Elsevier

Experimental Neurology

Volume 105, Issue 3, September 1989, Pages 233-243
Experimental Neurology

An improved device for continuous intraventricular infusions prevents the introduction of pump-derived toxins and increases the effectiveness of NGF treatments

https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4886(89)90125-8Get rights and content

Abstract

The recent demonstrations of the ability of nerve growth factor (NGF) to protect and promote the welfare of certain cholinergic neurons in the adult CNS have increased the need for safe, accurate, and reliable procedures for intracerebral administration of protein and other experimental agents. Osmotic minipumps have been used to infuse NGF into the lateral ventricle of adult rats, but a sustained and harmless performance of such infusions has not been fully evaluated. The study reported here has led to (i) the recognition that cytotoxic substances, released from some minipumps into the infusion fluid, may be responsible for various degrees of periventricular tissue damage, and (ii) the redesigning of an infusion device which, among other modifications, uses the osmotic pump to propel infusion fluid into the ventricle but prevents pump-derived materials from entering the infusate itself. Besides several other advantages, the modified infusion device has permitted the demonstration that NGF can fully protect experimentally axotomized medial septum cholinergic neurons and can do so with less variability than previously observed and without creating tissue damage.

References (16)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (51)

  • Nerve growth factor restores the expression of vasopressin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of aged rats

    2005, Brain Research
    Citation Excerpt :

    The cannulae were connected to methylene blue (0.01%, Sigma) filled Alzet osmotic minipumps (model 2002; Alza Corporation, Palo Alto, CA, USA) via sterile coiled polyethylene tubing (PE-60; Intramedic, Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD, USA). This tubing was filled with air–oil spacer at the pump end [58], and with NGF (150 μg diluted in 150 μl of vehicle). Osmotic minipumps were pre-tested to confirm their delivery rate, and implanted subcutaneously in the neck.

  • Interleukin-15 administration improves diaphragm muscle pathology and function in dystrophic mdx mice

    2005, American Journal of Pathology
    Citation Excerpt :

    IL-15 was dissolved in sterile isotonic saline at a concentration of 3.79 mg/ml and loaded into miniosmotic pumps (model 1002; Alzet, Cupertino, CA). Treated mice were implanted with a pump that had been partially dipped in paraffin wax to achieve a pumping rate of ∼0.125 μl/hour (3 μl/day) for 28 days.34 Treated mice received 10 μg of IL-15 per day, approximately equivalent to 0.5 mg/kg/day for a 25 g mouse.

  • NGF and NT-3 exert differential effects on the expression of neuropeptides in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of rats withdrawn from ethanol treatment

    2003, Brain Research
    Citation Excerpt :

    The cannulae were connected to methylene blue (0.01%, Sigma) filled Alzet osmotic minipumps (model 2002; Alza Corporation, Palo Alto, CA) via sterile coiled polyethylene tubing (PE-60; Intramedic, Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD). This tubing was filled with air-oil spacer at the pump end [51] and with vehicle (130 μl), NT-3 (130 μg diluted in 130 μl of vehicle) or NGF (65 μg diluted in 130 μl of vehicle). Osmotic minipumps were pre-tested to confirm a delivery rate of 0.5 μl/h, and implanted subcutaneously in the neck.

  • Improved contractile function of the mdx dystrophic mouse diaphragm muscle after insulin-like growth factor-I administration

    2002, American Journal of Pathology
    Citation Excerpt :

    This dose was chosen to elicit the beneficial functional effects of IGF-I from previous studies,19,21–23 while minimizing the probability of deleterious side effects associated with elevated circulating IGF-I concentrations.24 IGF-I dissolved in 10 mmol/L of HCl and sterile isotonic saline at a concentration of 8.3 mg/ml was loaded into miniosmotic pumps (model 1002; Alzet, Cupertino, CA) that had been partially dipped in paraffin wax to achieve a pumping rate of 0.125 μl/hour (3 μl/day) for 28 days.25 Loaded pumps were primed in isotonic saline at 37°C for 24 hours before implantation.

  • Cell delivery to the central nervous system

    2000, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text