Attached floating cat mesentery preparation for vital microscopy

Cat mesentery is prepared for microscopic observation by exteriorization of the entire small bowel in a specially designed chamber. Temperature and local environment control is generated by a constantly renewed bathing fluid. The unique capacity of the preparation is the ability to select portions of the mesentery for study which are free of externally imposed strain. This capacity, however, is obtained at the expense of additional devices necessary for high-resolution microscopy. Modifications for large and small vessel cannulation, nerve stimulation and local isotope exchange studies are described briefly.