Model organisms with soft skulls, such as the mouse and the neonatal rat, are difficult to secure firmly in a traditional stereotaxic instrument. The stainless steel ear bars used for adult rats are too heavy to provide a secure hold without compressing the sides of the skull inward (which closes the airways and impedes blood flow). Further, the neonatal rat pup has no external opening of the auditory canal into which to insert the ear bars.
A unique feature permits ear bars to be independently adjusted in height to level the skull. Laser engraved scales show the vertical positions of the ear bars. A toothbar and nose clamp secures the nose.
New improvements to this popular stereotaxic instrument include an increased overall length to accommodate larger, more mature animals, and the addition of specialized jaw holder cuffs, which securely clamp the zygomatic processes of the skull. The jaw holder cuffs fit over the ends of the ear bars, replacing the rubber tips, and providing an alternative non-invasive means of securing the animal’s head in the stereotaxic stage. These options for “triple point” securing of the animal’s head in this adaptor make it the most versatile mouse adaptor available. A set of two jaw holder cuffs included
