We want to be able to use MRI to image the axolotls during normal limb
regeneration. This will require having the limb in question exposed to
the air for extened periods perhaps as much as an hour. I was wondering
if anyone has any experience with this?
We are considering wrapping the animals in wet clothes and placing them in
a high humidity enviroment in a closed chamber for imaging with the limb
of interest exposed. We are wondering if this will be sufficient for the
animals. We are also considering a water filled chamber with the leg
sticking up in the air but this is more likely to damage the MRI coil by
water exposure.
Has anyone done any experimentation to see how long an anesthetized
animal can survive out of water, in shallow water etc. We have had an
axolotl jump out of it's tank and survive about a half an hour out of the
tank without any apparent ill effects in an accident. But our animals are
precious and we don't want to risk losing any of them. Any suggestions
would be very much appreciated.
Natalie K Bjorklund
