We would like to acknowledge Beth Levine for critically reviewing the manuscript, Valerie Tassinari for developing the genotyping protocol, and Matt Ferola and Carlos Maya for their exceptional animal care.

Tutti gli esperimenti sono condotti in conformità con i protocolli descritti dai National Institutes of Health Guide per la cura e l&#39;uso di animali e sono stati approvati dalla cura degli animali e l&#39;uso istituzionale comitato di SLA TDI (IACUC). 1. Gli animali, della casa, e lo studio di design Nota: Il mouse colonia SOD1-G93A è stato derivato dalla alta copia B6SJLTgN (SOD1G93A) ceppo 1Gur originariamente prodotto da Gurney ed altri 7.. La colonia è attualmente mantenuto attraversando transgenici maschi C57BL / 6-SJL con wild-type femmine C57BL / 6-SJL F1. Gli animali F1 sono generate dall&#39;incrocio maschi SJL con le femmine B6. I topi sono spediti a ALS TDI settimanale a 35-45 giorni di età. <ol><li> Lasciare topi almeno una settimana per acclimatarsi al stabulario (luce 12 ore / buio ciclo, ad una temperatura di 18-23 ° C e 40-60% di umidità) prima di assegnare ad uno studio. </li><li> Casa SOD1-G93A maschio mice un mouse per gabbia, in quanto gruppo ospitato i maschi tendono a combattere. Casa topi femmina SOD1-G93A fino a due per gabbia. Fornire arricchimento ambientale, sotto forma di capanne di plastica. Fornire cibo e acqua ad libitum, a meno che i topi fanno parte di uno studio che richiede la somministrazione del farmaco in acqua potabile / cibo. In questi casi, razione alimentare e registrare e acqua. </li><li> Iniziare uno studio farmaco-efficacia in giro giorno di 50 anni e comprendono 64 lettiera corrispondenza di genere equilibrata topi (32 per coorte). Infine, assicurarsi che i ricercatori che conducono studi sono accecati alle condizioni sperimentali. Nota: Si raccomanda che un tipico studio farmaco-efficacia inizia a giorno 50 anni tuttavia, in base al tipo di intervento terapeutico potrebbe essere preferibile iniziare lo studio precedente o successiva. Nota: Uno studio con 32 topi per coorte è alimentato per rilevare droga effetti specifici di genere. Se non sono necessarie confronti specifici di genere, 24 topi per coorte dovrebbe essere sufficiente per rilevare droga effetti complessivi.</li></ol> 2. Peso corporeo <ol><li> Pesi corporei record per tutti i topi in studi giornaliero con una precisione di un decimo di grammo. Nota: Il peso corporeo è un indicatore sensibile della progressione della malattia e di qualsiasi malessere che potrebbero derivare da un trattamento farmacologico cronico. </li><li> Peso corporeo mouse variano considerevolmente nel corso di una giornata, essendo più alta al mattino, quindi li registrano intorno alla stessa ora ogni giorno. </li></ol> 3. Neurologico Scoring System (NeuroScore) <ol><li> Valutare punteggi neurologici (NS) per ciascun topo quotidianamente osservando il mouse sotto le seguenti tre condizioni eseguite in sequenza: a) il mouse è sospeso dalla sua coda, b) il mouse viene permesso di camminare, e dopo l&#39;inizio della paresi c) mouse viene posizionato su un lato. <ol><li> Per il test di sospensione posteriore, tenere il mouse circa 1,5 &quot;dalla base della coda sopra la parte superiore del filo della loro gabbia casa per 1-2 sec, lontano dal bacino cibo, mentre obsErving arti posteriori. Ripetere il test di sospensione 3 volte e registrare il risultato più consistente. </li><li> Per il test del cammino, posizionare il mouse su una superficie pulita che fornisce una certa trazione e una distanza di 25 cm (per es., Un tovagliolo di carta registrata giù per evitare scivolamenti). Lasciare che il mouse per camminare un totale di 75 cm (lunghezza 3X del tovagliolo di carta), mentre si osserva la sua andatura. </li><li> Per il test &quot;riflesso di raddrizzamento&quot;, posizionare il mouse sul lato sinistro o destro e utilizzando un cronometro misurare il tempo necessario per raddrizzarsi fino senza assistenza da entrambi i lati. Nota: solo una prova di questo test è richiesto. </li></ol></li><li> Determinare la NS di ogni arti posteriori (sinistra o destra) in modo indipendente su una scala da 0 a 4. Nota: Per esempio un punteggio di 0, 1 indica che il arti posteriori di sinistra NS è 0, mentre la destra arti posteriori NS è 1. </li><li> Assegnare punteggi neurologici (0-4) corrispondente alla seguente serie di osservazioni (sintesi di cui alla tabella 1):<ol><li> Assegnare NS 0 (pre-sintomatica) se il seguente si osserva: Quando il mouse è sospeso per la coda, la arti posteriori presenta una strombatura normale cioè, punto di massima estensione di distanza dalla linea mediana laterale e rimane in questa posizione per 2 sec più a lungo. Quando è consentito il mouse per camminare, andatura normale si osserva. </li><li> Assegna NS 1 (primi sintomi) se si osserva quanto segue: Quando il mouse è sospeso per la coda, la arti posteriori presenta una strombatura anormale, cioè, è compressa o parzialmente crollato verso linea mediana laterale O trema durante la sospensione della coda o è rientrato / abbracciato. Quando è consentito il mouse per camminare, andatura normale o leggermente lento si osserva. </li><li> Assegnare NS 2 (insorgenza di paresi) se la seguente si osserva: Quando il mouse è sospeso per la coda, la arti posteriori è parzialmente o completamente crollato, che non si estende molto. (Ci potrebbe essere ancora il movimento articolare). Quando è consentito il mouse per camminare, il arti posteriori viene utilizzata per mot avantiion però arricciare le dita dei piedi verso il basso almeno due volte nel corso di un 90 centimetri passeggiata o qualsiasi parte del piede sta trascinando sulla parte inferiore della gabbia / tavolo. Quando il mouse è posizionato sul lato sinistro e destro, è in grado di raddrizzarsi entro 10 secondi da entrambi i lati. </li><li> Assegnare NS 3 (paralisi) se il seguente si osserva: Quando il mouse è sospeso per la coda, c&#39;è la paralisi rigida in arti posteriori OR minimo movimento articolare. Quando è consentito il mouse per camminare non c&#39;è movimento in avanti però il arti posteriori non viene utilizzato per il movimento in avanti. Quando il mouse è posizionato sul lato sinistro e destro, è in grado di raddrizzarsi entro 10 secondi da entrambi i lati. Nota: Raramente, dopo l&#39;inizio della paralisi, urina umidità potrebbe apparire sugli arti posteriori. Sinistra umidità urina non trattata può portare a urina &quot;bruciare&quot; e lesioni cutanee. Trattare urina umidità clipping i capelli, applicare acqua calda assorbe per rimuovere l&#39;urina, e asciugare delicatamente asciutto. Se lesioni cutanee sono presenti applicano antibiopomata tic. </li><li> Assegnare NS 4 (Humane end-point), se la si osserva seguente: Quando il mouse è sospeso per la coda, c&#39;è la paralisi rigida nelle arti posteriori. Quando è consentito il mouse per camminare, non vi è alcun movimento in avanti. Quando il mouse è posizionato sul lato sinistro e destro non è in grado di raddrizzarsi entro 10 secondi da una parte QUALSIASI. Cioè, l&#39;assenza del riflesso di raddrizzamento. </li></ol></li></ol> 4. Data Entry e analisi <ol><li> Nel corso di uno studio di efficacia droga, inserire i dati raccolti per ogni mouse in una Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) o in un software di foglio elettronico disponibile in commercio. Nota: il software LIMS ALS TDI-sviluppato è un repository centrale per tutti i dati raccolti da studi interni, rendendo questi dati facilmente accessibile nel tempo per gli investigatori SLA TDI. LIMS tracce qualsiasi individuo del mouse, con il suo ID univoco, al suo lignaggio, il peso corporeo o punteggio neurologico tutti i giorni di studio,e comprende tutte le altre osservazioni rilevate durante la sua vita. LIMS genera infine un foglio che viene utilizzato per le analisi successive. </li><li> Dopo il completamento di uno studio di droga efficacia, cioè, quando tutti i topi raggiungono il punto finale umana, software uso foglio (vedi TABELLA MATERIALI) per calcolare il combinato NS per ogni mouse, per ogni giorno facendo la media del hindlimb sinistra e destra NS . Avanti, calcola l&#39;età media di ciascun NS per ogni mouse e il numero di giorni ogni mouse passa ad una particolare NS. </li><li> Analizzare movimenti complessivi NS nel tempo importando i dati dal foglio di calcolo al software statistico (vedi Tabella dei Materiali). Montare questi dati utilizzando un modello di regressione logistica ordinale che stima l&#39;atteso NS, con età media alla NS e droga trattamento come effetti nella regressione. Utilizzando il test del chi quadro log-rank stimare la probabilità effetto verosimiglianza e determinare se l&#39;effetto della droga trattamento su NS progressione è statisticaly significativo (vedi file di codice supplementare per passo-passo le istruzioni). Nota: Un valore di p &lt;0.05 è considerato statisticamente significativo. Nota: Questo metodo di analisi statistica rispetta la natura ordinale dei dati NS e la natura variabile delle traiettorie NS per singoli topi. Si è preferito perché percorsi individuali NS possono essere notevolmente diverse con conseguente NS tempo associata medie di gruppo che non sono sufficientemente riflettente di risposte NS. Inoltre, in alcuni casi NS possono oscillare, in particolare quando nella gamma da zero a uno. </li><li> Infine, il software uso graficamente (vedi tabella dei Materiali) per generare &quot;ordinale Expected NS vs mediana Età al NS&quot; grafici per gli animali trattati con farmaci e di controllo (Figura 2; cfr Codice supplementare File per passo-passo le istruzioni). Utilizzare questi grafici per valutare comodamente spostamenti tra i gruppi trattati con farmaci e controllo interpolando dalla y l&#39;età media di insorgenza della malattia (i.e., NS 2) sul asse x. Nota: La differenza di età media tra i due gruppi rappresenta un cambiamento farmaco-indotta ed è trattata come una misura pratica della grandezza dell&#39;effetto. Nota: si sposta verso destra della curva della NS età mediana attesi indicano rallentato la progressione della malattia sintomatica. Al contrario, si sposta leftward nel NS curva della età media attesi indicano accelerato la progressione della malattia sintomatica. </li></ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

In questo rapporto, si descrive un protocollo video semplice e veloce che, se applicata correttamente, è in grado di valutare in modo affidabile la progressione della malattia nei topi SOD1-G93A e identificare cambiamenti indotte da farmaci. Mentre diversi gruppi hanno sviluppato sistemi di scoring fenotipiche per i topi SOD1-G93A 8-10, spesso non forniscono dettagli sufficienti sulla procedura e sono inadeguati per la replica. Come risultato, sistemi di scoring sono raramente utilizzati all&#39;esterno del ...

Da quando il suo sviluppo negli metà del 1990 il modello di topo transgenico SOD1-G93A è stato il modello animale più diffuso della sclerosi laterale amiotrofica (SLA) 1. Questo modello di topo transgenico è stato geneticamente modificato per iperespressione di una forma mutante del gene umano Cu / Zn superossido dismutasi 1 (SOD1) ospitare la glicina ALS-associata a mutazioni alanina a aminoacidi 93 (G93A). La mutazione G93A è una delle tante mutazioni nel gene SOD1 che collettivamente il make-up di circa un quinto dei casi di SLA familiare 2. Il modello SOD1-G93A è diventato un cavallo di battaglia della ricerca lo sviluppo di farmaci SLA perché oltre alla sua evidente legame genetico per la SLA, si ricapitola molte delle caratteristiche patologiche della SLA nell&#39;uomo come la perdita dei motoneuroni, progressiva debolezza muscolare e atrofia, con eventuale paralisi e la morte 3. Anche se, come spesso accade con modelli animali transgenici, c&#39;è un bi intrinsecavariabilità ological associati con i topi SOD1-G93A. Scott et al. hanno determinato che le coorti di almeno 24 topi di genere equilibrata lettiera abbinati sono necessari disegni di studio farmaco-efficacia al fine di superare il rumore creato dalla variabilità biologica 4. Il gran numero di animali necessari in questi studi, in combinazione con la progressione della malattia aggressiva e la necessità di monitoraggio giornaliero vieta l&#39;uso di tecniche in termini di tempo e potenzialmente stressanti elaborati per misurare forza e la funzione neuromuscolare (ad esempio, elettromiografia, forza di presa, Rotorod , ecc). Invece, evidenzia la necessità di un vivo strumento di screening in che valuta in modo affidabile la funzione neuromuscolare di topi SOD1-G93A in modo rapido. A ALS TDI un protocollo è stato sviluppato che consente la valutazione affidabile della funzione neuromuscolare di topi SOD1-G93A in meno di 30 secondi per topo in media. Questo encompa protocolloSSES valutazione giornaliera della funzione degli arti posteriori utilizzando un semplice sistema di punteggio neurologico (NeuroScore) che è descritta in questa relazione in corso di stampa e in video. NeuroScore si concentra sulla funzione degli arti posteriori, perché i deficit arti posteriori sono il primo riferito segno neurologico della malattia nei topi SOD1-G93A 5,6. Inoltre, il protocollo sviluppato da SLA TDI fornisce una valutazione imparziale di insorgenza della paralisi (lieve o parziale paralisi), la progressione e la gravità di paralisi ed è abbastanza sensibile per identificare i cambiamenti indotti da farmaci a progressione della malattia.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>B6SJLTgN(SOD1G93A)1Gur strain</td>
			<td>The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME</td>
			<td>002726</td>
			<td>Strain of mice used in this study</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Breeders</td>
			<td>Biomedical Research Models, Inc., Worcester, MA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Colony maintainance</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scale</td>
			<td>Navigator OHAUS, Parsippany, NJ</td>
			<td>Model N14120</td>
			<td>Used to weigh mice</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nutra-GelH</td>
			<td>Bio-Serv, Flemington, NJ</td>
			<td>#S4798</td>
			<td>Wet food provided to sick mice</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Irradiated Lab Animal Diet</td>
			<td>Harlan, Indianapolis, IN</td>
			<td>2918-111914M</td>
			<td>Chow diet</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lab-grade Sani-chips</td>
			<td>Harlan Teklad, Indianapolis, IN</td>
			<td>7090</td>
			<td>Bedding</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>JMPH&#160;</td>
			<td>SAS Institute, Inc., SAS Campus Drive, Cary, NC</td>
			<td>&#160;v10.0.2</td>
			<td>Statistical software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microsoft Excel</td>
			<td>Microsoft, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA</td>
			<td>Excel 2013 (v 15.0)</td>
			<td>Spreadsheet software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GraphPad Prism 5</td>
			<td>GraphPad software Inc., La Jolla, CA</td>
			<td>v5.4</td>
			<td>Graphing software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse Huts</td>
			<td>Bio-Serv, Flemington, NJ</td>
			<td>K3272</td>
			<td>For environmental enrichment</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a quick phenotypic neurological scoring system for evaluating disease progression in the sod1-g93a mouse model of als

The SOD1-G93A transgenic mouse is the most widely used animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). At ALS TDI we developed a phenotypic screening protocol, demonstrated in video herein, which reliably assesses the neuromuscular function of SOD1-G93A mice in a quick manner. This protocol encompasses a simple neurological scoring system (NeuroScore) designed to assess hindlimb function. NeuroScore is focused on hindlimb function because hindlimb deficits are the earliest reported neurological sign of disease in SOD1-G93A mice. The protocol developed by ALS TDI provides an unbiased assessment of onset of paresis (slight or partial paralysis), progression and severity of paralysis and it is sensitive enough to identify drug-induced changes in disease progression. In this report, the combination of a detailed manuscript with video minimizes scoring ambiguities and inter-experimenter variability thus allowing for the protocol to be adopted by other laboratories and enabling comparisons between studies taking place at different settings. We believe that this video protocol can serve as an excellent training tool for present and future ALS researchers.

I dati neurologici punteggio di 90 maschi e 94 donne non trattate topi SOD1-G93A studiato presso ALS TDI nel corso del 2014 sono stati valutati. I risultati mostrano che i topi maschi di solito hanno una progressione della malattia più aggressiva rispetto ai topi di sesso femminile, come evidenziato da una percentuale maggiore della loro vita a NS 1 rispetto alle femmine. NS 2 e 3 NS si verificano con frequenza pressoché uguale in tutta generi. NS 0 è stato escluso dall&#39;analisi perché è considerato un fenotipo ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Quick Phenotypic Neurological Scoring System for Evaluating Disease Progression in the SOD1-G93A Mouse Model of ALS at JoVE.com

A Quick Phenotypic Neurological Scoring System for Evaluating Disease Progression in the SOD1-G93A Mouse Model of ALS

This video protocol describes a sensitive, reliable, and quick method for evaluating the neuromuscular deficits in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Un Sistema di punteggio rapida fenotipica neurologica per la valutazione di progressione della malattia nel SOD1-G93A modello murino della SLA

The SOD1-G93A transgenic mouse is the most widely used animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). At ALS TDI we developed a phenotypic screening ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

19.2K Views.  ALS Therapy Development Institute. This video protocol describes a sensitive, reliable, and quick method for evaluating the neuromuscular deficits in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Video: A Quick Phenotypic Neurological Scoring System for Evaluating Disease Progression in the SOD1-G93A Mouse Model of ALS

Development of a Unilaterally-lesioned 6-OHDA Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease

The unilaterally lesioned 6-hyroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD) has proved to be invaluable in advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying parkinsonian symptoms, since it recapitulates the changes in basal ganglia circuitry and pharmacology observed in parkinsonian patients1-4. However, the precise cellular and molecular changes occurring at cortico-striatal synapses of the output pathways within the striatum, which is the major input region of the basal ganglia remain elusive, and this is believed to be site where pathological abnormalities underlying parkinsonian symptoms arise3,5.
In PD, understanding the mechanisms underlying changes in basal ganglia circuitry following degeneration of the nigro-striatal pathway has been greatly advanced by the development of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) mice over-expressing green fluorescent proteins driven by promoters specific for the two striatal output pathways (direct pathway: eGFP-D1; indirect pathway: eGFP-D2 and eGFP-A2a)8, allowing them to be studied in isolation. For example, recent studies have suggested that there are pathological changes in synaptic plasticity in parkinsonian mice9,10. However, these studies utilised juvenile mice and acute models of parkinsonism. It is unclear whether the changes described in adult rats with stable 6-OHDA lesions also occur in these models. Other groups have attempted to generate a stable unilaterally-lesioned 6-OHDA adult mouse model of PD by lesioning the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), unfortunately, the mortality rate in this study was extremely high, with only 14% surviving the surgery for 21 days or longer11. More recent studies have generated intra-nigral lesions with both a low mortality rate &gt;80% loss of dopaminergic neurons, however expression of L-DOPA induced dyskinesia11,12,13,14 was variable in these studies. Another well established mouse model of PD is the MPTP-lesioned mouse15. Whilst this model has proven useful in the assessment of potential neuroprotective agents16, it is less suitable for understanding mechanisms underlying symptoms of PD, as this model often fails to induce motor deficits, and shows a wide variability in the extent of lesion17, 18.
Here we have developed a stable unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned mouse model of PD by direct administration of 6-OHDA into the MFB, which consistently causes &gt;95% loss of striatal dopamine (as measured by HPLC), as well as producing the behavioural imbalances observed in the well characterised unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of PD. This newly developed mouse model of PD will prove a valuable tool in understanding the mechanisms underlying generation of parkinsonian symptoms.

Development of a Unilaterally-lesioned 6-OHDA Mouse Model of Parkinson&#039;s Disease

A protocol for performing unilateral 6-OHDA lesions of the medial forebrain bundle in mice is described. This method has a low mortality rate (13.3 %) with 89% of the surviving animals showing &#62;95% loss of striatal dopamine and 90.63&#177;-4.02 % ipsiversive rotational bias towards the side of the lesion.

Sviluppo di un unilateralmente lesionata 6-OHDA modello murino della malattia di Parkinson

The unilaterally lesioned 6-hyroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD) has proved to be invaluable in advancing our ...

Ricerca

Medicina

Utilizing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Study the Human Neuromuscular System

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been in use for more than 20 years 1, and has grown exponentially in popularity over the past decade. While the use of TMS has expanded to the study of many systems and processes during this time, the original application and perhaps one of the most common uses of TMS involves studying the physiology, plasticity and function of the human neuromuscular system. Single pulse TMS applied to the motor cortex excites pyramidal neurons transsynaptically 2 (Figure 1) and results in a measurable electromyographic response that can be used to study and evaluate the integrity and excitability of the corticospinal tract in humans 3. Additionally, recent advances in magnetic stimulation now allows for partitioning of cortical versus spinal excitability 4,5. For example, paired-pulse TMS can be used to assess intracortical facilitatory and inhibitory properties by combining a conditioning stimulus and a test stimulus at different interstimulus intervals 3,4,6-8. In this video article we will demonstrate the methodological and technical aspects of these techniques. Specifically, we will demonstrate single-pulse and paired-pulse TMS techniques as applied to the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle as well as the erector spinae (ES) musculature. Our laboratory studies the FCR muscle as it is of interest to our research on the effects of wrist-hand cast immobilization on reduced muscle performance6,9, and we study the ES muscles due to these muscles clinical relevance as it relates to low back pain8. With this stated, we should note that TMS has been used to study many muscles of the hand, arm and legs, and should iterate that our demonstrations in the FCR and ES muscle groups are only selected examples of TMS being used to study the human neuromuscular system.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive tool to gain insight on the physiology and function of the human nervous system. Here, we present our TMS techniques to study cortical excitability of the upper limb and lumbar musculature.

Utilizzando la Stimolazione Magnetica Transcranica per studiare il sistema neuromuscolare umano

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been in use for more than 20 years 1, and has grown exponentially in popularity over the past decade.  While ...

Use of Animal Model of Sepsis to Evaluate Novel Herbal Therapies

Sepsis refers to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome resulting from a microbial infection. It has been routinely simulated in animals by several techniques, including infusion of exogenous bacterial toxin (endotoxemia) or bacteria (bacteremia), as well as surgical perforation of the cecum by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)1-3. CLP allows bacteria spillage and fecal contamination of the peritoneal cavity, mimicking the human clinical disease of perforated appendicitis or diverticulitis. The severity of sepsis, as reflected by the eventual mortality rates, can be controlled surgically by varying the size of the needle used for cecal puncture2. In animals, CLP induces similar, biphasic hemodynamic cardiovascular, metabolic, and immunological responses as observed during the clinical course of human sepsis3. Thus, the CLP model is considered as one of the most clinically relevant models for experimental sepsis1-3.
Various animal models have been used to elucidate the intricate mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of experimental sepsis. The lethal consequence of sepsis is attributable partly to an excessive accumulation of early cytokines (such as TNF, IL-1 and IFN-&gamma;)4-6 and late proinflammatory mediators (e.g., HMGB1)7. Compared with early proinflammatory cytokines, late-acting mediators have a wider therapeutic window for clinical applications. For instance, delayed administration of HMGB1-neutralizing antibodies beginning 24 hours after CLP, still rescued mice from lethality8,9, establishing HMGB1 as a late mediator of lethal sepsis. The discovery of HMGB1 as a late-acting mediator has initiated a new field of investigation for the development of sepsis therapies using Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine. In this paper, we describe a procedure of CLP-induced sepsis, and its usage in screening herbal medicine for HMGB1-targeting therapies.

Sepsis refers to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome resulting from a microbial infection, and can be simulated by a surgical technique termed cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Here we describe a method to use CLP-induced animal model to screen medicinal herbs for therapeutic agents.

Uso di un modello animale di sepsi per valutare nuove terapie a base di erbe

Sepsis refers to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome resulting from a microbial infection. It has been routinely simulated in animals by several ...

Clinical Testing and Spinal Cord Removal in a Mouse Model for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder resulting in progressive degeneration of motoneurons. Peak of onset is around 60 years for the sporadic disease and around 50 years for the familial disease. Due to its progressive course, 50% of the patients die within 30 months of symptom onset. In order to evaluate novel treatment options for this disease, genetic mouse models of ALS have been generated based on human familial mutations in the SOD gene, such as the SOD1 (G93A) mutation. Most important aspects that have to be evaluated in the model are overall survival, clinical course and motor function. Here, we demonstrate the clinical evaluation, show the conduction of two behavioural motor tests and provide quantitative scoring systems for all parameters. Because an in depth analysis of the ALS mouse model usually requires an immunohistochemical examination of the spinal cord, we demonstrate its preparation in detail applying the dorsal laminectomy method. Exemplary histological findings are demonstrated. The comprehensive application of the depicted examination methods in studies on the mouse model of ALS will enable the researcher to reliably test future therapeutic options which can provide a basis for later human clinical trials.

Clinical Testing and Spinal Cord Removal in a Mouse Model for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS

A mouse model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is examined clinically and behaviorally. As a prerequisite for an accompanying immunohistological analysis the preparation of the spinal cord is depicted in detail.

Test clinici e la rimozione del midollo spinale in un modello murino di sclerosi laterale amiotrofica (SLA)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder resulting in progressive degeneration of motoneurons. Peak of onset is around 60 ...

A Simple Method of Mouse Lung Intubation

A simple procedure to intubate mice for pulmonary function measurements would have several advantages in longitudinal studies with limited numbers or expensive animal. One of the reasons that this is not done more routinely is that it is relatively difficult, despite there being several published studies that describe ways to achieve it. In this paper we demonstrate a procedure that eliminates one of the major hurdles associated with this intubation, that of visualizing the trachea during the entire time of intubation. The approach uses a 0.5 mm fiberoptic light source that serves as an introducer to direct the intubation cannula into the mouse trachea. We show that it is possible to use this procedure to measure lung mechanics in individual mice over a time course of at least several weeks. The technique can be set up with relatively little expense and expertise, and it can be routinely accomplished with relatively little training. This should make it possible for any laboratory to routinely carry out this intubation, thereby allowing longitudinal studies in individual mice, thereby minimizing the number of mice needed and increasing the statistical power by using each mouse as its own control.

This paper describes a striaghforward and efficient method of intubating mice for pulmonary function measurements or pulmonary instillation, that allows the mice to recover and be studied at later times. The procedure involves an inexpensive fiberoptic light source that directly illuminates the trachea.

Un metodo semplice di intubazione mouse polmone

A  simple procedure to intubate mice for pulmonary function measurements would  have several advantages in longitudinal studies with limited numbers or  ...

Bioluminescent Orthotopic Model of Pancreatic Cancer Progression

Pancreatic cancer has an extremely poor five-year survival rate of 4-6%. New therapeutic options are critically needed and depend on improved understanding of pancreatic cancer biology. To better understand the interaction of cancer cells with the pancreatic microenvironment, we demonstrate an orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer that permits non-invasive monitoring of cancer progression. Luciferase-tagged pancreatic cancer cells are resuspended in Matrigel and delivered into the pancreatic tail during laparotomy. Matrigel solidifies at body temperature to prevent leakage of cancer cells during injection. Primary tumor growth and metastasis to distant organs are monitored following injection of the luciferase substrate luciferin, using in vivo imaging of bioluminescence emission from the cancer cells. In vivo imaging also may be used to track primary tumor recurrence after resection. This orthotopic model is suited to both syngeneic and xenograft models and may be used in pre-clinical trials to investigate the impact of novel anti-cancer therapeutics on the growth of the primary pancreatic tumor and metastasis.

Improved understanding of pancreatic cancer biology is critically needed to enable the development of better therapeutic options to treat pancreatic cancer. To address this need, we demonstrate an orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer that permits non-invasive monitoring of cancer progression using in vivo bioluminescence imaging.

Bioluminescente modello ortotopico di cancro al pancreas Progressione

Pancreatic cancer has an extremely poor five-year survival rate of 4-6%.  New therapeutic options are critically needed and depend on improved ...

Flexible Colonoscopy in Mice to Evaluate the Severity of Colitis and Colorectal Tumors Using a Validated Endoscopic Scoring System

The use of modern endoscopy for research purposes has greatly facilitated our understanding of gastrointestinal pathologies. In particular, experimental endoscopy has been highly useful for studies that require repeated assessments in a single laboratory animal, such as those evaluating mechanisms of chronic inflammatory bowel disease and the progression of colorectal cancer. However, the methods used across studies are highly variable. At least three endoscopic scoring systems have been published for murine colitis and published protocols for the assessment of colorectal tumors fail to address the presence of concomitant colonic inflammation. This study develops and validates a reproducible endoscopic scoring system that integrates evaluation of both inflammation and tumors simultaneously. This novel scoring system has three major components: 1) assessment of the extent and severity of colorectal inflammation (based on perianal findings, transparency of the wall, mucosal bleeding, and focal lesions), 2) quantitative recording of tumor lesions (grid map and bar graph), and 3) numerical sorting of clinical cases by their pathological and research relevance based on decimal units with assigned categories of observed lesions and endoscopic complications (decimal identifiers). The video and manuscript presented herein were prepared, following IACUC-approved protocols, to allow investigators to score their own experimental mice using a well-validated and highly reproducible endoscopic methodology, with the system option to differentiate distal from proximal endoscopic colitis (D-PECS).

Over the past few years, new generation endoscopes have emerged as important diagnostic research aids for evaluating murine colitis and colorectal tumors. We present herein a detailed protocol for endoscopic assessment of inflammation and colorectal tumors in mice, as well as a novel scoring system that uses decimal identifiers to document the endoscopic severity of colitis and colorectal tumors.

La colonscopia flessibile in topi per valutare la gravità della colite e colon-retto Tumori Utilizzo di un sistema Validated endoscopica Scoring

The use of modern endoscopy for research purposes has greatly facilitated our understanding of gastrointestinal pathologies. In particular, experimental ...

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.

Istituzione e caratterizzazione di UTI e CAUTI in un modello murino

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

Echocardiographic Approaches and Protocols for Comprehensive Phenotypic Characterization of Valvular Heart Disease in Mice

The aim of this manuscript and accompanying video is to provide an overview of the methods and approaches used for imaging heart valve function in rodents, with detailed descriptions of the appropriate methods for anesthesia, the echocardiographic windows used, the imaging planes and probe orientations for image acquisition, the methods for data analysis, and the limitations of emerging technologies for the evaluation of cardiac and valvular function. Importantly, we also highlight several future areas of research in cardiac and heart valve imaging that may be leveraged to gain insights into the pathogenesis of valve disease in preclinical animal models. We propose that using a systematic approach to evaluating cardiac and heart valve function in mice can result in more robust and reproducible data, as well as facilitate the discovery of previously underappreciated phenotypes in genetically-altered and/or physiologically-stressed mice.

This protocol provides a detailed description of the echocardiographic approach for comprehensive phenotyping of heart and heart valve function in mice.

Approcci ecocardiografici e protocolli per completa caratterizzazione fenotipica di malattia valvolare cardiaca nei topi

The aim of this manuscript and accompanying video is to provide an overview of the methods and approaches used for imaging heart valve function in ...

Evaluating the Procedure for Performing Awake Cystometry in a Mouse Model

Awake filling cystometry has been used for a long time to evaluate bladder function in freely moving mice, however, the specific methods used, vary among laboratories. The goal of this study was to describe the microsurgical procedure used to implant an intravesical tube and the experimental technique for recording urinary bladder pressure in an awake, freely moving mouse. In addition, experimental data is presented to show how surgery, as well as tubing type and size, affect lower urinary tract function and recording sensitivity. The effect of tube diameter on pressure recording was assessed in both polyethylene and polyurethane tubing with different internal diameters. Subsequently, the best performing tube from both materials was surgically implanted into the dome of the urinary bladder of male C57BL/6 mice. Twelve-hour, overnight micturition frequency was recorded in healthy, intact animals and animals 2, 3, 5, and 7 days post-surgery. At harvest, bladders were assessed for signs of swelling using gross observation and were subsequently processed for pathological analysis. The greatest extent of bladder swelling was observed on day 2 and 3, which correlated with behavioral voiding data showing significantly impaired bladder function. By day 5, bladder histology and voiding frequency had normalized. Based on the literature and evidence provided by our studies, we propose the following steps for in vivo recording of intravesical pressure and voided volume in an awake mouse: 1) Perform the surgery using an operating microscope and microsurgical tools, 2) Use polyethylene-10 tubing to minimize movement artifacts, and 3) Perform cystometry on post-operative day 5, when bladder swelling resolves.

This study describes the surgical procedures and experimental techniques for performing awake cystometry in a freely moving mouse. In addition, it provides experimental evidence to support its optimization and standardization.

Valutazione della procedura per eseguire la cystometria sveglia in un modello di mouse

Awake filling cystometry has been used for a long time to evaluate bladder function in freely moving mice, however, the specific methods used, vary among ...