Department of Anatomy, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA
Research Article
Infusing the alligator: Infusion studies in a low compliance system
Author(s): Anchal Scott, Michael Cramberg, Hadyn De Leeuw, Matthew Dille, Seth Parker, Emily Pick, Stephanie Sopko, Annelise Swords, Ethan Taylor, Mary Thompson and Bruce A. Young*
An Infusion study is a neurological procedure in which a volume of
fluid is added to the existing cerebrospinal fluid. The additional fluid
volume increases the intracranial pressure; by monitoring how the
system responds to this challenge, the clinician gains insight into the
compliance of the dura and nervous tissue. Though commonly used
clinically, the invasive nature of infusion studies means that they have
rarely been applied in non-clinical studies, and appear to have only been
used on mammalian subjects.
Infusing a bolus of artificial cerebrospinal fluid into the cranial
compartment of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis),
produces pressure/volume curves with most of the attributes
seen during infusion studies of humans or other mammals. Two
consistent, unusual findings were noted: the compliance in the.. View More»
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