Abstract
The method described is indirect but atraumatic and can be used with conscious or anaesthetised rats. An occluding cuff is fitted at the base of the tail and pumped up until flow signals from the caudal artery, detected by a Doppler ultrasonic flowmeter, disappear. The cuff pressure at this point corresponds to the systolic pressure. Heart rate and any flow pulse irregularities may be observed at the same time by using a suitable ratemeter and recorder.