Influence of the blood sampling site on some haematological and clinical-chemical parameters in sprague-dawley rats

Abstract

Differences in haematology and serum chemistry values related to site and method of blood sampling in Sprague-Dawley rats are described. Blood was collected from the orbital sinus, the abdominal aorta, and the carotid artery under anaesthesia, and from the tail vein after prewarming the rat.

Regardless of the technique used, arterial blood had lower leucocyte counts and serum protein levels and higher glucose concentrations than did venous blood. Compared to the other techniques studied, tail-vein blood yielded slightly higher erythrocyte counts and haemoglobin concentrations, and markedly higher serum potassium concentrations. Of the methods used in this study, the tail-vein technique can be recommended for routine blood sampling in rats, because this method is repeatable, yields enough blood of acceptable quality and is aesthetically acceptable.