Retrobulbar
The term retrobulbar ( lat. Retro "backwards" and bulb (oculi) "eyeball") means "behind the eyeball" in medical terminology. is mainly used in connection with retrobulbar blood collection (the extraction of blood from the vein plexus behind the eye in small mammals such as mice ), retrobulbar anesthesia (the anesthetic is injected behind the eyeball during certain operations ) and retrobulbar injection (in gene transfer to increase the transfection rate of the upper organs , such as the lungs ).
The synonym is sometimes incorrectly used as retroorbital ("behind the eye socket ").
Blood withdrawal from the retrobulbar venous plexus
The retrobulbar blood collection was already described in 1913 by Auguste Pettit , who used this method not only for rodents but also for various other animals, including dogs. Today, the retrobulbar venous plexus is mainly used in mice and rats to take blood in animal studies. In most cases, a thin glass capillary is pushed into the inner corner of the eye with rotating movements; when it reaches the venous plexus, blood enters the capillary, which can then be collected in a tube.
Despite its technical simplicity, this method has long been criticized for its potential consequential damage. Direct damage to the surrounding tissue caused by the puncture and indirect pressure damage caused by blood escaping into the surrounding tissue are described. Even damage to the optic nerve with the resulting impairment of vision has been proven in studies. This tissue damage also occurs when well-trained and experienced laboratory technicians perform the puncture.
Due to the associated potential suffering of the animal, various alternative techniques for drawing blood have been developed. These include B. blood sampling from the lateral saphena vein or sublingual blood sampling , which have established themselves as suitable alternatives.
Individual evidence
- ↑ pettite; Procédé simple pour préléver du sang chez les petits rongeurs ; Comptes Rendus Biologies (1913), 74, 11-12
- ↑ Diehl et al .: A good practice guide to the administration of substances and removal of blood, including routes and volumes; Journal of Applied Toxicology (2001); 21, 15 - 23
- ↑ a b Heimann et al .; Blood collection from the sublingual vein in mice and hamsters: a suitable alternative to retrobulbar technique that provides large volumes and minimizes tissue damage. Laboratory Animals 2009; 43: 255-260
- ↑ Messow, Naumann, Korn; Morphology of subsequent conditions after retrobulbar blood sampling ; AMI reports, 1980, 2, 135-137
- ^ Krinke, Kobel, Krinke; Does the repeated orbital sinus puncture alter the occurrence of changes with age in the retina, the lens, or the Harderian gland of laboratory rats? ; Zeitschrift für Laborstierkunde (1988), 31, 111 - 119
- ↑ Herck et al .: Histological changes in the orbital region of rats after orbital puncture ; Laboratory Animals (1992) 26, 53-58
- ↑ Herck et al. Orbital sinus blood sampling in rats as performed by different animal technicians: the influence of technique and expertise ; Laboratory Animals (1998), 32, 377-386
- ↑ Hem, Smith, Solberg: Saphenous vein puncture for blood sampling of the mouse, rat, hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, ferret and mink ; Laboratory Animals (1998) 32, 364-368
- ↑ Mahl et al .: Comparison of clinical pathology parameters with two different blood sampling techniques in rats: retro bulbar plexus versus sublingual vein ; Laboratory Animals (2000) 34, 351-361