The novel use of vascular access ports for intravenous self-administration and blood withdrawal studies in squirrel monkeys

Abstract

An important experimental challenge in research with squirrel monkeys (Saimiri scureus) is the development of a reliable closed intravenous system for long term drug self-administration studies and the collection of multiple timed blood samples. A surgical procedure using a vascular access port (VAP) system was developed to provide easy access for venous samples or drug infusions. Daily experiments in chaired monkeys were simple and reliable for durations of up to 6 h. The quantitative performance of the VAP system was evaluated by the number of days until port failure for self-administration studies and the number of days during which blood samples could be collected beyond an initial time of 91 days. The mean best performance for VAP system functional time for self-administration studies was 437±73 and the mean worst performance was 281±79. The mean best performance for blood withdrawal functional time was 362±81 and the mean worst performance was 332±85. The qualitative performance of the VAP system is described including complications that developed during the procedure; corresponding suggestions for corrective actions are discussed. Enhancements to increase port performance are also recommended.