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NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH

NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH

NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH

Product catalog summary
Overview of ALZET Osmotic Pumps
ALZET Osmotic Pumps are small, implantable devices used for delivering agents directly to the central nervous system (CNS), bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These pumps provide a precise and continuous dose, minimizing stress and interference with behavioral testing. They are widely used in neuroscience research for their ability to improve bioavailability and reduce side effects associated with systemic delivery.

Benefits of ALZET Pumps
  • Direct delivery across the BBB.
  • Small size suitable for mice and larger animals.
  • Continuous and controlled delivery of neuroactive agents.
  • Ideal for behavioral studies without animal handling during dosing.
  • Improved bioavailability of short half-life peptides and proteins.
  • Easy attachment to a catheter for delivery to the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves.
  • Reliable technology with over 15,500 publications.
  • Reduced drug toxicity and side effects.
  • Simple design, easy to use, and cost-effective for chronic dosing.
  • Automatic nighttime and weekend dosing, improving animal welfare.

Applications in Neuroscience Research
Models of Neurodegenerative Disease
ALZET pumps are used to develop animal models for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s. They provide a slow, continuous dose to sustain stable disease states, facilitating the study of disease mechanisms and potential therapies.

Intrathecal Delivery
These pumps enable targeted delivery via the epidural or intrathecal space, avoiding systemic side effects. They are used to study axonal regeneration, hyperalgesia, and other pain-related aspects.

Targeting Peripheral Nerves
ALZET pumps can deliver solutions directly to nerve cuffs or chambers, enhancing effects while minimizing systemic side effects. This is useful for studying nerve conduction and regeneration.

Delayed CNS Delivery
The pumps can be adapted for delayed drug delivery post-surgery, allowing for recovery periods before drug dosing begins.

Chronic Delivery
ALZET pumps offer a reliable alternative to frequent injections for chronic dosing, maintaining steady-state levels of therapeutic agents for extended periods.

Vehicle Selection
Choosing the right vehicle for compound administration is crucial. It should be biologically inert and compatible with the CNS. Artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) is commonly used.

Examples of Delivered Agents
Agents such as therapeutic antibodies, enzyme inhibitors, antidepressants, and neuropeptides have been successfully delivered using ALZET pumps.

Continuous vs. Conventional Dosing
Continuous delivery via ALZET pumps avoids the fluctuations in drug levels associated with conventional injections, reducing overdosing and underdosing risks.

Product Offerings
  • ALZET Osmotic Pumps: Available in various sizes and durations.
  • Brain Infusion Kits: Designed for delivery to brain regions in rats and mice.
  • Cannula Holders: Facilitate stereotaxic placement of brain cannulae.
  • Intrathecal Catheters: High-quality materials for reduced tissue trauma.
  • Loctite 454 Adhesive: For securing cannulae to the skull.
  • Wound Closure Systems: Alternatives to sutures for incision closure.

Additional Resources
Access surgical implantation videos online for further guidance.
See more

Catalog excerpts

NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH-1

OSMOTIC PUMPS neuroscience research The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents an impediment for effective delivery of agents to the central nervous system (CNS). For nearly 4 decades, ALZET® Osmotic Pumps have been used as a reliable and convenient tool to overcome the BBB and deliver agents directly to their site of action. These small, implantable pumps deliver a precise and continuous dose, without interference in elaborate behavioral testing, and without the stress associated with other methods requiring frequent animal handling. brain avoids many of the complications related to bioavailability, side effects, and toxicity inherent with systemic delivery. These pumps are now an integral component in neuroscience research, as evidenced by the thousands of publications describing their use in studies on spinal cord injury, neurodegeneration, ischemia, depression, brain cancer, and more. ALZET Pump Benefits • Direct delivery across the blood-brain barrier • Small size for implantation in mice or larger animals • Continuous and controlled delivery of neuroactive agents • Ideal for behavioral studies - no animal handling required during dosing • Improved bioavailability of short half-life peptides and proteins • Easy attachment to a catheter for delivery to the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves • Reliable technology with over 15,500 publications • Reduced drug toxicity and side effects • Simple design and easy to use • Convenient and cost-effective for chronic dosing of lab animals • Automatic nighttime and weekend dosing • Improved animal welfare

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NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH-2

Neuroscience Research Applications Models of Neurodegenerative disease ALZET pumps have been used to facilitate the development of animal models of neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's. Their ability to provide a slow, continuous and chronic dose is favorable for sustaining a stable disease state over prolonged periods. In vivo models of Parkinson's have been produced by continuous administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the striatum of rats, systemic infusion of the neurotoxin MPTP to mice or monkeys, and systemic rotenone dosing in rats. A...

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NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH-3

Neuroscience Research Publications Therapeutic antibodies, enzyme inhibitors, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, dopaminergics, opioids, neuropeptides, neurotrophic factors, and nucleic acids are all examples of agents that have been successfully delivered via ALZET pumps. Below is a list of agents recently added to the ALZET bibliography. Protein kinase C inhibitor Catecholamine release inhibitor Glycoside antiprion compound Prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitor Pramlintide acetate Synthetic amylin analogue Synthetic guanylhydrazone mitogen-activated protein kinase blocker Tankyrase inhibitor; Wnt/β-catenin...

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NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH-4

ALZET Products for Neuroscientists ALZET Osmotic Pumps Brain Infusion Kits Twelve pump models available in 3 different sizes, durations ranging from 1 day to 6 weeks, and various release rates. Designed for use with ALZET pumps, they are ideal for delivery to lateral ventricles and other brain regions in rats (BIK1 & 2) and mice (BIK3). Rat & Mouse Intrathecal Catheters Cannula Holders Designed to hold the removable tab on all ALZET brain cannulae, they facilitate stereotaxic placement of brain cannula to the skull of lab animals. These are constructed with high quality materials for increased...

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