rat. Adaptation to injections and semi-continous blood sampling for hormonal studies].

A method for frequent sampling of blood and injections of fluids in undisturbed rats is described. The right external jugular vein and the left carotid artery are cannulated without completely blood stream interruption in the vessel. Injection or perfusion can be performed during several weeks. Blood was collected for at least 15 post-operative days. The technique appears suitable for pituitary kinetics studies which can be carried out several times in rats bearing indwelling catheters.