Intraperitoneal Injection of Cells: A Method of Delivering Cancer Cells into the Peritoneal Adipose Tissue of Murine Model

Load 500 microliters of the fluorescently tagged single cell suspension into the syringe. Then, put the syringe into a sterile capped 25 gauge needle to reduce cell shearing prior to injection. Restraining the mouse with the other hand, pick the mouse up by the scruff of the neck and hold the tail using the palm and forefinger. Then, fix the left hind leg between the ring and little finger. To avoid traumatizing abdominal organs, restrain the mouse well so that it cannot move during the injection.

Imagine a line across the abdomen, and locate a point on the animal's right side and close to the midline. The point of entry is cranial to and slightly medial of the last nipple. Prepare to insert the needle on the mouse's right side to avoid the cecum and reduce the risk of puncturing the intestines. Insert the needle at the lower lateral region of the mouse's abdomen to a depth of approximately 0.5 centimeters. Pull back on the plunger to confirm that the needle has not penetrated a blood vessel or other peritoneal organs.

If no fluid is aspirated, inject the sample using slow steady pressure. Then, withdraw the needle and return the mouse to its cage. Do not recap syringe before disposal in the sharps container.