This study was funded by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China U21A20368 (L. Y.), 82101000 (H. W.), and 82100982 (F. L.), and by Sichuan Science and Technology Program 2023NSFSC1499 (H. W.). All the original data and images are included in this paper.

The experimental procedures in this study were approved by the ethical committee of the West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University (WCHSIRB-D-2021-125). Adult C57BL/6 mice were obtained from Gempharmatech Experimental Animals Company, Chengdu, China. The whole crown of the maxillary first molar erupts 21 days after birth. Mice for surgery should be older than 21 days with normal vitality11. Here, 6 to 8-week-old mice were used for modeling. Figure 1 is a flow diagram showing the protocol used.
1. Preoperative preparation (Figure 2)
<ol>
	<li>Obtain the following instruments: Stereoscopic microscope, fixing plate, medical tape, mouth-gag, minimally invasive dental burr with a diameter of 0.6 mm, dental high-speed dental handpiece, 8# C+ file, heating pad, 1 mL syringe, sterile cotton ball, eye forceps.</li>
	<li>Obtain the following drugs: anesthesia mix, veterinary ointment.</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of the mouth-gag
<ol>
	<li>Weigh and anesthetize the mouse by intraperitoneal injection of anesthesia mix solution (10% ketamine hydrochloride + 5% xylazine + 85% sterile isotonic saline) at 0.007 mL/g of body weight and confirm proper anesthetization through the toe pinch method. Apply ophthalmic lubricating ointment on the eyes to prevent eyes injury because of desiccation during operation. 
	NOTE: Medical hats, masks, gloves and overalls and other basic protection are necessary. Make sure both surgery environment and mouse chamber are clean and safe. A heat pad for thermal support throughout the procedure is necessary.</li>
	<li>Prepare the mouth-gag as described below (Figure 3).
	<ol>
		<li>Obtain the following materials: Orthodontic arch wire with diameter of 8 &#181;m, young loop bending plier, heavy wire cutter, marker pen, rubber cap with a length of 3 mm and a cross section diameter of 1 mm.</li>
		<li>First, straighten the arch wire with left hand for fixation and thumb, index finger of the right-hand bend slightly against the arc of the wire. Repeat this action several times, it will facilitate the bending to the correct three-dimensional Angle.</li>
		<li>Use the Yong loop bending plier to bend the top edge (Figure 3G, a-i) of the trapezoid (Figure 3C, a-l-k-b) about 8 mm long at the midpoint of the bow wire. Make sure that point a (Figure 3) is on the edge of the plier beak.</li>
		<li>Hold the pliers with left hand, clamp the free end of the bow wire with right thumb and forefinger, and bend the bow wire from point a to make an angle of about 120&#176;. Duplicate the previous action at point i (Figure 3G). Check whether the arch wire is on one plane by putting it on a horizontal table without prying.</li>
		<li>Leave about 9 mm of length on each side (Figure 3D, a-b, l-k) and bend the free-end to a 75&#176; angle by using the same skill as step 2.2.4, while ensuring that each edge is on one plane. Bend this acute angle with the tip of the plier beak.</li>
		<li>Find point c about 5 mm from point b. Follow the same skill to bend a 105&#176; angle on point c. Bend another 105&#176; angle at point d 5mm from point c. Leave about 4.5 mm from point d and find point e. Bend the free end at point e to form an angle of about 100 -105&#176; (Figure 3E). 
		NOTE: The 6-8-week-old C57 mice we used were about 20 g. The spacing of 5 mm could not only jam the upper and lower jaws of the mice without moving, but also would not press the skin of the mice and cause discomfort. If other species or ages of mice are used, please adjust the length of c-d and i-h parts according to the actual situation (Figure 3E,G).</li>
		<li>Bend an extra tongue depressor for mandibular part (Figure 3G, j-i-h-g).</li>
		<li>Duplicate bending steps of a-b-c part on l-k-j part. Clamp i-k and k-j parts at the same time and bend the free end at point j to make it vertical to i-k-j plane. Clamp point i which is 5 mm from point j, bend the free end to make it parallel to both i-k-j plane and c-d part (Figure 3H).</li>
		<li>Leave 5 mm length from point i, at point h, bend the arch vertical to i-h part and parallel to j-i-h plane. Find point g at 5mm from point h. Clamp j-i-h-g plane and bend the free end symmetrical to k-j part. Then free end after point f should be symmetrical to point e-free end (Figure 3H).</li>
		<li>Put rubber caps on the free end (Figure 3F).</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Immobilization
<ol>
	<li>Fix the mouse supine on the fixation plate with limbs secured by skin tape. Compress the free ends of mouth-gag with thumb and index finger.</li>
	<li>Fix the mouse front incisors in the trapezoidal groove of two arms. Ensure that the arm with tongue depressor is for mandibula. Adjust the mouth-gag to make sure mouse&#39;s tongue is immobilized but not ischemic.</li>
</ol>
4. Tooth assessment
<ol>
	<li>Ensure the maxillary first molar for surgery should be free of dental caries, trauma and odontogenesis. Ensure there is no redness, swelling, or fistula on the surrounding gingiva. Ensure the opposite teeth are healthy and available to act as the healthy control group.</li>
</ol>
5. Pulp exposure
<ol>
	<li>Use dental burr to drill at the occlusal side of maxillary first molar at a speed of 20,000 rpm. Ensure that the enamel is removed. Keep the operation with dental handpiece only in shallow layer of dentine to prevent excessive thermal stimulation on dental pulp tissue12.</li>
	<li>At the same time, prevent overheating by using a syringe to drop normal saline on the tooth every 3 min during the operation.</li>
	<li>Put an 8# or 10# C+ file on the lowest position of the drilled pit and pierce through the last dentine to expose the pulp chamber. It will be an obvious feeling of falling when local dentine is thoroughly removed. Do not prob too deep, or dental pulp tissue might be brought out of pulp chamber.</li>
	<li>Clean the fragments around the tooth. Take off the mouth-gag; the surgery is finished. Use the opposite maxillary first molar as the control without operation.</li>
</ol>
6. Post-operative care
<ol>
	<li>After surgery, administer carprofen (5 mg/kg) subcutaneously and place the mouse on the chemothermal heating pad in a prone position until recovery from anesthesia. Feed the mice and provide drinking water. The recovery process should be supervised. No other animals should be in the same chamber until the mouse is fully recovered.</li>
</ol>
7. Sample collection and storage
<ol>
	<li>Euthanize the mouse with cervical dislocation under deep anesthetic condition 24 h after operation or any other time point as per experiment9. Cut the skeleton muscles attached to the maxilla and zygoma with ophthalmic scissors. Remove skeleton, frontal bone and soft tissue and take out the lamina gnathostegite with maxillary molars. 
	NOTE: According to He et al., it&#39;s commended that pulpitis sample should be collected less than 72 h after surgery to avoid extensive necrosis in dental pulp tissue13.</li>
	<li>Sagittally divide the gnathostegite in half and store the tissue in 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS, pH 7.4, at 4 &#176;C for 24h-fixation.</li>
</ol>
8. Histological analysis
<ol>
	<li>Wash the tissue with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and decalcify them in daily-changed decalcification solution of 5% EDTA and 4% sucrose in PBS, pH 7.4, at 4 &#176;C for 2-4 weeks10.</li>
	<li>Embed the 1/2 gnathostegite in paraffin and make sure the sagittal face without teeth is at the bottom of tissue cassettes.</li>
	<li>Cut the paraffin block to 5 &#181;m thick slices with a paraffin microtome. Adjust the angle of the paraffin block according to the proximal, distal, upper as well as lower relationship observed under the microscope to ensure the complete crown pulp and perforation of the first molar can be cut.</li>
</ol>

Creating a Pulp Inflammation Mouse Model Using a Novel Mouth-Gag 

<ol>
	<li>Kleinert, A., Kleinert, L., Ozimirska, M., Cha&#322;as, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endodontium+-+together+or+separately.">Endodontium - together or separately.</a> Folia Morphol. 77 (3), 409-415 (2018).</li><li>Dhillon, H., Kaushik, M., Sharma, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regenerative+endodontics-Creating+new+horizons.">Regenerative endodontics-Creating new horizons.</a> J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 104 (4), 676-685 (2016).</li><li>Prati, C., Pirani, C., Zamparini, F., Gatto, M. R., Gandolfi, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+20-year+historical+prospective+cohort+study+of+root+canal+treatments.+A+Multilevel+analysis.">A 20-year historical prospective cohort study of root canal treatments. A Multilevel analysis.</a> Int Endod J. 51 (9), 955-968 (2018).</li><li>Su, Y., Wang, C., Ye, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Healing+rate+and+post-obturation+pain+of+single-+versus+multiple-visit+endodontic+treatment+for+infected+root+canals:+a+systematic+review.">Healing rate and post-obturation pain of single- versus multiple-visit endodontic treatment for infected root canals: a systematic review.</a> J Endod. 37 (2), 125-132 (2011).</li><li>Murray, P. E., Garcia-Godoy, F., Hargreaves, K. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regenerative+endodontics:+a+review+of+current+status+and+a+call+for+action.">Regenerative endodontics: a review of current status and a call for action.</a> J Endod. 33 (4), 377-390 (2007).</li><li>Arora, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Potential+application+of+immunotherapy+for+modulation+of+pulp+inflammation:+opportunities+for+vital+pulp+treatment.">Potential application of immunotherapy for modulation of pulp inflammation: opportunities for vital pulp treatment.</a> Int Endod J. 54 (8), 1263-1274 (2021).</li><li>Eramo, S., Natali, A., Pinna, R., Milia, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dental+pulp+regeneration+via+cell+homing.">Dental pulp regeneration via cell homing.</a> Int Endod J. 51 (4), 405-419 (2018).</li><li>Hasan, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expression+of+Toll-like+receptor+2,+Dectin-1,+and+Osteopontin+in+murine+model+of+pulpitis.">Expression of Toll-like receptor 2, Dectin-1, and Osteopontin in murine model of pulpitis.</a> Clin Oral Investig. 27 (3), 1177-1192 (2023).</li><li>Wang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=DDIT3+aggravates+pulpitis+by+modulating+M1+polarization+through+EGR1+in+macrophages.">DDIT3 aggravates pulpitis by modulating M1 polarization through EGR1 in macrophages.</a> Int Immunopharmacol. 120, 110328 (2023).</li><li>Richert, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+critical+analysis+of+research+methods+and+experimental+models+to+study+pulpitis.">A critical analysis of research methods and experimental models to study pulpitis.</a> Int Endod J. 55 (Suppl 1), 14-36 (2022).</li><li>Huang, X. F., Zhao, Y. B., Zhang, F. M., Han, P. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparative+study+of+gene+expression+during+tooth+eruption+and+orthodontic+tooth+movement+in+mice.">Comparative study of gene expression during tooth eruption and orthodontic tooth movement in mice.</a> Oral Dis. 15 (8), 573-579 (2009).</li><li>Kwon, S. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thermal+irritation+of+teeth+during+dental+treatment+procedures.">Thermal irritation of teeth during dental treatment procedures.</a> Restor Dent Endod. 38 (3), 105-112 (2013).</li><li>He, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pulpal+tissue+inflammatory+reactions+after+experimental+pulpal+exposure+in+mice.">Pulpal tissue inflammatory reactions after experimental pulpal exposure in mice.</a> J Endod. 43 (1), 90-95 (2017).</li><li>Karrar, R. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+biomarkers+for+objective+assessment+of+symptomatic+pulpitis:+A+systematic+review+and+meta-analysis.">Molecular biomarkers for objective assessment of symptomatic pulpitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.</a> Int Endod J. 56 (10), 1160-1177 (2023).</li><li>Goldman, E., Reich, E., Abramovitz, I., Klutstein, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inducing+apical+periodontitis+in+mice.">Inducing apical periodontitis in mice.</a> J Vis Exp. (150), e59521 (2019).</li><li>Duncan, H. 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Authors declare no conflict of interest.

As the solitary soft tissue within teeth, dental pulp fulfills a crucial role in maintaining bioactivity of tooth but remains highly sensitive. The preservation of this vital pulp has become the preferred initial approach in recent endodontic treatments, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the inflammatory mechanisms of dental pulp16. The spatiotemporal fluctuation of the inflammatory microenvironment and interactions between resident cell types in pulpitis complicates its investigation...

The dental pulp, an integral part of the tooth, is responsible for multiple essential functions such as nutrient supply, dentin formation, sensory function, and defense reactions1. Nevertheless, the dental pulp, surrounded by hard tissue, is susceptible to injuries and damages from deep caries, pulpitis, trauma, or subsequent therapies2,3. The absence of functional dental pulp increases the risk of tooth fragility4. Moreover, the loss of pulp vitality in young permanent teeth can adversely affect tooth maturation, and current denture techniques fail to restore the neural feedback offered by healthy pulp4. This situation has led researchers to explore alternative solutions for managing inflamed pulp beyond mere removal.
In 2007, Murray et al. initiated the application of tissue engineering in regenerative endodontics, thereby sparking increased interest in pulp preservation and regeneration5. However, inflamed pulp tissue poses a challenge as cells release inflammatory factors such as IL-6, which recruit inflammatory cells and results in cell necrosis, loss of pulp vitality, and complications in functional recovery6,7. Understanding inflammation and the associated cell death is, therefore, crucial for advancements in the preservation of vital pulp. There are a number of experiments that have been conducted to explore the molecular biology of the inflame pulp in vivo or in vitro8,9. Though in vitro&#160;experiments like 2D or 3D cell cultures have been developed for years and are becoming mature and widely used to test reactions of pulp cells to inflammatory factors, these experiments cannot reflect the interaction between pulp tissue and the systemic immune system10. If the phenomenon being studied is derived from cells of other tissue origin like immune, vascular and nervous system, then pure pulp cell culture will lead to a dead end. Therefore, in vivo experiments are very necessary and referential.
Mice have increasingly become a common choice in inflammation research in vivo&#160;due to their cost-effectiveness, high fertility, and vitality. However, a comprehensive protocol for mice pulpitis model is currently absent, which can serve as a reference. The small size of mice and their sensitivity to stimulation pose significant challenges during experimental procedures. Observing the minuscule teeth concealed deep within the mouse mouth often necessitates the use of a cantilever microscope, notwithstanding the more common presence of desktop microscopes in laboratories. The absence of a mouth opener requires assistance from others. To address this, the group has devised a mouth-gag using readily available materials which aims to provide a standardized and reproducible protocol for constructing the mice pulpitis model. This article details the procedure, covering preoperative preparation, immobilization, pulp exposure surgery, and sample collection on C57 mice. This protocol recommends the use of the mouth-gag, providing information on its structure, production, and application to facilitate other researchers in replicating the procedure.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Animal</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>C57/B6J mice</td>
			<td>Gempharmatech Experimental Animals Company</td>
			<td>C57/B6J</td>
			<td>For the establishment of pulp exposure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Equipment</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 mL syringe</td>
			<td>Chengdu Xinjin Shifeng Medical Apparatus &#38; Instruments Co. LTD.</td>
			<td>SB1-074(IV)</td>
			<td>Apply in drug injection.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>8# C+ file</td>
			<td>Readysteel</td>
			<td>0010047</td>
			<td>Apply in exposing the roof of pulp chamber.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anesthesia Mix solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>10% ketamine hydrochloride+ 5% xylazine + 85% sterile isotonic saline.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DAPI Staining Solution</td>
			<td>Beyotime</td>
			<td>C1005</td>
			<td>Apply in immunofluorescence staining for counter-staining of nucleus.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dental high-speed dental handpiece</td>
			<td>Jing yuan electronic commerce technology</td>
			<td>WJ-422</td>
			<td>Apply in pulp exposure.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heavy wire cutter</td>
			<td>Jirui Medical Instrument Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>none</td>
			<td>Apply inarc cutting.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain kit</td>
			<td>Biosharp</td>
			<td>BL700B</td>
			<td>For the histological analysis of the slides.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IL-6 antibody</td>
			<td>Novus</td>
			<td>NBP2-89149</td>
			<td>Apply in immunofluorescence staining to detect the inflammation of the dental pulp.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ketamine(Ketamine hydrochloride)</td>
			<td>Vet One, Boise, Idaho, USA</td>
			<td>C3N VT1</td>
			<td>100mg/kg, IP. Apply in nesthetization.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Medical tap</td>
			<td>3M</td>
			<td>1530</td>
			<td>Apply in mice immobilization.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Orthodontic arch wire&#160;</td>
			<td>Shanghai Wei Rong Medical Apparatus Co. LTD.</td>
			<td>K417</td>
			<td>Diameter of 8&#181;m</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Round dental burr (0.6 mm)</td>
			<td>Shofu global</td>
			<td>072208</td>
			<td>Apply in removing enamel and shallow layer of dentin.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Young loop bending plier</td>
			<td>Jirui Medical Instrument Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>none</td>
			<td>Apply in arc bending.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

establishment of a murine pulp exposure model with a novel mouth-gag for pulpitis research

Pulpitis, a common cause of natural tooth loss, leads to necrosis and loss of bioactivity in the inflamed dental pulp. Unraveling the mechanisms underlying pulpitis and its efficient treatment is an ongoing focus of endodontic research. Therefore, understanding the inflammatory process within the dental pulp is vital for improving pulp preservation. Compared to other in vitro experiments, a murine pulpitis model offers a more authentic and genetically diverse context to observe the pathological progression of pulpitis. However, using mice, despite their cost-effectiveness and accessibility, poses difficulties due to their small size, poor coordination, and low tolerance, complicating intraoral and dental procedures. This protocol introduces a novel design and application of a mouth-gag to expose mouse pulp, facilitating more efficient intraoral procedures. The mouth-gag, comprised of a dental arch readily available to most dentists and can significantly expedite surgical preparation, even for first-time procedures. Micro-CT, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and immunofluorescence staining were used to identify changes in morphology and cell expression. The aim of this article is to help researchers establish a more reproducible and less demanding procedure for creating a pulp inflammation model using this novel mouth-gag.

The procedure described above was performed on the right maxillary first molar of 3, 6-8 weeks old C57BL/6 mice, while the left maxillary first molars were preserved as control. Histology and immunofluorescence results from blank control, 12 h pulpitis and 24 h pulpitis samples were utilized for demonstration.
Following protocol of CT analysis from Goldman et al.15, pulp exposure was confirmed through micro-CT and reconstruction modeling in Figure 4...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Establishment of a Murine Pulp Exposure Model with a Novel Mouth-Gag for Pulpitis Research at JoVE.com

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Dental Pulp Research with Improved Mouse Models

This article presents a streamlined protocol for establishing a pulpitis model in mice using an innovative mouth-gag, followed by subsequent histological analysis.

Establishment of a Murine Pulp Exposure Model with a Novel Mouth-Gag for Pulpitis Research

Pulpitis, a common cause of natural tooth loss, leads to necrosis and loss of bioactivity in the inflamed dental pulp. Unraveling the mechanisms ...

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878 Views.  Sichuan University. This article presents a streamlined protocol for establishing a pulpitis model in mice using an innovative mouth-gag, followed by subsequent histological analysis.

Video: Author Spotlight: Enhancing Dental Pulp Research with Improved Mouse Models

Assessing Teratogenic Changes in a Zebrafish Model of Fetal Alcohol Exposure

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a severe manifestation of embryonic exposure to ethanol. It presents with characteristic defects to the face and organs, including mental retardation due to disordered and damaged brain development. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a term used to cover a continuum of birth defects that occur due to maternal alcohol consumption, and occurs in approximately 4% of children born in the United States. With 50% of child-bearing age women reporting consumption of alcohol, and half of all pregnancies being unplanned, unintentional exposure is a continuing issue2. In order to best understand the damage produced by ethanol, plus produce a model with which to test potential interventions, we developed a model of developmental ethanol exposure using the zebrafish embryo. Zebrafish are ideal for this kind of teratogen study3-8. Each pair lays hundreds of eggs, which can then be collected without harming the adult fish. The zebrafish embryo is transparent and can be readily imaged with any number of stains. Analysis of these embryos after exposure to ethanol at different doses and times of duration and application shows that the gross developmental defects produced by ethanol are consistent with the human birth defect. Described here are the basic techniques used to study and manipulate the zebrafish FAS model.

In order to understand the molecular mechanisms of the ethanol-induced developmental damage, we have developed a zebrafish model of ethanol exposure and are exploring the physical, cellular, and genetic alterations that occur after ethanol exposure1. We then seek to find potential interventions and rapidly test them in this animal model.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a severe manifestation of embryonic exposure to ethanol. It presents with characteristic defects to the face and organs, ...

Murine Model of Wound Healing

Wound healing and repair are the most complex biological processes that occur in human life. After injury, multiple biological pathways become activated. Impaired wound healing, which occurs in diabetic patients for example, can lead to severe unfavorable outcomes such as amputation. There is, therefore, an increasing impetus to develop novel agents that promote wound repair. The testing of these has been limited to large animal models such as swine, which are often impractical. Mice represent the ideal preclinical model, as they are economical and amenable to genetic manipulation, which allows for mechanistic investigation. However, wound healing in a mouse is fundamentally different to that of humans as it primarily occurs via contraction. Our murine model overcomes this by incorporating a splint around the wound. By splinting the wound, the repair process is then dependent on epithelialization, cellular proliferation and angiogenesis, which closely mirror the biological processes of human wound healing. Whilst requiring consistency and care, this murine model does not involve complicated surgical techniques and allows for the robust testing of promising agents that may, for example, promote angiogenesis or inhibit inflammation. Furthermore, each mouse acts as its own control as two wounds are prepared, enabling the application of both the test compound and the vehicle control on the same animal. In conclusion, we demonstrate a practical, easy-to-learn, and robust model of wound healing, which is comparable to that of humans.

A murine model of cutaneous wound healing that can be used to assess therapeutic compounds in physiological and pathophysiological settings.

Wound healing and repair are the most complex biological processes that occur in human life. After injury, multiple biological pathways become activated. ...

A Murine Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

In this video publication a standardized mouse model of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is presented. Bleeding is induced by endovascular Circle of Willis perforation (CWp) and proven by intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. Thereby a homogenous blood distribution in subarachnoid spaces surrounding the arterial circulation and cerebellar fissures is achieved. Animal physiology is maintained by intubation, mechanical ventilation, and continuous on-line monitoring of various physiological and cardiovascular parameters: body temperature, systemic blood pressure, heart rate, and hemoglobin saturation. Thereby the cerebral perfusion pressure can be tightly monitored resulting in a less variable volume of extravasated blood. This allows a better standardization of endovascular filament perforation in mice and makes the whole model highly reproducible. Thus it is readily available for pharmacological and pathophysiological studies in wild type and genetically altered mice.

A standardized mouse model of subarachnoid hemorrhage by intraluminal Circle of Willis perforation is described. Vessel perforation and subarachnoid bleeding are monitored by intracranial pressure monitoring. In addition various vital parameters are recorded and controlled to maintain physiologic conditions.

In this video publication a standardized mouse model of subarachnoid  hemorrhage (SAH) is presented. Bleeding is induced by endovascular Circle of  Willis ...

A Novel Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury for Juvenile Rats

Despite growing evidence that childhood represents a major risk period for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) from sports-related concussions, motor vehicle accidents, and falls, a reliable animal model of mTBI had previously not been developed for this important aspect of development. The modified weight-drop technique employs a glancing impact to the head of a freely moving rodent transmitting acceleration, deceleration, and rotational forces upon the brain. When applied to juvenile rats, this modified weight-drop technique induced clinically relevant behavioural outcomes that were representative of post-concussion symptomology. The technique is a rapidly applied procedure with an extremely low mortality rate, rendering it ideal for high-throughput studies of therapeutics. In addition, because the procedure involves a mild injury to a closed head, it can easily be used for studies of repetitive brain injury. Owing to the simplistic nature of this technique, and the clinically relevant biomechanics of the injury pathophysiology, the modified weight-drop technique provides researchers with a reliable model of mTBI that can be used in a wide variety of behavioural, molecular, and genetic studies.

The modified weight-drop technique is an easy, cost-effective procedure used for the induction of mild traumatic brain injury in juvenile rats. This novel technique produces clinically relevant symptomology that will advance the study of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and concussion.

Despite growing evidence that childhood represents a major risk period for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) from sports-related concussions, motor ...

A Murine Model of Irreversible and Reversible Unilateral Ureteric Obstruction

Obstruction of the kidney may affect native or transplanted kidneys and results in kidney injury and scarring. Presented here is a model of obstructive nephropathy induced by unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO), which can either be irreversible (UUO) or reversible (R-UUO). In the irreversible UUO model, the ureter may be obstructed for variable periods of time in order to induce increasingly severe renal inflammation and interstitial fibrotic scarring. In the reversible R-UUO model the ureter is obstructed to induce hydronephrosis, tubular dilation and inflammation. After a suitable period of time the ureteric obstruction is then surgically reversed by anastomosis of the severed previously obstructed ureter to the bladder in order to allow complete decompression of the kidney and restoration of urinary flow to the bladder. The irreversible UUO model has been used to investigate various aspects of renal inflammation and scarring including the pathogenesis of disease and the testing of potential anti-inflammatory or anti-fibrotic therapies. The more challenging model of R-UUO has been used by some investigators and does offer significant research potential as it allows the study of inflammatory and immune processes and tissue remodeling in an injured and scarred kidney following the removal of the injurious stimulus. As a result, the R-UUO model offers investigators the opportunity to explore the resolution of kidney inflammation together with key aspects of tissue repair. These experimental models are of relevance to human disease as patients often present with obstruction of the renal tract that requires decompression and are commonly left with significant residual kidney impairment that has no current treatment options and may lead to eventual end stage kidney failure.

The murine model of irreversible unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) is presented together with the model of reversible UUO in which the ureteric obstruction is relieved by anastomosis of the severed ureter into the bladder. These models enable the study of renal inflammation and scarring as well as tissue remodeling.

Obstruction of the kidney may affect native or transplanted kidneys and results in kidney injury and scarring. Presented here is a model of obstructive ...

Establishment and Characterization of UTI and CAUTI in a Mouse Model

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are highly prevalent, a significant cause of morbidity and are increasingly resistant to treatment with antibiotics. Females are disproportionately afflicted by UTI: 50% of all women will have a UTI in their lifetime. Additionally, 20-40% of these women who have an initial UTI will suffer a recurrence with some suffering frequent recurrences with serious deterioration in the quality of life, pain and discomfort, disruption of daily activities, increased healthcare costs, and few treatment options other than long-term antibiotic prophylaxis. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the primary causative agent of community acquired UTI. Catheter-associated UTI (CAUTI) is the most common hospital acquired infection accounting for a million occurrences in the US annually and dramatic healthcare costs. While UPEC is also the primary cause of CAUTI, other causative agents are of increased significance including Enterococcus faecalis. Here we utilize two well-established mouse models that recapitulate many of the clinical characteristics of these human diseases. For UTI, a C3H/HeN model recapitulates many of the features of UPEC virulence observed in humans including host responses, IBC formation and filamentation. For CAUTI, a model using C57BL/6 mice, which retain catheter bladder implants, has been shown to be susceptible to E. faecalis bladder infection. These representative models are being used to gain striking new insights into the pathogenesis of UTI disease, which is leading to the development of novel therapeutics and management or prevention strategies.

The ability to model urinary tract infections (UTI) is crucial in order to be able to understand bacterial pathogenesis and spawn the development of novel therapeutics. This work&#8217;s goal is to demonstrate mouse models of experimental UTI and catheter associated UTI that recapitulate and predict findings seen in humans.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are highly prevalent, a significant cause of morbidity and are increasingly resistant to treatment with antibiotics. ...

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research

Medical research for human benefit is greatly impeded by the necessity for human tissues and subjects. However, upon obtaining consent for human specimens, precious samples must be handled with the greatest care in order to ensure integrity of organs, tissues, and cells to the highest degree. Unfortunately, tissue processing by definition requires extraction of tissues from the host, a change which can cause great cellular stress and have major repercussions on subsequent analyses. These stresses could result in the specimen being no longer representative of the site from which it was retrieved. Therefore, a strict protocol must be adhered to while processing these specimens to ensure representativeness. The desired assay(s) must also be taken into consideration in order to ensure that an optimal technique is used for sample processing. Outlined here is a protocol for tissue retrieval, processing and various analyses which may be performed on processed tissue in order to maximize downstream production from limited tissue samples.

Translational cancer research is dependent on extraction of human tissues. Much work has gone into optimizing extraction methods for ex vivo analysis. Here, we describe tissue processing methods allowing for maximal data output from limited samples.

Medical research for human benefit is greatly impeded by the necessity for human tissues and subjects. However, upon obtaining consent for human ...

A Novel Murine Model of Arteriovenous Fistula Failure: The Surgical Procedure in Detail

The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) still suffers from a high number of failures caused by insufficient remodeling and intimal hyperplasia from which the exact pathophysiology remains unknown. In order to unravel the pathophysiology a murine model of AVF-failure was developed in which the configuration of the anastomosis resembles the preferred situation in the clinical setting. A model was described in which an AVF is created by connecting the venous end of the branch of the external jugular vein to the side of the common carotid artery using interrupted sutures. At a histological level, we observed progressive stenotic intimal lesions in the venous outflow tract that is also seen in failed human AVFs. Although this procedure can be technically challenging due to the small dimensions of the animal, we were able to achieve a surgical success rate of 97% after sufficient training. The key advantage of a murine model is the availability of transgenic animals. In view of the different proposed mechanisms that are responsible for AVF failure, disabling genes that might play a role in vascular remodeling can help us to unravel the complex pathophysiology of AVF failure.

Here we present a murine model of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure in which a clinically relevant anastomotic configuration is incorporated. This model can be used to study the pathophysiology and to test possible therapeutic interventions.

The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) still suffers from a high number of failures caused by insufficient remodeling and intimal hyperplasia from which the ...

Construction and Evaluation of a Murine Calvarial Osteolysis Model by Exposure to CoCrMo Particles in Aseptic Loosening

Wear particle-induced osteolysis is a major cause of aseptic loosening in arthroplasty failure, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Due to long follow-ups necessary for detection and sporadic occurrence, it is challenging to assess the pathogenesis ofparticle-induced osteolysis in clinical cases. Hence, optimal animal models are required for further studies. The murine model of calvarial osteolysis established by exposure to CoCrMo particles is an effective and valid tool for assessing the interactions between particles and various cells in aseptic loosening. In this model, CoCrMo particles were first obtained by high-vacuum three-electrode direct current and resuspended in phosphate-buffered saline at a concentration of 50 mg/mL. Then, 50 &#181;L of the resulting suspension was applied to the middle of the murine calvaria after separation of the cranial periosteum by sharp dissection. After two weeks, the mice were sacrificed, and calvaria specimens were harvested; qualitative and quantitative evaluations were performed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and micro computed tomography. The strengths of this model include procedure simplicity, quantitative evaluation of bone loss, rapidity of osteolysis development, potential use transgenic or knockout models, and a relatively low cost. However, this model cannot to be used to assess the mechanical force and chronic effects of particles in aseptic loosening. Murine calvarial osteolysis model generated by exposure to CoCrMo particles is an ideal tool for assessing the interactions between wear particles and various cells, e.g., macrophages, fibroblasts, osteoblasts and osteoclasts, in aseptic loosening.

This manuscript describes a murine calvarial osteolysis model by exposure to CoCrMo particles, which constitutes an ideal animal model for assessing the interactions between wear particles and various cells in aseptic loosening.

Wear particle-induced osteolysis is a major cause of aseptic loosening in arthroplasty failure, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Due to long ...

Murine Distal Colostomy, A Novel Model of Diversion Colitis in C57BL/6 Mice

Diversion colitis (DC) is a frequent clinical condition occurring in patients with bowel segments excluded from the fecal stream as a result of a diverting enterostomy. The etiology of this disease remains ill-defined but appears to differ from that of classical inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Research aimed to decipher the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to the development of this disease has been severely hampered by the lack of an appropriate murine model. This protocol generates a murine model of DC that facilitates the study of the immune system's role and its interaction with the microbiome in the development of DC. In this model using C57BL/6 animals, distal parts of the colon are excluded from the fecal stream by creating a distal colostomy, triggering the development of mild to moderate inflammation in the excluded bowel segments and reproducing the hallmark lesions of human DC with a moderate systemic inflammatory response. In contrast to the rat model, a large number of genetically-modified murine models on the C57BL/6 background are available. The combination of these animals with our model allows the potential roles of individual cytokines, chemokines, or receptors of bioactive molecules (e.g., interleukin (IL)-17; IL-10, chemokine CXCL13, chemokine receptors CXCR5 and CCR7, and the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 4) to be assessed in the pathogenesis of DC. The availability of congenic mouse strains on the C57BL/6 background largely facilitates transfer experiments to establish the roles of distinct cell types involved in the etiology of DC. Finally, the model offers the opportunity to assess the influences of local interventions (e.g., modification of the local microbiome or local anti-inflammatory therapy) on mucosal immunity in affected and non-affected bowel segments and the on systemic immune homeostasis.

Murine distal colostomy provides a murine model for human diversion colitis, a predominantly lymphocytic colitis in colon segment excluded from the fecal stream.