Name: the mouse isolated perfused kidney technique
Uploaded: 2016-11-17T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Mouse Isolated Perfused Kidney Technique at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Hans-Joachim Schurek for invaluable scientific advice. The authors would like to thank Monique Carrel and Mich&#232;le Heidemeyer for excellent technical assistance, David Penton Ribas and Nourdine Faresse for a critical reading of the manuscript and Carsten Wagner and J&#252;rg Biber for the NaPi-2a antibody. This work was supported by the Swiss National Centre for Competence in Research "Kidney.CH" and by a project grant (310030_143929/1) from the Swiss National Science Foundation.

All procedures involving animals described in this manuscript were conducted according to Swiss law and approved by the veterinary administration of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland.
1. Buffer Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Prepare solutions 1 - 4 and the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) solution (Table 1).</li>
	<li>Prepare the dialysis buffer (Table 1). 
	NOTE: This is the buffer used as the dialysis buffer during the perfusion. Later, the erythrocytes will be dilu...

<ol>
	<li>Carrel, A., Lindbergh, C. 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+culture+of+whole+organs.">The culture of whole organs.</a> Science (New York, N.Y.). 81 (2112), 621-623 (1935).</li><li>Skutul, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> &#220;ber Durchstr&#246;mungsapparate Pfl&#252;ger's Archiv. 123 (4-6), 249-273 (1908).</li><li>Nizet, 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+isolated+perfused+kidney:+possibilities,+limitations+and+results.">The isolated perfused kidney: possibilities, limitations and results.</a> Kidney Int. 7 (1), 1-11 (1975).</li><li>Weiss, C., Passow, H., Rothstein, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Autoregulation+of+flow+in+isolated+rat+kidney+in+the+absence+of+red+cells.">Autoregulation of flow in isolated rat kidney in the absence of red cells.</a> Am J Physiol. 196 (5), 1115-1118 (1959).</li><li>Schurek, H. J., Kriz, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Morphologic+and+functional+evidence+for+oxygen+deficiency+in+the+isolated+perfused+rat+kidney.">Morphologic and functional evidence for oxygen deficiency in the isolated perfused rat kidney.</a> Lab Invest. 53 (2), 145-155 (1985).</li><li>Stolte, H., Schurek, H. J., Alt, 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=Glomerular+albumin+filtration:+a+comparison+of+micropuncture+studies+in+the+isolated+perfused+rat+kidney+with+in+vivo+experimental+conditions.">Glomerular albumin filtration: a comparison of micropuncture studies in the isolated perfused rat kidney with in vivo experimental conditions.</a> Kidney Int. 16 (3), 377-384 (1979).</li><li>Schweda, F., Wagner, C., Kr&#228;mer, B. K., Schnermann, J., Kurtz, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preserved+macula+densa-dependent+renin+secretion+in+A1+adenosine+receptor+knockout+mice.">Preserved macula densa-dependent renin secretion in A1 adenosine receptor knockout mice.</a> AJP Renal Physiol. 284 (4), F770-F777 (2003).</li><li>Moers, C., Smits, J. M., 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=Machine+perfusion+or+cold+storage+in+deceased-donor+kidney+transplantation.">Machine perfusion or cold storage in deceased-donor kidney transplantation.</a> N Engl J Med. 360 (1), 7-19 (2009).</li><li>Nicholson, M. L., Hosgood, S. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Renal+transplantation+after+ex+vivo+normothermic+perfusion:+the+first+clinical+study.">Renal transplantation after ex vivo normothermic perfusion: the first clinical study.</a> Am J Transplant. 13 (5), 1246-1252 (2013).</li><li>Worner, M., Poore, S., Tilkorn, D., Lokmic, Z., Penington, A. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+low-cost,+small+volume+circuit+for+autologous+blood+normothermic+perfusion+of+rabbit+organs.">A low-cost, small volume circuit for autologous blood normothermic perfusion of rabbit organs.</a> Art Org. 38 (4), 352-361 (2014).</li><li>Kaths, J. M., Spetzler, V. 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=Normothermic+Ex+Vivo+Kidney+Perfusion+for+the+Preservation+of+Kidney+Grafts+prior+to+Transplantation.">Normothermic Ex Vivo Kidney Perfusion for the Preservation of Kidney Grafts prior to Transplantation.</a> J Vis Exp. (101), e52909 (2015).</li><li>Song, J. J., Guyette, J. P., Gilpin, S. E., Gonzalez, G., Vacanti, J. P., Ott, H. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regeneration+and+experimental+orthotopic+transplantation+of+a+bioengineered+kidney.">Regeneration and experimental orthotopic transplantation of a bioengineered kidney.</a> Nature Med. 19 (5), 646-651 (2013).</li><li>Hall, A. M., Crawford, C., Unwin, R. J., Duchen, M. R., Peppiatt-Wildman, C. 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The mouse isolated perfused kidney is a tool for studying kidney function in a controlled environment ex vivo for 1 hr, bridging the gap between in vivo experiments in intact animals, which may be flawed by the impact of numerous systemic factors, and in vitro experiments in isolated nephron segments or cultured cells, which necessarily neglect the impact of intact organ structure on function. There is, to the authors&#39; knowledge, no alternative technique with which to perform this specific ...

The isolated perfusion of organs has been the subject of an ongoing effort among physiologists for many decades1. The technique enables the function of the organ, without systemic influences such as blood pressure, hormones, or nerves, to be studied. Carl Eduard Loebell is considered to be the first to have described the successful perfusion of an isolated kidney, in 18492. Since then, the perfusion apparatus has undergone significant refinement. Frey and Gruber introduced an artificial lung for oxygenation and pulsatile pumps for continuous perfusion2. While early researchers mainly studied the kidneys of large mammals-namely, pigs2 and dogs3-the first report of the use of rat kidneys, by Weiss et al., was a milestone in the study of small-mammal-organ perfusion4. Schurek et al. reported the necessity of adding mammalian erythrocytes to the perfusate if sufficient renal tubular oxygenation was to be achieved5. Critical for long-term experiments was the introduction of continuous dialysis of the buffer by the same research group6. In 2003, Schweda et al. were the first to report a functional mouse isolated perfused kidney (MIPK)7, later refined by Rahgozar et al.18 and Lindell et al.14.
While technically more challenging than the rat isolated perfused kidney, the use of the MIPK bears the advantage of enabling the use of a wide array of genetically altered mice. This paper presents the details of the authors&#39; method for perfusing isolated mouse kidneys for 1 hr. The method allows for the continuous assessment of renal flow rate, vascular resistance, hormone release, blood gas analysis, urine analysis, and the application of drugs. Following the procedure, kidneys could be processed for molecular and biochemical analysis, be fixed for microscopy, or transplanted into a recipient mouse (Figure 1).
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/54712/54712fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Overview of Possible Input/Output to the Isolated Perfused Kidney. BGA: Blood gas analysis. <a href="http://cloudflare.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/54712/54712fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
This technique likely will receive increasing attention over coming years, as many innovative applications are being discussed with the dawn of prolonged normothermic kidney perfusion prior to transplantation (with or without the application of anti-rejection or genome-editing drugs)8,9, 10, 11, the bioengineering of whole kidneys from decellularized scaffolds12, and the application of high doses of fluorescent dyes for multiphoton imaging13. It is also an ideal model with which to study the role of specific genes during acute kidney injury14.
A step-by-step protocol is given to allow other laboratories to perform isolated mouse kidney perfusion successfully. First, the composition and preparation of the buffer is specified. Then, the surgery is described in detail and the critical steps are shown. Third, data is presented that are representative of a successful preparation: renal blood flow, vascular resistance, glomerular filtration rate , and fractional electrolyte excretion-all as functional measurements of viability-and transmission electron micrographs of the morphology of different nephron segments of perfused kidneys fixed after 1 hr of perfusion.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="906">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Perfusion Circuit:</td>
			<td style="width:173px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">Moist chamber 834/8</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-2901</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">Cannular with basket and side port</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-2947</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">Thermostat TC120-ST5&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-4544</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">ISM 827/230V Roller Pump Reglo Analogue</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-0114</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">Reservoir jacketed for buffer solution 1L</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-3438</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">Reservoir jacketed for buffer solution 0.5L</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-3436</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">Pressure Transducer APT300&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-3862</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">TAM-D Plugsys Transducer</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-1793</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">SCP Plugsys servo controller</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-2806</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">Windkessel&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-3717</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;">HSE-USB data acquisition</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Harvard Apparatus/Hugo Sachs Elektronik GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">73-3330</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Low-Flux Dialysator Diacap Polysulfone</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">B.Braun</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">7203525</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:447px;">PE-Tubing for aorta cannulation 1.19mm I.D. x 1.70mm O.D.</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Scientific Commodities Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BB31695-PE/8</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:447px;">Name</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Buffer reagents:</td>
			<td style="width:173px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Aminoplasmal 10%</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">B.Braun</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">134518064</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Sodium pyruvate</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P2256-25G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">L-Glutamic acid monosodium salt hydrate</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G1626-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">L-(-)-Malic acid sodium salt</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M1125-25G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Sodium-L-Lactate</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">L7022-10G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">alpha-Ketoglutaric acid sodium salt</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">K1875-25G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">NaCl</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">31434-1KG-R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;">NaHCO3</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S5761-5KG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">KCl</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">60130-1KG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Urea</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">U5378-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Creatinine</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C4255-10G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ampicillin</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Roche</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">10835242001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;">MgCl2 * 6H2O</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M2393-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">D-Glucose</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G8270-1KG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;">CaCl2 * 6H2O&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Riedel-de-Ha&#235;n</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">12074</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;">NaH2PO4</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S9638-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;">Na2HPO4</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S0876-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Antidiuretic Hormone dDAVP</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">V2013-1MG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">FITC-Inulin</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Filter used for erythrocyte filtration</td>
			<td>Macherey-Nagel</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">MN 615</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">BGA Analysis:</td>
			<td style="width:173px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;">ABL 80 flex</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">Radiometer Medical ApS</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Electron Microscope:</td>
			<td style="width:173px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Philips CM100 TEM</td>
			<td style="width:173px;">FEI</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

the mouse isolated perfused kidney technique

The mouse isolated perfused kidney (MIPK) is a technique for keeping a mouse kidney under ex vivo conditions perfused and functional for 1 hr. This is a prerequisite for studying the physiology of the isolated organ and for many innovative applications that may be possible in the future, including perfusion decellularization for kidney bioengineering or the administration of anti-rejection or genome-editing drugs in high doses to prime the kidney for transplantation. During the time of the perfusion, the kidney can be manipulated, renal function can be assessed, and various pharmaceuticals administered. After the procedure, the kidney can be transplanted or processed for molecular biology, biochemical analysis, or microscopy.
This paper describes the perfusate and the surgical technique needed for the ex vivo perfusion of mouse kidneys. Details of the perfusion apparatus are given and data are presented showing the viability of the kidney&#39;s preparation: renal blood flow, vascular resistance, and urine data as functional, transmission electron micrographs of different nephron segments as morphological readouts, and western blots of transport proteins of different nephron segments as molecular readout.

With the method described, isolated mouse kidneys can remain viable for at least 1 hr. We tested the tissue viability after 1 hr of continuous perfusion with functional (renal blood flow and vascular resistance, blood gas analysis of venous outflow, glomerular filtration rate, urinary fractional Na+ and K+ excretion, and urine osmolality) and morphological (transmission electron microscopy, TEM) methods in four kidneys of wildtype C57Bl/6 mice. Additionally, western ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Mouse Isolated Perfused Kidney Technique at JoVE.com

The Mouse Isolated Perfused Kidney Technique

The mouse isolated perfused kidney (MIPK) is a technique for keeping a mouse kidney under ex vivo conditions perfused and functional for 1 hr. The buffers and surgical technique are described in detail.

The mouse isolated perfused kidney (MIPK) is a technique for keeping a mouse kidney under ex vivo conditions perfused and functional for 1 hr. This is a ...

The overall goal of this protocol is to analyze the isolated kidney function in an ex vivo perfused mouse kidney. Excluding the influence of blood pressure, hormones, or the autonomic nervous system. This method can help answer key questions of Nefrology.Giving insides into isolated organ function and serving as an elegant tool to study acute kidney injury. The main advantage of the IPK is that organ function is studied in the absence of systemic influences. After preparing the mouse for surgery, using scissors, perform a medium laparotomy from the pubic crest to the sternum.First open the skin, and then the abdominal muscles. Next, remove the intestines and place them on the left side of the mouse, lateral from the abdomen. Now, free the bladder from connective tissue and expose both ureters and the urethra.For these procedures, place all the ligatures using 5-0 sutures. The first ligature to place is around the left ureter. Close this tightly with a double surgical knot.Next, place a ligature around the urethra using the same technique. Then, place a lasso ligature around the whole bladder, but leave it untied. With the first three sutures in place, use eye scissors to make a one millimeter long incision into the bladder.Into this incision, place a cannula made of two centimeters of PE-50 tubing. Now close the ligature that lassos the bladder, securing the cannula. With the bladder cannulated, now cut the left ureter and urethra distal from the ligatures.The bladder should now be only attached to the right ureter and should move freely. Next, remove the connective tissues and fat surrounding the abdominal aorta. Then place ligatures around the midpoint of the exposed aorta and just below the diaphragm between the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk.Keep each of these loose as well. Next, place a ligature around the superior mesenteric artery. Now, place a third ligature around the aorta directly below the right renal artery and above the left renal artery.This is ligature number seven. Finally, put a ligature around the caudal vein package. Now place a clamp between ligature number seven and the branching of the left renal artery.Then, make a small incision in the aorta, caudal to ligature seven, taking care not to cut the dorsal wall and stretch the opening with a vessel dilator. Into the opening, insert a two centimeter pulled PE-50 cannula, pushing the tip just into the clamp. Then, open the clamp.Next, push the tip of the needle cranially until it reaches the junction of the right kidney artery and the aorta. Now close ligature seven, and then close the ligature at the midpoint of the abdominal aorta. Proceed by opening the chest with scissors by dissecting the diaphragm.Then, with a single cut, separate the aorta, vena cava, heart, and vegetative nerves. Now, start pressure control of the perfusion pump and maintain the mean pressure between 80 and 100 millimeters of mercury. Now, close the three remaining untied ligatures around the aorta and caudal vein package.Using scissors, free the right kidney from the surrounding connective tissue and release it from the adipose capsule. Cut the aorta proximally to the ligature between the superior mesenteric artery and the celiac trunk. Next, cut the superior mesenteric artery distally to the ligature around the superior mesenteric artery.Now, remove the kidney supporting vessel bundle, taking care not to cut into the vessels themselves. Then, cut the liver at the connection to the kidney, but leave a small part of the liver attached to it, so that the vena cava is kept open by it. The next step is to remove the kidney bundle from the mouse.Now, leave the kidney in the chamber and remove the mouse. At the connection between the liver and kidney, place a lasso ligature. Then, cannulate the vena cava with a venous line and close the lasso ligature.The kidney should now sit stably in the box. Venous outflow through the venous line should begin immediately. Urine outflow will begin after approximately three minutes.Peristalsis of the ureter should begin immediately and remain stable for at least one hour. Close the box. The preparation is now complete and should remain viable for at least an hour.After using the described method on C57 black 6 mice, the tissue viability of four kidneys was tested after an hour of continuous perfusion. Pressure was maintained at a continuous 100 millimeters of mercury. Perfusate flow and vascular resistance remained steady in all four kidneys.The glomerular filtration rate was assessed using FITC inulin clearance intended to increase over time but not significantly. Fractional excretion of sodium and potassium was assessed after 55 minutes of perfusion. These parameters increased compared to the in vivo situation.After 55 minutes, urinals molality did not rise above the osmolality of the venous outflow. The kidneys were then fixed and their ultrastructure was assessed with TEM. Glomeruli in S1 segments of proximal tubules appeared largely unaltered.Some, but not all S2, S3 segments of the proximal tubules in the thick ascending limbs that were not close to vascular bundles showed signs of organ damage. Upon closer inspection, distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts did not show signs of necrosis. Overall, the kidneys mirrored what is reported for rat isolated perfused kidneys.Following this procedure, analysis methods like imaging or facts followed by protein or RNA analysis can be performed on the tissue to obtain further insights.

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Chip-based Three-dimensional Cell Culture in Perfused Micro-bioreactors

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In vivo Imaging and Therapeutic Treatments in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Ovarian Cancer

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Dissection of the Adult Zebrafish Kidney

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Multi-parameter Measurement of the Permeability Transition Pore Opening in Isolated Mouse Heart Mitochondria

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Quantifying Single Microvessel Permeability in Isolated Blood-perfused Rat Lung Preparation

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