The IKEA cervical dislocation mouse model

The IKEA cervical dislocation mouse model is a spin-off from the CD Mouse model made by Wendy Williams at Cornell University. It can be used for training students, researchers and technicians who need to perform cervical dislocation in mice.

Instructions: 

• Use a normal IKEA mouse toy, string and large plastic pop-beads.
• Open the abdomen of the toy using scissors.
• Fit 6 large oval pop-beads together and tie string to the last one. Make a loop at the end of the string, large enough for your hand. Use a different colour on the second pop-bead, this will indicate the correct place for dislocation.
• Place the pop-beads inside the mouse. Correct positioning is important. The first pop-bead will simulate the skull of the animal and should be placed inside the head of the mouse. The coloured bead simulates Cervical vertebra 1. The rest of the pop-beads simulate the rest of the spine, located dorsally to the cotton inside the mouse toy. Make a hole in the mouse right above the tail using a pair of sharp-pointed scissors, and thread the string through using forceps.
• The IKEA cervical dislocation mouse model is now ready to use. Hold the string together with the tail as you are performing the dislocation. The dislocation will make a “pop” as the pop-beads release. Open the model afterwards and check that the dislocation was done in the correct place between the first pop-bead (skull) and the coloured pop-bead (C1).

Please also see The IKEA cardiac puncture mouse model.

For questions, please contact: Kristine Hansen (kristine.hansen@nmbu.no)