The evolution of the device started with somewhat different cutting prototype demonstrated at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) mouse club by Bass Hassan, following this there were several discussions with Rob Rudling and Nikki Mandir in the containment facility at ICRF Clare Hall. Jo Kitau of the mechanical workshop at ICRF constructed the initial versions and Andy Lucas designed and perfected the final model in the CRUK workshop in Oxford.

The various experimental procedures and the humane euthanasia are approved by the host institutions ethical committee and by the appropriate regulatory bodies. Euthanasia is normally achieved using CO2 asphyxiation followed by cervical dislocation.
1. Device
<ol>
	<li>Machine the main portion of the base of the device from out of a solid block of high-density acetyl resin, as described in this manuscript. At each end create 3 mm high-elevated strips, and part machine out of these 2.5 mm groves to take...

<ol>
	<li>Goodlad, R. A., Alison, M. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=+Cancer+Handbook."> Cancer Handbook.</a> , 243-262 (2007).</li><li>Ward, J. M., Treuting, P. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rodent+intestinal+epithelial+carcinogenesis:+pathology+and+preclinical+models.">Rodent intestinal epithelial carcinogenesis: pathology and preclinical models.</a> Toxicol Pathol. 42, 148-161 (2014).</li><li>Sundberg, J. P., Hogenesch, H., Nikitin, A. Y., Treuting, P. M., Ward, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Training+mouse+pathologists:+ten+years+of+workshops+on+the+Pathology+of+Mouse+Models+of+Human+Disease.">Training mouse pathologists: ten years of workshops on the Pathology of Mouse Models of Human Disease.</a> Toxicol Pathol. 40, 823-825 (2012).</li><li>Wasan, H. S., Novelli, M., Bee, J., Bodmer, W. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dietary+fat+influences+on+polyp+phenotype+in+multiple+intestinal+neoplasia+mice.">Dietary fat influences on polyp phenotype in multiple intestinal neoplasia mice.</a> Proc Natl Acade Sci USA. 94, 3308-3313 (1997).</li><li>Rudling, R., Hassan, A. B., Kitau, J., Mandir, N., Goodlad, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+simple+device+to+rapidly+prepare+whole+mounts+of+murine+intestine.">A simple device to rapidly prepare whole mounts of murine intestine.</a> Cell Prolif. 39, 415-420 (2006).</li><li>Alferez, D., Goodlad, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=To+best+measure+cell+proliferation+in+samples+from+the+intestine.">To best measure cell proliferation in samples from the intestine.</a> Cell Prolif. 40, 231-240 (2007).</li><li>Park, H. S., Goodlad, R. A., Wright, N. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+incidence+of+aberrant+crypt+foci+and+colonic+carcinoma+in+dimethylhydrazine-treated+rats+varies+in+a+site-specific+manner+and+depends+on+tumor+histology.">The incidence of aberrant crypt foci and colonic carcinoma in dimethylhydrazine-treated rats varies in a site-specific manner and depends on tumor histology.</a> Cancer Res. 57, 4507-4510 (1997).</li><li>Park, H. 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=Effects+of+epidermal+growth+factor+and+dimethylhydrazine+on+crypt+size,+cell+proliferation,+and+crypt+fission+in+the+rat+colon.+Cell+proliferation+and+crypt+fission+are+controlled+independently.">Effects of epidermal growth factor and dimethylhydrazine on crypt size, cell proliferation, and crypt fission in the rat colon. Cell proliferation and crypt fission are controlled independently.</a> Am J Pathol. 151, 843-852 (1997).</li><li>Femia, A. P., Dolara, P., Caderni, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mucin-depleted+foci+(MDF)+in+the+colon+of+rats+treated+with+azoxymethane+(AOM)+are+useful+biomarkers+for+colon+carcinogenesis.">Mucin-depleted foci (MDF) in the colon of rats treated with azoxymethane (AOM) are useful biomarkers for colon carcinogenesis.</a> Carcinogenesis. 25, 277-281 (2004).</li><li>Ruehl-Fehlert, C., 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=Revised+guides+for+organ+sampling+and+trimming+in+rats+and+mice--part+1.">Revised guides for organ sampling and trimming in rats and mice--part 1.</a> Exp Toxicol Pathol. 55, 91-106 (2003).</li><li>Goodlad, R. 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=Inhibiting+vascular+endothelial+growth+factor+receptor-2+signaling+reduces+tumor+burden+in+the+ApcMin/++mouse+model+of+early+intestinal+cancer.">Inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 signaling reduces tumor burden in the ApcMin/+ mouse model of early intestinal cancer.</a> Carcinogenesis. 27, 2133-2139 (2006).</li><li>Mandir, N., Englyst, H., Goodlad, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Resistant+carbohydrates+stimulate+cell+proliferation+and+crypt+fission+in+wild-type+mice+and+in+the+Apc(Min/+)+mouse+model+of+intestinal+cancer,+association+with+enhanced+polyp+development.">Resistant carbohydrates stimulate cell proliferation and crypt fission in wild-type mice and in the Apc(Min/+) mouse model of intestinal cancer, association with enhanced polyp development.</a> Br J Nutr. 100, 711-721 (2008).</li></ol>

The device greatly speeds up the process so that two operators can fully autopsy a mouse within 6 min. This will include a visual check for obvious gross lesions and weighing and fixing the major organs. It will also allow the operators to rinse, blot and weigh the stomach, caecum, small intestine and colon and prepare the whole mounts. The flattened tissue can be fixed very quickly and thus avoid degradation artifacts.
One of the major advantages of the device (apart from speed) is that the d...

The mouse and the genetically modified mouse1-3 are an invaluable model for the study of various pathologies especially cancer and its relationship to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. This often requires the preparation of whole mounts of the small intestine and/or colon.
The preparation of whole mounts can be done with a precision pair of offset scissors but it can take about 20 min&#160;per mouse4. This is not very practical for comparative studies, which require a significant amount of mice (say 10 per group subject to statistical analysis). In addition, the length of time taken increases the risk of tissue degradation. An attempt to alleviate this problem led to the trial of various cutting preparation aids. The first was based on a series of metal plates, with cutting groves, but the plates obscured the tissue and the cutting was thus difficult to control.
A conventional six-sided pencil finally provided inspiration for the cutting device, as we could then see how a half pencil shape would make a good guide for a scalpel (Figure 1). This resulted in a design for a frame with four cutting guides5. The effectiveness of this device was dramatic as the preparations in Figure 4 demonstrate the difference between the scissor preparation and the device preparation.
The tops of the original devices was constructed from several pieces of metal, but later ones, and the current model was machined out of a solid piece of Duralumin. The base was machined out of highest quality high-density resin.
The device has proved to be of great use for the preparation of whole mounts of mouse intestine as it greatly speeds up and improves the quality and consistency of the preparations, which have a wide range of applications.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Delrin</td>
			<td>Ryan Plastics, Earls Barton, UK</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>High-density acetal resin similar material would suffice</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Duralumin plate</td>
			<td>Metal Supplies Ltd, Park Road,Dukinfield. SK16 5LP UK</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Aluminium allow dating back to 1909 so alterative suppliers are available&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Finished device(s) ready for use</td>
			<td>Contact Dr Goodlad&#160; r.goodlad@imperial.ac.uk</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Contact&#160; r.goodlad@imperial.ac.uk&#160; for supply details</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a simple device to rapidly prepare whole mounts of the mouse intestine

Preparing whole mounts of the mouse small intestine and colon for subsequent analysis or quantification can be time consuming and difficult. We describe the use of a simple device to cut and &#8216;roll&#8217; mouse intestines to rapidly prepare whole mount preparations of superior and uniform quality to that which can be achieved by hand. The device comprises a base that holds 4 stainless steel rods and a top, which acts a cutting guide. The rods are inserted into the lumen of the small intestine [divided into thirds] and the colon. The rods and samples are then placed over a piece of filter paper or card into the holding slots in the base of the device. The top of the device is then positioned and serves as a cutting guide. The two angled sections in the center of the top piece are used to guide a knife or scalpel and cut the intestines longitudinally on the top of the rods. Once the intestinal sections have been cut, the top is removed and the card,&#160;tissue and rods gently removed from the device and placed on the bench. The rods are then gently rolled sideways to flatten and stick the intestinal segments onto the underlying piece of filter paper or card. The final preparation can then be examined or fixed and stored for later analysis. The preparations are invaluable for the study of intestinal changes in normal or genetically modified mouse models. The preparations have been used for the study and quantification of the effects of inflammation (colitis), damage, pre-cancerous lesions (aberrant crypt foci (ACFs) and mucin depleted foci (MDFs)) and polyps or tumors.

Polyps are easy to identify under a stereomicroscope with a cold light source to side illuminate the tissue (Figure 4). It is helpful to mark the card with pencil marks when a polyp is observed in order that scoring can be discussed later and different operators can reach agreement. The tissue can also be bulk stained [with methylene blue] to identify aberrant crypt foci8 or mucin depleted foci (MDFs)9 by illumination from above or by trans illumination (Figure 5).<...

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A Simple Device to Rapidly Prepare Whole Mounts of the Mouse Intestine

The use of a simple device to cut and &#8216;roll&#8217; mouse intestines to rapidly prepare whole mount preparations is described.

Preparing whole mounts of the mouse small intestine and colon for subsequent analysis or quantification can be time consuming and difficult. We describe ...

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19.3K vistas.  National Institutes of Health. The use of a simple device to cut and ‘roll’ mouse intestines to rapidly prepare whole mount preparations is described.