Cerebrospinal fluid sampling from guineapigs: Sample volume-related changes in protein concentration in control animals and animals in the relapsing phase of chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was removed from guineapigs by puncture of the cisterna magna and the total sample volume of 200-360 µl divided into 40 µl aliquots. After determination of albumin and IgG in these CSF aliquots it was found that successive samples gave different results. In general, up to 100 µl CSF could be removed before the protein concentration began to increase. In animals with chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE) the rise in albumin concentration was accompanied by a corresponding fall in the number of white cells in later samples.