La nostra ricerca è sostenuta dal programma di ricerca intramurale del NIH, National Eye Institute.

Tutte le attrezzature e reagenti utilizzati sono sterili. Il protocollo è stato approvato dalla cura degli animali e utilizzo Comitato (ACUC) al NEI / NIH (protocollo di studio su animali NEI-553), ed è stata eseguita secondo le linee guida NIH e regolamenti. 1. Produrre il fattore angiogenico contenenti pellet In questa parte, il pellet contenente il fattore angiogenico di interesse sono preparati. <ol><li> Prova del 10% (w / v) di sucralfato con PBS. Conservare a temperatura ambiente. </li><li> Fai 12% (w / v) poli-HEMA con etanolo assoluto. Conservare a temperatura ambiente. </li><li> Fare 1 mg / soluzione bFGF microlitri. Conservare a -80 ° C. </li><li> Per fare 50 palline, mescolare 5 ml di poli-HEMA, 1ml di sucralfato e 4 ml di soluzione madre bFGF, vortice accuratamente. </li><li> Posizionare un pezzo di parafilm pulita in una capsula di Petri, esporla ai raggi UV per 15 minuti in una cappa di coltura di tessuti. Goccia 0,2 microlitri della miscela soluzione sul parafilm per un pellet. Così, 10 microlitri della miscela soluzione dovrebbe produrre 50 pellet. Lasciate asciugare il pellet a temperatura ambiente per 1-2 ore. Il pellet essiccato possono essere memorizzati in 4 ° C per diversi giorni, o -80 ° C per diversi mesi. </li><li> Al momento dell&#39;utilizzo, leva e raccogliere le palline con le punte di un paio di pinze. Fare molta attenzione a non romperli o di farli primavera distanza. </li></ol> 2. Esecuzione della cornea saggio topo tasca In questa parte, mostreremo come fare una tasca nella cornea del mouse, e come inserire una pallina nella tasca. Il fattore angiogenico contenuta nel pellet verrà rilasciata gradualmente alle zone circostanti della cornea (Fig. 1). In questa dimostrazione, si usa di 8 settimane femmina C57/Bl6 topi. <ol><li> Il mouse è profondamente anestetizzati sistematicamente con la miscela di ketamina (75 mg / kg) e xilazina (5mg/kg, iniezione ip). Ciò manterrà il mouse in uno stato di anestesia per 30-60 min. Anestetico locale (0,5% proparacaina HCl) viene applicato alla cornea. Dopo 5 minuti, fissare un occhio sotto un microscopio da dissezione. </li><li> Un taglio molto delicato è nel bel mezzo della cornea 1,2 -1,4 mm dal limbus corneale (come illustrato nella figura 1) con un coltello von Graefe cataratta. Fare molta attenzione a non tagliare la cornea. </li><li> Una tasca è fatto sotto lo strato epitelio della cornea da parte orizzontalmente inserendo il coltello verso il centro della cornea ed estendendo il coltello verso la cura limbus (Fig.1). La dimensione della tasca deve essere abbastanza grande per ospitare una fattore angiogenico contenenti pellet. Fare molta attenzione a non forare attraverso la cornea. </li><li> Inserire un pellet con una pinza nella tasca lentamente. Provate a fare il pellet più piatta possibile. </li><li> Dopo l&#39;impianto di pellet, un argomento di attualità pomata oftalmica antibiotica viene applicato per l&#39;occhio. Gli strumenti sono puliti con tamponi imbevuti di alcool al 70% tra gli animali. </li><li> Muovi il mouse in una zona calda e secca e monitorarlo, fino a quando non è in grado di mantenere una postura eretta e poi tornare alla sua gabbia casa. Analgesici sistemici (es. buprenorfina, 2 mg / kg, iniezione ip) e di attualità pomata antibiotica (es. gentamicina) sono dati due volte al giorno per 2 giorni dopo l&#39;intervento e il mouse è strettamente monitorati per 3 giorni. La guarigione è previsto di completare entro le prime 48 ore post-intervento chirurgico. L&#39;occhio con la tasca saranno esaminate sotto un lampada a fessura portata biomicro tra i giorni 4-10 dopo l&#39;impianto a pellet. </li></ol> 3. Rappresentante risultati <ol><li> Sette giorni dopo l&#39;impianto a pellet, il mouse è anestetizzato sistemico e topico, come descritto al punto 2.1. </li><li> Osservare i vasi sanguigni nella cornea indotta dal fattore angiogenico sotto un microscopio da dissezione. Nella cornea trattata con veicolo, non la crescita dei vasi sanguigni possono essere osservati (Fig. 2A, veicoli trattati con cornea). Nella cornea trattata con bFGF, angiogenesi robusta può essere visto (Fig. 2B). La crescita dei vasi sanguigni può essere valutato utilizzando la lunghezza massima dei vasi sanguigni (dai vasi normali limbare alla parte superiore dei vasi nuovi), e il totale aree vaso sanguigno (Fig. 2B, delineato da una linea rossa tratteggiata nel bFGF trattati con cornea). Altri metodi di quantificazione sono stati descritti anche 2,5. </li></ol><img src="/files/ftp_upload/3077/3077fig1.jpg" alt="Figura 1" /> Figura 1. A. Cornea normale con colorazione H &amp; E. Nessun vaso sanguigno esiste in una cornea normale. B. Fai una tasca al di sotto dello strato epitelio della cornea. C. Incorpora una pallina nella tasca. D. Il fattore angiogenico viene rilasciato dal pellet, e crescere nuovi vasi sanguigni dai vasi normali limbari. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/3077/3077fig2.jpg" alt="Figura 2" /> Figura 2. Risultato Rappresentante cinque giorni dopo l&#39;impiantagione del pellet. Un. Cornea con un pellet contenente il solo veicolo. Nessuna nuova formazione dei vasi sanguigni nella cornea. Solo i vasi normali preesistenti limbari sono visibili. B. Cornea con un pellet contenente bFGF. Robusto nuovi vasi sanguigni (dot-allineati) sono cresciuti dai vasi normali preesistenti limbare.

<ol>
	<li>Cao, Y., Linden, P., Shima, D., Browne, F., Folkman, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+angiogenic+activity+and+hypoxia+induction+of+heterodimers+of+placenta+growth+factor/vascular+endothelial+growth+factor.">In vivo angiogenic activity and hypoxia induction of heterodimers of placenta growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor.</a> The Journal of clinical investigation. 98, 2507-2511 (1996).</li><li>Rogers, M. S., Birsner, A. E., D'Amato, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+mouse+cornea+micropocket+angiogenesis+assay.">The mouse cornea micropocket angiogenesis assay.</a> Nature. 2, 2545-2550 (2007).</li><li>Poche, R. A., Saik, J. E., West, J. L., Dickinson, M. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+mouse+cornea+as+a+transplantation+site+for+live+imaging+of+engineered+tissue+constructs.">The mouse cornea as a transplantation site for live imaging of engineered tissue constructs.</a> Cold Spring Harbor protocols. , 5416-54 (2010).</li><li>Zhang, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=VEGF-B+is+dispensable+for+blood+vessel+growth+but+critical+for+their+survival,+and+VEGF-B+targeting+inhibits+pathological+angiogenesis.">VEGF-B is dispensable for blood vessel growth but critical for their survival, and VEGF-B targeting inhibits pathological angiogenesis.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. , 106-6152 (2009).</li><li>Tong, S., Yuan, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dose+response+of+angiogenesis+to+basic+fibroblast+growth+factor+in+rat+corneal+pocket+assay:+I.+Experimental+characterizations.">Dose response of angiogenesis to basic fibroblast growth factor in rat corneal pocket assay: I. Experimental characterizations.</a> Microvascular research. 75, 10-15 (2008).</li><li>Muthukkaruppan, V., Auerbach, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Angiogenesis+in+the+mouse+cornea.">Angiogenesis in the mouse cornea.</a> Science. 205, 1416-1418 (1979).</li><li>Ziche, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Corneal+assay+for+angiogenesis.">Corneal assay for angiogenesis.</a> Methods in molecular medicine. 46, 131-142 (2001).</li><li>Ziche, M., Morbidelli, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+corneal+pocket+assay.">The corneal pocket assay.</a> Methods in molecular biology. 467, 319-329 (2009).</li></ol>

Nessun conflitto di interessi dichiarati.

La cornea del mouse modello tascabile test è stato descritto nel 1979 da Muthukkaruppan VR e Auerbach R 6. Protocolli dettagliati sono stati pubblicati da diversi laboratori 2,3,7,8. Il nostro laboratorio ha modificato e utilizzato questo metodo nei nostri studi per molti anni 4. La cornea saggio topo tasca è un modello relativamente semplice, con grande riproducibilità. Un altro vantaggio di questo modello è che, poiché la cornea non ha vasi sanguigni in genere, non c&#39;è import...

<table border="1"><tbody><tr><th> Attrezzatura </th><th> Azienda </th><th> Numero di catalogo </th></tr><tr><td> Microscopio da dissezione </td><td> Mondo Strumenti di precisione </td><td> PZMIV-BS </td></tr><tr><td> Von Graefe cataratta coltello (1.5x25mm lama, piatto) </td><td> Ambler chirurgica </td><td> 3401E </td></tr><tr><td> Dumont # 5 pinze </td><td> Strumenti Scienza multa </td><td> 11252-50 </td></tr><tr><td> Lampada a fessura </td><td> Zeiss </td><td> 30 SL-M </td></tr></tbody></table> Tabella 1. Attrezzature <table border="1"><tbody><tr><th> Reagente </th><th> Azienda </th><th> Catalogo </th><th> Commenti </th></tr><tr><td> bFGF (fondamentale fattore di crescita dei fibroblasti) </td><td> Peprotech INC </td><td> 100-18B </td><td></td></tr><tr><td> Sucralfato (saccarosio octasulfate-alluminio complessi) </td><td> Sigma </td><td> S0652 </td><td> 10% in PBS </td></tr><tr><td> poli-HEMA (Poly (2-idrossietil metacrilato)) </td><td> Sigma </td><td> P3932 </td><td> 12% in etanolo </td></tr></tbody></table> Reagenti tabella 2. E materiali

a mouse model of the cornea pocket assay for angiogenesis study

Una cornea normale è chiaro dei tessuti vascolari. Tuttavia, i vasi sanguigni possono essere indotte a crescere e sopravvivere nella cornea quando potenti fattori angiogenici sono amministrati 1. Questa unicità ha fatto il test tasca cornea uno dei modelli più utilizzati per gli studi di angiogenesi. La cornea compone di più strati di cellule. E &#39;quindi possibile incorporare un pellet contenente il fattore angiogenico di interesse nella cornea per indagare l&#39;effetto angiogenico 2,3. Qui, mettiamo a disposizione una dimostrazione passo passo su come (I) produrre il fattore angiogenico contenenti pellet (II) incorporare il pellet nella cornea (III) analizzare l&#39;angiogenesi indotta dal fattore angiogenico di interesse. Dato che la base del fattore di crescita dei fibroblasti (bFGF) è noto come uno dei più potenti fattori angiogenici 4, è qui usato per indurre l&#39;angiogenesi nella cornea.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Mouse Model of the Cornea Pocket Assay for Angiogenesis Study at JoVE.com

A Mouse Model of the Cornea Pocket Assay for Angiogenesis Study

La cornea è unico in quanto manca di tessuti vascolari. Tuttavia, una robusta crescita dei vasi sanguigni e la sopravvivenza può essere indotta nella cornea da potenti fattori angiogenici. Pertanto, la cornea in grado di fornire con noi uno strumento prezioso per gli studi angiogenico. Questo protocollo illustra come eseguire il modello murino di test cornea tasca e come valutare l&#39;angiogenesi indotta da fattori angiogenici utilizzando questo modello.

Un modello murino del saggio Cornea Pocket Study Angiogenesi

A normal cornea is clear of vascular tissues. However, blood vessels can be induced to grow and survive in the cornea when potent angiogenic factors are ...

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15.9K Views.  National Eye Institute. La cornea è unico in quanto manca di tessuti vascolari. Tuttavia, una robusta crescita dei vasi sanguigni e la sopravvivenza può essere indotta nella cornea da potenti fattori angiogenici. Pertanto, la cornea in grado di fornire con noi uno strumento prezioso per gli studi angiogenico. Questo protocollo illustra come eseguire il modello murino di test cornea tasca e come valutare l'angiogenesi indotta da fattori angiogenici utilizzando questo modello.

Video: A Mouse Model of the Cornea Pocket Assay for Angiogenesis Study

Biomarkers in an Animal Model for Revealing Neural, Hematologic, and Behavioral Correlates of PTSD

Identification of biomarkers representing the evolution of the pathophysiology of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is vitally important, not only for objective diagnosis but also for the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and resilience to trauma. Ongoing research is directed at identifying molecular biomarkers for PTSD, including traumatic stress induced proteins, transcriptomes, genomic variances and genetic modulators, using biologic samples from subjects' blood, saliva, urine, and postmortem brain tissues. However, the correlation of these biomarker molecules in peripheral or postmortem samples to altered brain functions associated with psychiatric symptoms in PTSD remains unresolved. Here, we present an animal model of PTSD in which both peripheral blood and central brain biomarkers, as well as behavioral phenotype, can be collected and measured, thus providing the needed correlation of the central biomarkers of PTSD, which are mechanistic and pathognomonic but cannot be collected from people, with the peripheral biomarkers and behavioral phenotypes, which can.
Our animal model of PTSD employs restraint and tail shocks repeated for three continuous days - the inescapable tail-shock model (ITS) in rats. This ITS model mimics the pathophysiology of PTSD 17, 7, 4, 10. We and others have verified that the ITS model induces behavioral and neurobiological alterations similar to those found in PTSD subjects 17, 7, 10, 9. Specifically, these stressed rats exhibit (1) a delayed and exaggerated startle response appearing several days after stressor cessation, which given the compressed time scale of the rat's life compared to a humans, corresponds to the one to three months delay of symptoms in PTSD patients (DSM-IV-TR PTSD Criterian D/E 13), (2) enhanced plasma corticosterone (CORT) for several days, indicating compromise of the hypothalamopituitary axis (HPA), and (3) retarded body weight gain after stressor cessation, indicating dysfunction of metabolic regulation.
The experimental paradigms employed for this model are: (1) a learned helplessness paradigm in the rat assayed by measurement of acoustic startle response (ASR) and a charting of body mass; (2) microdissection of the rat brain into regions and nuclei; (3) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for blood levels of CORT; (4) a gene expression microarray plus related bioinformatics tools 18. This microarray, dubbed rMNChip, focuses on mitochondrial and mitochondria-related nuclear genes in the rat so as to specifically address the neuronal bioenergetics hypothesized to be involved in PTSD.

We describe a rat model of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that reveals the persistent alterations in neuroendocrine function and the delayed long-term, exaggerated fear response, characteristic of PTSD patients. The animal model and methods described here are useful for correlating biomarkers in brain nuclei, which are mechanistic but cannot be measured in patients, with biomarkers in peripheral white blood cells, which can.

Biomarcatori in un modello animale per Rivelare correlati neurali, ematologiche, e comportamentali di PTSD

Identification of biomarkers representing the evolution of the pathophysiology of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is vitally important, not only for ...

Ricerca

Medicina

Human Neuroendocrine Tumor Cell Lines as a Three-Dimensional Model for the Study of Human Neuroendocrine Tumor Therapy

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors, with an incidence of two per 100,&#x200A;000 individuals per year, and they account for 0.5% of all human malignancies.1 Other than surgery for the minority of patients who present with localized disease, there is little or no survival benefit of systemic therapy. Therefore, there is a great need to better understand the biology of NETs, and in particular define new therapeutic targets for patients with nonresectable or metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. 3D cell culture is becoming a popular method for drug screening due to its relevance in modeling the in vivo tumor tissue organization and microenvironment.2,3 The 3D multicellular spheroids could provide valuable information in a more timely and less expensive manner than directly proceeding from 2D cell culture experiments to animal (murine) models.
To facilitate the discovery of new therapeutics for NET patients, we have developed an in vitro 3D multicellular spheroids model using the human NET cell lines. The NET cells are plated in a non-adhesive agarose-coated 24-well plate and incubated under physiological conditions (5% CO2, 37 &deg;C) with a very slow agitation for 16-24 hr after plating. The cells form multicellular spheroids starting on the 3rd or 4th day. The spheroids become more spherical by the 6th day, at which point the drug treatments are initiated. The efficacy of the drug treatments on the NET spheroids is monitored based on the morphology, shape and size of the spheroids with a phase-contrast light microscope. The size of the spheroids is estimated automatically using a custom-developed MATLAB program based on an active contour algorithm. Further, we demonstrate a simple method to process the HistoGel embedding on these 3D spheroids, allowing the use of standard histological and immunohistochemical techniques. 
This is the first report on generating 3D spheroids using NET cell lines to examine the effect of therapeutic drugs. We have also performed histology on these 3D spheroids, and displayed an example of a single drug's effect on growth and proliferation of the NET spheroids. Our results support that the NET spheroids are valuable for further studies of NET biology and drug development.

We present a simple agarose overlay platform to grow 3D multicellular spheroids using neuroendocrine cancer cell lines. This method provides a very convenient way to examine the effect of therapeutic drugs on the neuroendocrine tumor cells. It could also help us establish human neuroendocrine tumor spheroids for cancer therapy.

Neuroendocrini umani cella linee tumorali come un modello tridimensionale per lo studio dei diritti dell&#39;uomo e terapia dei tumori neuroendocrini

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare tumors, with an incidence of two per 100,&#x200A;000 individuals per year, and they account for 0.5% of all human ...

A Murine Model of Stent Implantation in the Carotid Artery for the Study of Restenosis

Despite the considerable progress made in the stent development in the last decades, cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of death in western countries. Beside the benefits offered by the development of different drug-eluting stents, the coronary revascularization bears also the life-threatening risks of in-stent thrombosis and restenosis. Research on new therapeutic strategies is impaired by the lack of appropriate methods to study stent implantation and restenosis processes. Here, we describe a rapid and accessible procedure of stent implantation in mouse carotid artery, which offers the possibility to study in a convenient way the molecular mechanisms of vessel remodeling and the effects of different drug coatings.

A model of stent implantation in mouse carotid artery is described. Compared to other similar methods, this procedure is very rapid, simple and accessible, offering the possibility to study in a convenient way the vascular wall reaction to different drug-eluting stents and the molecular mechanisms of restenosis.

Un modello murino di impianto di stent a livello dell&#39;arteria carotidea per lo Studio della restenosi

Despite  the considerable progress made in the stent development in the last decades,  cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of death in western ...

Retinal Detachment Model in Rodents by Subretinal Injection of Sodium Hyaluronate

Subretinal injection of sodium hyaluronate is a widely accepted method of inducing retinal detachment (RD). However, the height and duration of RD or the occurrence of subretinal hemorrhage can affect photoreceptor cell death in the detached retina. Hence, it is advantageous to create reproducible RDs without subretinal hemorrhage for evaluating photoreceptor cell death. We modified a previously reported method to create bullous and persistent RDs in a reproducible location with rare occurrence of subretinal hemorrhage. The critical step of this modified method is the creation of a self-sealing scleral incision, which can prevent leakage of sodium hyaluronate after injection into the subretinal space. To make the self-sealing scleral incision, a scleral tunnel is created, followed by scleral penetration into the choroid with a 30 G needle. Although choroidal hemorrhage may occur during this step, astriction with a surgical spear reduces the rate of choroidal hemorrhage. This method allows a more reproducible and reliable model of photoreceptor death in diseases that involve RD such as rhegmatogenous RD, retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, central serous chorioretinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Creating experimental retinal detachments with a reproducible and sustained height of detachment, and without subretinal hemorrhage, is important for studying the pathophysiology of photoreceptor cell loss in retinal disease and evaluating potential therapeutic interventions. Here, we report such a method in detail.

Distacco della retina Modello in Roditori da iniezione sottoretinico di ialuronato di sodio

Subretinal injection of sodium hyaluronate is a widely accepted method of inducing retinal detachment (RD). However, the height and duration of RD or the ...

Implantation of Fibrin Gel on Mouse Lung to Study Lung-specific Angiogenesis

Recent significant advances in stem cell research and bioengineering techniques have made great progress in utilizing biomaterials to regenerate and repair damage in simple tissues in the orthopedic and periodontal fields. However, attempts to regenerate the structures and functions of more complex three-dimensional (3D) organs such as lungs have not been very successful because the biological processes of organ regeneration have not been well explored. It is becoming clear that angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, plays key roles in organ regeneration. Newly formed vasculatures not only deliver oxygen, nutrients and various cell components that are required for organ regeneration but also provide instructive signals to the regenerating local tissues. Therefore, to successfully regenerate lungs in an adult, it is necessary to recapitulate the lung-specific microenvironments in which angiogenesis drives regeneration of local lung tissues. Although conventional in vivo angiogenesis assays, such as subcutaneous implantation of extracellular matrix (ECM)-rich hydrogels (e.g., fibrin or collagen gels or Matrigel - ECM protein mixture secreted by Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm mouse sarcoma cells), are extensively utilized to explore the general mechanisms of angiogenesis, lung-specific angiogenesis has not been well characterized because methods for orthotopic implantation of biomaterials in the lung have not been well established. The goal of this protocol is to introduce a unique method to implant fibrin gel on the lung surface of living adult mouse, allowing for the successful recapitulation of host lung-derived angiogenesis inside the gel. This approach enables researchers to explore the mechanisms by which the lung-specific microenvironment controls angiogenesis and alveolar regeneration in both normal and pathological conditions. Since implanted biomaterials release and supply physical and chemical signals to adjacent lung tissues, implantation of these biomaterials on diseased lung can potentially normalize the adjacent diseased tissues, enabling researchers to develop new therapeutic approaches for various types of lung diseases.

Recapitulation of the organ-specific microenvironment, which stimulates local angiogenesis, is indispensable for successful regeneration of damaged tissues. This report demonstrates a novel method to implant fibrin gels on the lung surface of living mouse in order to explore how the lung-specific microenvironment modulates angiogenesis and alveolar regeneration in adult mouse.

L&#39;impianto di fibrina gel sul mouse polmone per studiare angiogenesi Lung-specifica

Recent significant advances in stem cell research and bioengineering techniques have made great progress in utilizing biomaterials to regenerate and ...

Establishment of a Human Multiple Myeloma Xenograft Model in the Chicken to Study Tumor Growth, Invasion and Angiogenesis

Multiple myeloma (MM), a malignant plasma cell disease, remains incurable and novel drugs are required to improve the prognosis of patients. Due to the lack of the bone microenvironment and auto/paracrine growth factors human MM cells are difficult to cultivate. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish proper in vitro and in vivo culture systems to study the action of novel therapeutics on human MM cells. Here we present a model to grow human multiple myeloma cells in a complex 3D environment in vitro and in vivo. MM cell lines OPM-2 and RPMI-8226 were transfected to express the transgene GFP and were cultivated in the presence of human mesenchymal cells and collagen type-I matrix as three-dimensional spheroids. In addition, spheroids were grafted on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of chicken embryos and tumor growth was monitored by stereo fluorescence microscopy. Both models allow the study of novel therapeutic drugs in a complex 3D environment and the quantification of the tumor cell mass after homogenization of grafts in a transgene-specific GFP-ELISA. Moreover, angiogenic responses of the host and invasion of tumor cells into the subjacent host tissue can be monitored daily by a stereo microscope and analyzed by immunohistochemical staining against human tumor cells (Ki-67, CD138, Vimentin) or host mural cells covering blood vessels (desmin/ASMA).
In conclusion, the onplant system allows studying MM cell growth and angiogenesis in a complex 3D environment and enables screening for novel therapeutic compounds targeting survival and proliferation of MM cells.

Human multiple myeloma (MM) cells require the supportive microenvironment of mesenchymal cells and extracellular matrix components for survival and proliferation. We established an in vivo chicken embryo model with engrafted human myeloma and mesenchymal cells to study effects of cancer drugs on tumor growth, invasion and angiogenesis.

Istituzione di un mieloma multiplo umano Xenograft modello nel pollo per studiare la crescita del tumore, invasione e l&#39;angiogenesi

Multiple myeloma (MM), a malignant plasma cell disease, remains incurable and novel drugs are required to improve the prognosis of patients. Due to the ...

A Mouse Model of Orthopedic Surgery to Study Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Tissue Regeneration

Surgery is commonly used to improve and maintain quality of life. Unfortunately, in vulnerable patients such as the elderly, complications may occur and significantly diminish the outcome. Indeed, after routine orthopedic surgery to repair a fracture, as many as 50% of elderly patients suffer from neurologic complications like delirium. Also, the capacity to heal and regenerate tissue after surgery decreases with age, and can impact the quality of fracture repair and even osseous integration of implants. Thus, a better understanding of mechanisms that drive these age-dependent changes could provide strategic targets to minimize risk for such complications and optimize outcomes. Here, we introduce a clinically relevant mouse model of tibial fracture. The postoperative changes in these mice mimic some of the cognitive impairments commonly observed after routine orthopedic surgery in humans. Briefly, an incision is performed in the right hind limb under strictly aseptic conditions. Muscles are disassociated, and a 0.38-mm stainless steel pin is inserted into the upper crest of the tibia, inside the intramedullary canal. Osteotomy is then performed, and the wound is stapled. We have used this model to investigate the effects of surgical trauma on postoperative neuroinflammation and behavioral changes. By applying this fracture model in combination with parabiosis, a surgical model in which 2 mice are anastomosed, we have studied cells and secreted factors that systemically rejuvenate organ function and tissue regeneration after injury. By following our step-by-step protocol, these models can be reproduced with high fidelity, and can be adapted to interrogate many biologic pathways that are altered by surgical trauma.

This protocol describes a mouse model of orthopedic surgery that has been used to study mechanisms of postoperative neuroinflammation and behavioral changes, and when combined with parabiosis, to study tissue regeneration during aging.

Un modello murino di chirurgia ortopedica per studiare la disfunzione cognitiva postoperatoria e rigenerazione tissutale

Surgery is commonly used to improve and maintain quality of life. Unfortunately, in vulnerable patients such as the elderly, complications may occur and ...

Isometric Contractility Measurement of the Mouse Mesenteric Artery Using Wire Myography

The wire myograph technique is used to assess the contractility of vascular smooth muscles in response to depolarization, GPCR agonists/inhibitors and drugs. It is widely used in many studies on the physiological functions of vascular smooth muscle, the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as hypertension, and the development of smooth muscle relaxant drugs. The mouse is a widely used model animal with a large pool of disease models and genetically modified strains. We introduced this method to measure the isometric contraction of mouse mesenteric artery in detail. A 1.4-mm segment of mouse mesenteric resistance artery was isolated and mounted on a myograph chamber by passing two steel wires through its lumen. After equilibration and normalization steps, the vessel segment was potentiated by a high-K+ solution twice prior to the contraction assay. As an example of the application of this method in drug development, we measured the relaxant effect of a novel natural substance, neoliensinine, isolated from a Chinese herb, embryos of the lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) on mouse mesenteric arteries. The vessel segments mounted on the myograph chamber were stimulated with a high-K+ solution. When the force tension reached a stable sustained phase, cumulative doses of neoliensinine were added to the chamber. We found that neoliensinine had a dose-dependent relaxant effect on smooth muscle contraction, thus suggesting that it bears potential activity against hypertension. In addition, as the vessel segment can survive at least 4 hours after mounting and maintain contractility induced by the high-K+ solution for many times, we suggest that the wire myograph system may be used for the time-consuming process of drug screening.

The wire myograph technique is used to investigate vascular smooth muscle functions and screen new drugs. We report a detailed protocol for measuring the isometric contractility of the mouse mesenteric artery and for screening new relaxants of vascular smooth muscle.

Misurazione di contrattilità isometrica dell'arteria mesenterica Mouse con filo Myography

The wire myograph technique is used to assess the contractility of vascular smooth muscles in response to depolarization, GPCR agonists/inhibitors and ...

Corneal Epithelial Abrasion with Ocular Burr As a Model for Cornea Wound Healing

The murine cornea provides an excellent model to study wound healing. The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye, and thus is the first defense to injury. In fact, the most common type of eye injury found in clinic is a corneal abrasion. Here, we utilize an ocular burr to induce an abrasion resulting in removal of the corneal epithelium in vivo on anesthetized mice. This method allows for targeted and reproducible epithelial disruption, leaving other areas intact. In addition, we describe the visualization of the abraded epithelium with fluorescein staining and provide concrete advice on how to visualize the abraded cornea. Then, we follow the timeline of wound healing 0, 18, and 72 h after abrasion, until the wound is re-epithelialized. The epithelial abrasion model of corneal injury is ideal for studies on epithelial cell proliferation, migration and re-epithelialization of the corneal layers. However, this method is not optimal to study stromal activation during wound healing, because the ocular burr does not penetrate to the stromal cell layers. This method is also suitable for clinical applications, for example, pre-clinical test of drug effectiveness.

This protocol describes a method to inflict an abrasion to the ocular surface of the mouse, and to follow the wound healing process thereafter. The protocol takes advantage of an ocular burr to partially remove the surface epithelium of the eye in anaesthetized mice.

Guarigione delle ferite di abrasione epiteliale corneale con oculare Burr come un modello per Cornea

The murine cornea provides an excellent model to study wound healing. The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye, and thus is the first defense to ...

Assessing Therapeutic Angiogenesis in a Murine Model of Hindlimb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a serious condition that entails a high risk of lower limb amputation. Despite revascularization being the gold-standard therapy, a considerable number of CLI patients are not suited for either surgical or endovascular revascularization. Angiogenic therapies are emerging as an option for these patients but are currently still under investigation. Before application in humans, those therapies must be tested in animal models and its mechanisms must be clearly understood. An animal model of hindlimb ischemia (HLI) has been developed by the ligation and excision of the distal external iliac and femoral arteries and veins in mice. A comprehensive panel of tests was assembled to assess the effects of ischemia and putative angiogenic therapies at functional, histologic and molecular levels. Laser Doppler was used for the flow measurement and functional assessment of perfusion. Tissue response was evaluated by the analysis of capillary density after staining with the anti-CD31 antibody on histological sections of gastrocnemius muscle and by measurement of collateral vessel density after diaphonization. Expression of angiogenic genes was quantified by RT-PCR targeting selected angiogenic factors exclusively in endothelial cells (ECs) after laser capture microdissection from mice gastrocnemius muscles. These methods were sensitive in identifying differences between ischemic and non-ischemic limbs and between treated and non-treated limbs. This protocol provides a reproducible model of CLI and a framework for testing angiogenic therapies.

Here, a critical hindlimb ischemia experimental model is presented followed by a battery of functional, histologic and molecular tests&#160;to assess the effectiveness of angiogenic therapies.&#8203;

Valutazione dell'angiogenesi terapeutica in un modello Murine di Ischemia hindlimb

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a serious condition that entails a high risk of lower limb amputation. Despite revascularization being the gold-standard ...