Name: establishing in situ closed circuit perfusion of lower abdominal organs and hind limbs in mice
Uploaded: 2020-08-13T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Establishing In Situ Closed Circuit Perfusion of Lower Abdominal Organs and Hind Limbs in Mice at JoVE.com

The study was supported by the NIH grant CA194058 to DS, Skaggs School of Pharmacy ADR seed grant program (DS); National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31771093), the Project of International Collaboration of Jilin Province (No.201180414085GH), the Fundamental&#8194;Research&#8194;Funds&#8194;for&#8194;the&#8194;Central&#8194;Universities, the Program for JLU Science and Technology Innovative Research Team (2017TD-27, 2019TD-36).

All methods described here have been approved by the University of Colorado&#8217;s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).
1. Pre-heat the perfusion system
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the perfusion system before surgery by starting a 37 &#176;C circulating water bath for all water-jacketed components (perfusate reservoir, moist chamber, and lid) as shown in a customized configuration in Figure 1A. Make sure the tubing is clean and replace if necessary. To li...

<ol>
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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=Technique+of+subnormothermic+ex+vivo+liver+perfusion+for+the+storage,+assessment,+and+repair+of+marginal+liver+grafts.">Technique of subnormothermic ex vivo liver perfusion for the storage, assessment, and repair of marginal liver grafts.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (90), e51419 (2014).</li><li>Hems, R., Ross, B. D., Berry, M. N., Krebs, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gluconeogenesis+in+the+perfused+rat+liver.">Gluconeogenesis in the perfused rat liver.</a> Biochemical Journal. 101 (2), 284-292 (1966).</li><li>Nielsen, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vasopressin+increases+water+permeability+of+kidney+collecting+duct+by+inducing+translocation+of+aquaporin-CD+water+channels+to+plasma+membrane.">Vasopressin increases water permeability of kidney collecting duct by inducing translocation of aquaporin-CD water channels to plasma membrane.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 92 (4), 1013-1017 (1995).</li><li>Sutherland, F. J., Hearse, D. 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F., 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=Ex+vivo+perfusion+of+a+tumor-containing+colon+with+monoclonal+antibody.">Ex vivo perfusion of a tumor-containing colon with monoclonal antibody.</a> J Surg Res. 31 (2), 145-150 (1981).</li><li>Duda, D. G., 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=Malignant+cells+facilitate+lung+metastasis+by+bringing+their+own+soil.">Malignant cells facilitate lung metastasis by bringing their own soil.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 107 (50), 21677-21682 (2010).</li><li>Kristjansen, P. E., Boucher, Y., Jain, R. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dexamethasone+reduces+the+interstitial+fluid+pressure+in+a+human+colon+adenocarcinoma+xenograft.">Dexamethasone reduces the interstitial fluid pressure in a human colon adenocarcinoma xenograft.</a> Cancer Research. 53 (20), 4764-4766 (1993).</li><li>Sevick, E. M., Jain, R. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Geometric+resistance+to+blood+flow+in+solid+tumors+perfused+ex+vivo:+effects+of+tumor+size+and+perfusion+pressure.">Geometric resistance to blood flow in solid tumors perfused ex vivo: effects of tumor size and perfusion pressure.</a> Cancer Research. 49 (13), 3506-3512 (1989).</li><li>Zhang, W. T., 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=Ex+vivo+Maintenance+of+Primary+Human+Multiple+Myeloma+Cells+through+the+Optimization+of+the+Osteoblastic+Niche.">Ex vivo Maintenance of Primary Human Multiple Myeloma Cells through the Optimization of the Osteoblastic Niche.</a> PLoS One. 10 (5), (2015).</li><li>Di Buduo, C. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modular+flow+chamber+for+engineering+bone+marrow+architecture+and+function.">Modular flow chamber for engineering bone marrow architecture and function.</a> Biomaterials. 146, 60-71 (2017).</li><li>Lokerse, W. J. M., Eggermont, A. M. M., Grull, H., Koning, G. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+and+evaluation+of+an+isolated+limb+infusion+model+for+investigation+of+drug+delivery+kinetics+to+solid+tumors+by+thermosensitive+liposomes+and+hyperthermia.">Development and evaluation of an isolated limb infusion model for investigation of drug delivery kinetics to solid tumors by thermosensitive liposomes and hyperthermia.</a> Journal of Controlled Release. 270, 282-289 (2018).</li><li>Tietjen, G. T., 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=Nanoparticle+targeting+to+the+endothelium+during+normothermic+machine+perfusion+of+human+kidneys.">Nanoparticle targeting to the endothelium during normothermic machine perfusion of human kidneys.</a> Science Translational Medicine. 9 (418), (2017).</li><li>Ternullo, S., de Weerd, L., Flaten, G. E., Holsaeter, A. M., Skalko-Basnet, N. <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+human+skin+flap+model:+A+missing+link+in+skin+penetration+studies.">The isolated perfused human skin flap model: A missing link in skin penetration studies.</a> European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 96, 334-341 (2017).</li><li>Fischer, A. H., Jacobson, K. A., Rose, J., Zeller, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hematoxylin+and+eosin+staining+of+tissue+and+cell+sections.">Hematoxylin and eosin staining of tissue and cell sections.</a> Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. 2008, 4986 (2008).</li><li>Hekman, M. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeted+Dual-Modality+Imaging+in+Renal+Cell+Carcinoma:+An+Ex+vivo+Kidney+Perfusion+Study.">Targeted Dual-Modality Imaging in Renal Cell Carcinoma: An Ex vivo Kidney Perfusion Study.</a> Clinical Cancer Research. 22 (18), 4634-4642 (2016).</li><li>Graham, R. A., Brown, T. R., Meyer, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+ex+vivo+model+for+the+study+of+tumor+metabolism+by+nuclear+magnetic+resonance:+characterization+of+the+phosphorus-31+spectrum+of+the+isolated+perfused+Morris+hepatoma+7777.">An ex vivo model for the study of tumor metabolism by nuclear magnetic resonance: characterization of the phosphorus-31 spectrum of the isolated perfused Morris hepatoma 7777.</a> Cancer Research. 51 (3), 841-849 (1991).</li></ol>

The described circuit can be used to probe various research questions, for example the role of different serum components and tissue barriers in drug delivery, or immune and stem cell trafficking. Different drug delivery systems (e.g., liposomes and nanoparticles) can be added to the perfusate in order to understand the role of physiological and biochemical factors in delivery. The duration of perfusion can vary, depending on the tissue studied, scientific goals, and the composition of perfusate. We present here the resu...

Isolated organ perfusion was originally developed to study organ physiology for transplantation1,2,3, and enabled understanding of functions of the organs without interference from other body systems. For example, isolated kidney and heart perfusion was immensely useful in understanding basic principles of hemodynamics and effects of vasoactive agents, whereas liver perfusion was important to understanding the metabolic function, including drug metabolism in healthy and diseased tissue4,5,6,7. In addition, perfusion studies were critical in understanding viability and function of organs intended for transplantation. In Cancer Researchearch, isolated tumor perfusion has been described by several groups using mouse, rat, and freshly resected human tissues8,9. In some isolated tumor perfusion, the tumor was implanted in the ovary fat pad to force the growth of tumor supplying blood vessels from the mesentery artery10. The Jain group performed pioneering studies using isolated perfusion of colon adenocarcinomas to understand tumor hemodynamics and metastasis8,11,12,13. Other innovative engineered ex vivo setups include a 96-well plate-based perfusion device to culture the primary human multiple myeloma cells14 and a modular flow chamber for engineering bone marrow architecture and function research15.
In addition to physiology and pathology studies, organ perfusion has been used to study the basic principles of drug delivery. Thus, one group described isolated rat limb perfusion and studied accumulation of liposomes in implanted sarcomas16, whereas another group performed dissected human kidney perfusion to study the endothelial targeting of nanoparticles17. Ternullo et al. used an isolated perfused human skin flap as a close-to-in vivo skin drug penetration model18.
Despite these advancements in perfusion of large organs and tissues, there have been no reports on in situ perfusion models in mice that: a) bypass clearance organs such as liver, spleen and kidneys; b) include pelvic organs, skin, muscle, reproductive organs (in male), bladder, prostate and bone marrow. Due to the small size of these organs and the supplying vasculature, ex vivo cannulation and establishment of a perfusion circuit has not been feasible. The mouse is the most important animal model in cancer and immunology research, and drug delivery. The ability to perfuse small mouse organs would allow interesting questions regarding drug delivery to these organs, including to tumors implanted in the pelvis (bladder, prostate, ovary, bone marrow), to be answered, as well as studies of basic physiology and immunology of diseases of these organs. To address this deficiency, we developed an in situ perfusion circuit in mice that can potentially avoid tissue injury and is much better suited for functional research than isolated organ perfusion.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:1073px;" width="1071">
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	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td>Equipment</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">3.5x-90x stereo zoom microscope on boom stand with LED light</td>
			<td>Amscope</td>
			<td>SKU: SM-3BZ-80S</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:435px;">Carbon dioxide, USP</td>
			<td>Airgas healthcare</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">19087-5283</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:435px;">Confocal microscope</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">NIKON</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">ECLIPSE Ti2</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:435px;">Disposable Sterile Cautery Pen with High Temp</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">FIAB</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">F7244</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Moist chamber bubble trap (part 6 in Figure 1)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">733692</td>
			<td style="width:313px;">Customized as the perfisate container; also enabled constant pressure perfusion</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Moist chamber cover with quartz window (part 3 in Figure 1)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">733524</td>
			<td style="width:313px;">keep the chamber&#39;s temperature</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Moist chamber with metal tube heat exchanger</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">732901</td>
			<td style="width:313px;">Water-jacketed moist chamber with lid to maintain perfusate and mouse temperature</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="54">
			<td height="54" style="height:55px;width:435px;">Olsen-Hegar needle holders with suture cutters</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Fine Science Tools (FST)</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">125014</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="28">
			<td height="28" style="height:28px;width:435px;">Oxygen compressed, USP</td>
			<td>Airgas healthcare</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">C2649150AE06</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Roller pump (part 4 in Figure 1)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">730113</td>
			<td style="width:313px;">deliver perfusate to cannula in the moist chamber</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">SCP plugsys servo control F/Perfusion (part 1 in Figure 1)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">732806</td>
			<td style="width:313px;">control the purfusion speed</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Silicone pad</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Silicone tubing set (arrows in Figure 1)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Harvard Apparatus (TYGON)</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">733456</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Student standard pattern forceps</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Fine Science Tools (FST)</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">91100-12</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Surgical Scissors</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Fine Science Tools (FST)</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">14001-14</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Table for moist chamber</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">734198</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Thermocirculator (part 2 in Figure 1)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">724927</td>
			<td style="width:313px;">circulating water bath for all water-jacketed components</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Three-way stopcock (part 5 in Figure 1)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Cole-Palmer</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">30600-02</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Veterinary anesthesia machine</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Highland</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">HME109</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td>Materials</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;">19-G BD PrecisionGlide needle</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">305186</td>
			<td style="width:313px;">For immobilizing the Insyte Autoguard Winged needle and scratching the cortical bone</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">4-0 silk sutures</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Keebomed-Hopemedical</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">427411</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">6-0 silk sutures</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Keebomed-Hopemedical</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">427401</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:435px;">Filter (0.2 &#181;m)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>42225-CA</td>
			<td style="width:313px;">Filter for 5% BSA-RINGER&#8217;S</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Permanent marker</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Staedtler</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">342-9</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Syringe (10 mL)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">14-823-2E</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Syringe (60 mL)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">309653</td>
			<td style="width:313px;">Filter for 5% BSA-RINGER&#8217;S</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td>Reagents</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:435px;">1% Evans blue ( w/v ) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.5)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">314-13-6</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10% buffered formalin</td>
			<td>velleyvet</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">36692</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">BALB/c mice ( 8-10 weeks old )</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Charles River</td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Baxter Viaflex lactate Ringer&#39;s solution</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">EMRN Medical Supplies Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">JB2324</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:435px;">Bovine serum albumin</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>11021-037</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cyanoacrylate glue</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Krazy Glue</td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DyLight-649-lectin</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Vector Laboratories,Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">ZB1214</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ethanol (70% (vol/vol))</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Pharmco</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">111000190</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:435px;">Hoechst33342</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Life Technologies</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">H3570</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:435px;">Isoflurane</td>
			<td>Piramal Enterprises Limited</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">66794-017-25</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:435px;">Phosphate buffered saline</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">10010023</td>
			<td style="width:313px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

establishing in situ closed circuit perfusion of lower abdominal organs and hind limbs in mice

Ex vivo perfusion is an important physiological tool to study the function of isolated organs (e.g. liver, kidneys). At the same time, due to the small size of mouse organs, ex vivo perfusion of bone, bladder, skin, prostate, and reproductive organs is challenging or not feasible. Here, we report for the first time an in situ lower body perfusion circuit in mice that includes the above tissues, but bypasses the main clearance organs (kidney, liver, and spleen). The circuit is established by cannulating the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava above the iliac artery and vein and cauterizing peripheral blood vessels. Perfusion is performed via a peristaltic pump with perfusate flow maintained for up to 2 h. In situ staining with fluorescent lectin and Hoechst solution confirmed that the microvasculature was successfully perfused. This mouse model can be a very useful tool for studying pathological processes as well as mechanisms of drug delivery, migration/metastasis of circulating tumor cells into/from the tumor, and interactions of immune system with perfused organs and tissues.

We set up a closed circuit perfusion system through cannulation of the abdominal aorta and the inferior vena cava of 8-10 week old mice while keeping the volume of perfusion buffer less than 10 mL. Figure 3A shows confocal images after perfusing tissues with Ringer&#8217;s solution containing Hoechst 33342 and DyLight 649-lectin. Muscle, bone marrow, testis, bladder, prostate, and foot skin show efficient nuclear and vascular staining. Figure 3B shows hematoxyli...

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Establishing In Situ Closed Circuit Perfusion of Lower Abdominal Organs and Hind Limbs in Mice

A protocol is described for in situ perfusion of the mouse lower body, including the bladder, the prostate, sex organs, bone, muscle and foot skin.

Ex vivo perfusion is an important physiological tool to study the function of isolated organs (e.g. liver, kidneys). At the same time, due to the small ...

This protocol can be used to answer questions about drug delivery and immune interactions within the organs included in our circuit. This technique allows for the perfusion of organs that are not possible to perfuse by traditional ex-vivo methods, while avoiding the main clearance organs. Before beginning the surgery, set a circulating water bath and all of the water-jacketed components, to 37 degrees Celsius.Confirm that the tubing is cleaned, and use a bubble trap within a moist chamber as the perfusate reservoir to limit the perfusate volume. To perform the catheterization procedure, confirm a lack of response to pedal reflex, in an eight to 10 week old male anesthetized bulb see mouse. And place the mouse in the supine position on a styrofoam board, with the head at six o'clock.Immobilize the animals limbs with tape, and wipe the abdomen with isopropyl alcohol. Make a T-shaped incision in the abdomen, using electro coagulation to stop any bleeding around the edge of the incision. Push the stomach, jejunum and colon to the right side of the abdomen, to reveal the abdominal aorta, vena cava and common iliac and iliolumbar arteries and veins.Under a dissection microscope, locate and ligate the ovarian and iliolumbar arteries and veins with 4-O silk sutures. Loop two 4-O silk sutures under the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava about one centimeter above the iliac artery and vein, one millimeter apart. Then make a loose nod in the suture closest to the iliac vessels.Use a needle holder to horizontally align and stretch both the inferior vena cava and the abdominal aorta. And, keeping the vessels stretched, use a 24-gauge winged shield IV catheter to puncture the abdominal aorta. As soon as the needle penetrates about one millimeter into the vessel, depress the button to retract the needle core, and insert the catheter about five millimeters into the vessel.Insert a catheter five millimeters into the inferior vena cava, in the same manner. And tie both sutures around the catheterized vessels. Then apply instant glue to immobilize the catheters to the erector spin a, and replace the abdominal organs.To set up the perfusion system, place the mouse on a silicon pad in the water-jacketed moist chamber, and immobilize the catheter wings to the pad with 19-gauge needles. Fill the arterial catheter inlet, with pre-warmed perfusion buffer. Use hemostatic forceps, and a screw-on connector to attach the catheter inlet to the tubing, and immobilize the inlet perfusion tubing with tape.Adjust the peristaltic flow rate to 0.6 milliliters per minute, and keep the perfusion outflow open-ended for five to 10 minutes, to wash the blood out through the venous catheter. Some clots will be present in the outlet catheter, flush out the clots with perfusate buffer, and use a screw on connector to attach to the end of the venous catheter to the outlet tubing to close the circuit. Then cover the moist chamber with a pre-warmed lid for up to two hours of perfusion, periodically checking on the level of perfusate.Here, confocal images after perfusion with ringer solution containing Hoechst 33342 and DyLight-649 lectin, are shown. The muscle, bone marrow, testes, bladder, prostate and foot skin typically demonstrate an efficient nuclear and vascular staining. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of these tissues after three hours of normal thermic perfusion, reveals a successful flushing of the organs, with no apparent tissue injury.This model can be used to understand drug uptake pathways, in the physiological irrelevant environment. For example, to understand the role of serum components in drug accumulation. We're using the system, to understand the mechanism of liposome accumulation in the skin.

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JoVE Journal

Medicine

Improved Visualization of Lung Metastases at Single Cell Resolution in Mice by Combined In-situ Perfusion of Lung Tissue and X-Gal Staining of lacZ-Tagged Tumor Cells

Metastasis is the main cause of death in the majority of cancer types and consequently a main focus in cancer research. However, the detection of micrometastases by radiologic imaging and the success in their therapeutic eradication remain limited.
While animal models have proven to be invaluable tools for cancer research1, the monitoring/visualization of micrometastases remains a challenge and inaccurate evaluation of metastatic spread in preclinical studies potentially leads to disappointing results in clinical trials2. Consequently, there is great interest in refining the methods to finally allow reproducible and reliable detection of metastases down to the single cell level in normal tissue. The main focus therefore is on techniques, which allow the detection of tumor cells in vivo, like micro-computer tomography (micro-CT), positron emission tomography (PET), bioluminescence or fluorescence imaging3,4. We are currently optimizing these techniques for in vivo monitoring of primary tumor growth and metastasis in different osteosarcoma models. Some of these techniques can also be used for ex vivo analysis of metastasis beside classical methods like qPCR5, FACS6 or different types of histological staining. As a benchmark, we have established in the present study the stable transfection or transduction of tumor cells with the lacZ gene encoding the bacterial enzyme &beta;-galactosidase that metabolizes the chromogenic substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (X-Gal) to an insoluble indigo blue dye7 and allows highly sensitive and selective histochemical blue staining of tumor cells in mouse tissue ex vivo down to the single cell level as shown here. This is a low-cost and not equipment-intensive tool, which allows precise validation of metastasis8 in studies assessing new anticancer therapies9-11. A limiting factor of X-gal staining is the low contrast to e.g. blood-related red staining of well vascularized tissues. In lung tissue this problem can be solved by in-situ lung perfusion, a technique that was recently established by Borsig et al.12 who perfused the lungs of mice under anesthesia to clear them from blood and to fix and embed them in-situ under inflation through the trachea. This method prevents also the collapse of the lung and thereby maintains the morphology of functional lung alveoli, which improves the quality of the tissue for histological analysis. In the present study, we describe a new protocol, which takes advantage of a combination of X-gal staining of lacZ-expressing tumor cells and in-situ perfusion and fixation of lung tissue. This refined protocol allows high-sensitivity detection of single metastatic cells in the lung and enabled us in a recent study to detect "dormant" lung micrometastases in a mouse model13, which was originally described to be non-metastatic14.

Improved Visualization of Lung Metastases at Single Cell Resolution in Mice by Combined In-situ Perfusion of Lung Tissue and X-Gal Staining of lacZ-Tagged Tumor Cells

The novel protocol reported in the present study allows selective detection of lung metastases at single cell resolution in mice by combined in-situ lung perfusion and fixation and X-Gal staining of lacZ-tagged tumor cells.

Metastasis is the main cause of death in the majority of cancer types and consequently a main focus in cancer research. However, the detection of ...

Carotid Artery Infusions for Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Taxanes in Mice

When proposing the use of a drug, drug combination, or drug delivery into a novel system, one must assess the pharmacokinetics of the drug in the study model. As the use of mouse models are often a vital step in preclinical drug discovery and drug development1-8, it is necessary to design a system to introduce drugs into mice in a uniform, reproducible manner. Ideally, the system should permit the collection of blood samples at regular intervals over a set time course. The ability to measure drug concentrations by mass-spectrometry, has allowed investigators to follow the changes in plasma drug levels over time in individual mice1, 9, 10. In this study, paclitaxel was introduced into transgenic mice as a continuous arterial infusion over three hours, while blood samples were simultaneously taken by retro-orbital bleeds at set time points. Carotid artery infusions are a potential alternative to jugular vein infusions, when factors such as mammary tumors or other obstructions make jugular infusions impractical. Using this technique, paclitaxel concentrations in plasma and tissue achieved similar levels as compared to jugular infusion. In this tutorial, we will demonstrate how to successfully catheterize the carotid artery by preparing an optimized catheter for the individual mouse model, then show how to insert and secure the catheter into the mouse carotid artery, thread the end of the catheter out through the back of the mouse&#8217;s neck, and hook the mouse to a pump to deliver a controlled rate of drug influx. Multiple low volume retro-orbital bleeds allow for analysis of plasma drug concentrations over time.

This method was developed with the goal of delivering a steady drug solution via the carotid artery, to assess the pharmacokinetics of novel drugs in mouse models.

When proposing the use of a drug, drug combination, or drug delivery into a novel system, one must assess the pharmacokinetics of the drug in the study ...

Ex Situ Normothermic Machine Perfusion of Donor Livers

In contrast to conventional static cold preservation (0-4 &#176;C), ex situ machine perfusion may provide better preservation of donor livers. Continuous perfusion of organs provides the opportunity to improve organ quality and allows ex situ viability assessment of donor livers prior to transplantation. This video article provides a step by step protocol for ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (37 &#176;C) of human donor livers using a device that provides a pressure and temperature controlled pulsatile perfusion of the hepatic artery and continuous perfusion of the portal vein. The perfusion fluid is oxygenated by two hollow fiber membrane oxygenators and the temperature can be regulated between 10 &#176;C and 37 &#176;C. During perfusion, the metabolic activity of the liver as well as the degree of injury can be assessed by biochemical analysis of samples taken from the perfusion fluid. Machine perfusion is a very promising tool to increase the number of livers that are suitable for transplantation.

Ex Situ Normothermic Machine Perfusion of Donor Livers

Here we present a protocol describing oxygenated ex situ machine perfusion of donor liver grafts. This article contains a step by step protocol to procure and prepare the liver graft for machine perfusion, prepare the perfusion fluid, prime the perfusion machine and perform oxygenated normothermic machine perfusion of the liver graft.

In contrast to conventional static cold preservation (0-4 &#176;C), ex situ machine perfusion may provide better preservation of donor livers. Continuous ...

Orthotopic Hind Limb Transplantation in the Mouse

In vivo animal model systems, and in particular mouse models, have evolved into powerful and versatile scientific tools indispensable to basic and translational research in the field of transplantation medicine. A vast array of reagents is available exclusively in this setting, including mono- and polyclonal antibodies for both diagnostic and interventional applications. In addition, a vast number of genotyped, inbred, transgenic, and knock out strains allow detailed investigation of the individual contributions of humoral and cellular components to the complex interplay of an immune response and make the mouse the gold standard for immunological research. 
Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) delineates a novel field of transplantation using allografts to replace "like with like" in patients suffering traumatic or congenital tissue loss. This surgical methodological protocol shows the use of a non-suture cuff technique for super-microvascular anastomosis in an orthotopic mouse hind limb transplantation model. The model specifically allows for comparison between established paradigms in solid organ transplantation with a novel form of transplants consisting of various different tissue components. Uniquely, this model allows for the transplantation of a viable vascularized bone marrow compartment and niche that have the potential to exert a beneficial effect on the balance of immune acceptance and rejection. This technique provides a tool to investigate alloantigen recognition and allograft rejection and acceptance, as well as enables the pursuit of functional nerve regeneration studies to further advance this novel field of transplantation.

This novel model for orthotopic hind limb transplantation in the mouse, applying a non-suture cuff technique for super-microvascular anastomosis, provides a powerful tool for in&#160;vivo mechanistic immunological research related to vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA).

In vivo animal model systems, and in particular mouse models, have evolved into powerful and versatile scientific tools indispensable to basic and ...

Creation of Abdominal Adhesions in Mice

Abdominal adhesions consist of fibrotic tissue that forms in the peritoneal space in response to an inflammatory insult, typically surgery or intraabdominal infection. The precise mechanisms underlying adhesion formation are poorly understood. Many compounds and physical barriers have been tested for their ability to prevent adhesions after surgery with varying levels of success. The mouse and rat are important models for the study of abdominal adhesions. Several different techniques for the creation of adhesions in the mouse and rat exist in the literature. Here we describe a protocol utilizing abrasion of the cecum with sandpaper and sutures placed in the right abdominal sidewall. The mouse is anesthetized and the abdomen is prepped. A midline laparotomy is created and the cecum is identified. Sandpaper is used to gently abrade the surface of the cecum. Next, several figure-of-eight sutures are placed into the peritoneum of the right abdominal sidewall. The abdominal cavity is irrigated, a small amount of starch is applied, and the incision is closed. We have found that this technique produces the most consistent adhesions with the lowest mortality rate.

Abdominal adhesions that form after surgery are a major cause of pain, infertility, and hospitalization and reoperation for small bowel obstruction. Our surgical procedure for creating abdominal adhesions in mice is a reliable tool to study the mechanisms underlying the formation of adhesions.

Abdominal adhesions consist of fibrotic tissue that forms in the peritoneal space in response to an inflammatory insult, typically surgery or ...

A Closed-chest Model to Induce Transverse Aortic Constriction in Mice

Research on cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure is frequently based on pressure overload mouse models induced by TAC. The standard procedure is to perform a partial thoracotomy to visualize the transverse aortic arch. However, the surgical trauma caused by the thoracotomy in open-chest models changes the respiratory physiology as the ribs are dissected and left unattached after chest closure. To prevent this, we established a minimally invasive, closed chest approach via lateral thoracotomy. Herein we approach the aortic arch via the 2nd intercostal space without entering the chest cavities, leaving the mouse with a less traumatic injury to recover from. We perform this operation using standard laboratory settings for open chest TAC procedures with equal survival rates. Apart from maintaining physiological breathing patterns due to the closed chest approach, the mice seem to benefit by showing rapid recovery, as the less invasive technique appears to facilitate a fast healing process and to reduce immune response after trauma.

Here, we present a protocol of Transverse Aortic constriction (TAC) via a lateral thoracotomy. This technique is a minimally invasive, closed chest surgical procedure aiming to simulate pressure overload and heart failure in mice utilizing standard TAC laboratory settings.

Research on cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure is frequently based on pressure overload mouse models induced by TAC. The standard procedure is to ...

The Generation of Closed Femoral Fractures in Mice: A Model to Study Bone Healing

Bone fractures impose a tremendous socio-economic burden on patients, in addition to significantly affecting their quality of life. Therapeutic strategies that promote efficient bone healing are non-existent and in high demand. Effective and reproducible animal models of fractures healing are needed to understand the complex biological processes associated with bone regeneration. Many animal models of fracture healing have been generated over the years; however, murine fracture models have recently emerged as powerful tools to study bone healing. A variety of open and closed models have been developed, but the closed femoral fracture model stands out as a simple method for generating rapid and reproducible results in a physiologically relevant manner. The goal of this surgical protocol is to generate unilateral closed femoral fractures in mice and facilitate a post-fracture stabilization of the femur by inserting an intramedullary steel rod. Although devices such as a nail or a screw offer greater axial and rotational stability, the use of an intramedullary rod provides a sufficient stabilization for consistent healing outcomes without producing new defects in the bone tissue or damaging nearby soft tissue. Radiographic imaging is used to monitor the progression of callus formation, bony union, and subsequent remodeling of the bony callus. Bone healing outcomes are typically associated with the strength of the healed bone and measured with torsional testing. Still, understanding the early cellular and molecular events associated with fracture repair is critical in the study of bone tissue regeneration. The closed femoral fracture model in mice with intramedullary fixation serves as an attractive platform to study bone fracture healing and evaluate therapeutic strategies to accelerate healing.

The murine closed femoral fracture model is a powerful platform to study fracture healing and novel therapeutic strategies to accelerate bone regeneration. The goal of this surgical protocol is to generate unilateral closed femoral fractures in mice using an intramedullary steel rod to stabilize the femur.

Bone fractures impose a tremendous socio-economic burden on patients, in addition to significantly affecting their quality of life. Therapeutic strategies ...

Normothermic Ex Situ Heart Perfusion in Working Mode: Assessment of Cardiac Function and Metabolism

The current standard method for organ preservation (cold storage, CS), exposes the heart to a period of cold ischemia that limits the safe preservation time and increases the risk of adverse post-transplantation outcomes. Moreover, the static nature of CS does not allow for organ evaluation or intervention during the preservation interval. Normothermic ex situ heart perfusion (ESHP) is a novel method for preservation of the donated heart that minimizes cold ischemia by providing oxygenated, nutrient-rich perfusate to the heart. ESHP has been shown to be non-inferior to CS in the preservation of standard-criteria donor hearts and has also facilitated the clinical transplantation of the hearts donated after the circulatory determination of death. Currently, the only available clinical ESHP device perfuses the heart in an unloaded, non-working state, limiting assessments of myocardial performance. Conversely, ESHP in working mode provides the opportunity for comprehensive evaluation of cardiac performance by assessment of functional and metabolic parameters under physiologic conditions. Moreover, earlier experimental studies have suggested that ESHP in working mode may result in improved functional preservation. Here, we describe the protocol for ex situ perfusion of the heart in a large mammal (porcine) model, which is reproducible for different animal models and heart sizes. The software program in this ESHP apparatus allows for real-time and automated control of the pump speed to maintain desired aortic and left atrial pressure and evaluates a variety of functional and electrophysiological parameters with minimal need for supervision/manipulation.

Normothermic ex situ heart perfusion (ESHP), preserves the heart in a beating, semi-physiologic state. When performed in a working mode, ESHP provides the opportunity to perform sophisticated assessments of donor heart function and organ viability. Here, we describe our method for myocardial performance evaluation during ESHP.

The current standard method for organ preservation (cold storage, CS), exposes the heart to a period of cold ischemia that limits the safe preservation ...

Ultrasound Imaging of the Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta in Mice to Determine Aneurysm Dimensions

Contemporary high-resolution ultrasound instruments have sufficient resolution to facilitate the measurement of mouse aortas. These instruments have been widely used to measure aortic dimensions in mouse models of aortic aneurysms. Aortic aneurysms are defined as permanent dilations of the aorta, which occur most frequently in the ascending and abdominal regions. Sequential measurements of aortic dimensions by ultrasound are the principal approach for assessing the development and progression of aortic aneurysms in vivo. Although many reported studies used ultrasound imaging to measure aortic diameters as a primary endpoint, there are confounding factors, such as probe position and cardiac cycle, that may impact the accuracy of data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation. The purpose of this protocol is to provide a practical guide on the use of ultrasound to measure the aortic diameter in a reliable and reproducible manner. This protocol introduces the preparation of mice and instruments, the acquisition of appropriate ultrasound images, and data analysis.

Ultrasound imaging has become a common modality to determine the luminal dimensions of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms in mice. This protocol describes the procedure to acquire reliable and reproducible two-dimensional ultrasound images of the ascending and abdominal aorta in mice.

Contemporary high-resolution ultrasound instruments have sufficient resolution to facilitate the measurement of mouse aortas. These instruments have been ...

Biventricular Assessment of Cardiac Function and Pressure-Volume Loops by Closed-Chest Catheterization in Mice

Assessment of cardiac function is essential to conduct cardiovascular and pulmonary-vascular preclinical research. Pressure-volume loops (PV loops) generated by recording both pressure and volume during cardiac catheterization are vital when assessing both systolic and diastolic cardiac function. Left and right heart function are closely related, reflected in ventricular interdependence. Thus, recording biventricular function in the same animal is important to get a complete assessment of cardiac function. In this protocol, a closed chest approach to cardiac catheterization consistent with the way catheterization is performed in patients is adopted in mice. While challenging, the closed chest strategy is a more physiological approach, because opening the chest results in major changes in preload and afterload that create artifacts, most notably a fall in systemic blood pressure. While high-resolution echocardiography is used to assess rodents, cardiac catheterization is invaluable, particularly when assessing diastolic pressures in both ventricles.
Described here is a procedure to perform invasive, closed chest, sequential left and right ventricular pressure-volume (PV) loops in the same animal. PV loops are acquired using&#160;admittance technology with a mouse pressure-volume catheter and pressure-volume system acquisition. The procedure is described, beginning with the neck dissection, which is required to access the right jugular vein and the right carotid artery, to the insertion and positioning of the catheter, and finally the data acquisition. Then, the criteria required to ensure the acquisition of high-quality PV loops are discussed. Finally, the analysis of the left and right ventricular PV loops and the different hemodynamic parameters available to quantify systolic and diastolic ventricular function are briefly described.

Presented here is a protocol to assess biventricular heart function in mice by generating pressure-volume (PV) loops from the right and left ventricle in the same animal using closed chest catheterization. The focus is on the technical aspect of surgery and data acquisition.

Assessment of cardiac function is essential to conduct cardiovascular and pulmonary-vascular preclinical research. Pressure-volume loops (PV loops) ...