For my experiment, we are examing the effects of estrous stage on heroin withdrawal enhanced fear learning in rats, and for several of the test days we would like to acquire the vaginal cells by washing with saline from a pipette. However, we wanted to perform this procedure several days in a row, and I was worried about the possible stress of repeatedly doing this to the animal. Is it okay to perform the flushing technique repeatedly? I can't find anything on the best practices for this or any info about the possible stress it induces. Thank you!
Hi, Lydia!
Vaginal lavage is a stressful manipulation, so you really have to be careful about it. Few papers show higher corticosterone levels and higher cardiac frequency after the procedure.
There's also a paper showing that it attenuates cocaine-stimulated activity, establishes place preference in rats, and masks the existing difference between estrous cycle phases.
Corticosterone after 16 days of vaginal lavage: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031938421000354?via%3Dihub
Cocaine: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305702008833?via%3Dihub
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