A cheap, simple and fast procedure of building an infusion swivel is described for both short- and long-term experiments in rats. To assemble the swivel, plastic laboratory syringe elements, needles and a three-way stopcock are used. The swivel avoids cannula-kinking and permits animals free movement inside the cage. In addition, the gadget presented is inexpensive enough to make it disposable. Further advantages of the self-made infusion swivel depend on its disposability, it is time-saving, simplifies blood sampling or administration of drugs and prevents contamination, when using radiolabelled products. The haemodynamics and metabolism of rats subjected to restraint stress or ether-anaesthetized rats significantly differ from those of conscious freely moving animals. Whereas restraint stress provoked a more pronounced increase of blood pressure and heart rate, ether anaesthesia induced a 19 % rise in serum glucose. Thus, the device described in this study provides more physiological experimental conditions.