<ul>
<li><a href="http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphar.2016.00216" rel="nofollow">It is possible to extract samples of interstitial fluid in humans.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jlr.org/content/41/8/1317.long" rel="nofollow">The method has been described in detail.</a></li>
<li>Is it ethically permissible to extract the entire contents of the interstitial space? No. It is vital for survival.</li>
</ul>

<p>Technically, it seems possible to perform the procedure before and after sleep. I am not sure if this has been done though. To what extent this is an invasive procedure I do not know, but it appears to involve surgery.</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/61/17/6400?ijkey=e283201fdd4d53ba616e2e028728d929669b9c09&amp;keytype2=tf_ipsecsha" rel="nofollow">In addition, <em>local</em> interstitual fluid pressure (IFP) can be
measured in humans under anesthesia.</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Both methods pose ethical challenges and it appears that these methods are relevant in clinical settings, where the cost-to-benefit analysis would suggest a benefit to the patient.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-04T12:44:38.080Z
2016-08-04T12:44:38.080Z
noumenal
<p>Lulu Xie et al write in their paper <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6156/373" rel="nofollow">Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance from the Adult Brain</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Using real-time assessments of tetramethylammonium diffusion and two-photon imaging in live mice, we show that natural sleep or anesthesia are associated with a 60% increase in the interstitial space</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Do we have technology to do the similar measurements in humans and not only in mice? Have those measurements been done?</p>

<sleep>
Do we have technology to ethically measure the changes of interstitial space in sleeping humans?
Christian
# Do we have technology to ethically measure the changes of interstitial space in sleeping humans?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-04)

Lulu Xie et al write in their paper [Sleep Drives Metabolite Clearance from the Adult Brain](http://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6156/373):

> Using real-time assessments of tetramethylammonium diffusion and two-photon imaging in live mice, we show that natural sleep or anesthesia are associated with a 60% increase in the interstitial space

Do we have technology to do the similar measurements in humans and not only in mice? Have those measurements been done?

**Tags:** sleep


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

* [It is possible to extract samples of interstitial fluid in humans.](http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphar.2016.00216)
* [The method has been described in detail.](http://www.jlr.org/content/41/8/1317.long)
* Is it ethically permissible to extract the entire contents of the interstitial space? No. It is vital for survival.

Technically, it seems possible to perform the procedure before and after sleep. I am not sure if this has been done though. To what extent this is an invasive procedure I do not know, but it appears to involve surgery.

* [In addition, *local* interstitual fluid pressure (IFP) can be
  measured in humans under anesthesia.](http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/61/17/6400?ijkey=e283201fdd4d53ba616e2e028728d929669b9c09&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha)

Both methods pose ethical challenges and it appears that these methods are relevant in clinical settings, where the cost-to-benefit analysis would suggest a benefit to the patient.


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