The authors would like to express gratitude to Mr. Boyin Qin (Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center) for the technical assistance with the &#181;CT evaluation in this protocol.

NOTE: The OE model has been generated and used in previously reported research30,31,32. All animal experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Shanghai Jiaotong University.
1. Mice
<ol>
	<li>House pathogen-free, 7- to 9-week-old female BALB/c mice in individual ventilated cages in an animal facility under controlled temperature (20 &#176;C) and humidity (40 - 60%). Provide a 12&#160;h light and 12&#160;h dark cycle in the facility. Provide food and water ad libitum.</li>
</ol>
2. Ozone or Air Exposure
<ol>
	<li>Generate ozone with an electric generator in a sealing acrylic (e.g. Perspex) box. Blow the air out of the box using a small air blower through an air vent pipe that is connected on the inside and outside of the box. Monitor the concentration of ozone in the box using an ozone probe. Wait until the concentration of ozone in the box reaches 2.5 parts per million (ppm). 
	NOTE: The ozone probe can automatically switch the ozone generator on or off and can maintain the ozone level in the box at 2.5 ppm.</li>
	<li>Place the mice into the box when the level of ozone reaches 2.5 ppm. Keep the mice in the box for 3 h each time to expose them to ozone. 
	NOTE: The box can maintain an ozone level of 2.5 ppm during the 3 h by automatically switching the ozone generator on or off and blowing the CO2 that is produced by the mice out of the box.</li>
	<li>Give two ozone exposures (each exposure lasting 3 h) per week (once every 3 days) for 7 weeks; expose the control mice to air at the same time and for the same period.</li>
</ol>
3. Micro-computed Tomography
<ol>
	<li>At the end of week 7, anesthetize the mice with an intraperitoneal injection of pelltobarbitalum natricum (1%, 0.6 - 0.8 ml/100 g)&#160;adjust the dose according to individual situations to see that the mouse does not respond to a toe pinch.&#160;Monitor and keep the mouse at a steady breathing frequency; and make sure no voluntary motions exist during the procedures.</li>
	<li>Place the anesthetized mice in the chamber of a micro-computed tomography (&#181;CT).</li>
	<li>Calibrate the &#181;CT using the standard protocol and the manufacturer&#39;s instructions. Set the X-ray tube at 50 kV and the current at 450 &#181;A. 
	NOTE: Both the X-ray and the detector rotate around the mice.</li>
	<li>Perform the &#181;CT analysis by acquiring 515 projections with an effective pixel size of 0.092 mm, an exposure time of 300 ms for one slice, and a slice thickness of 0.093 mm.</li>
	<li>Reconstruct the lung with the acquired images using a software. Adjust the grayscale image brightness by setting the minimum and maximum of the grayscale at -750 and -550 Hounsfield units, respectively. 
	NOTE: The software will automatically calculate the volumes of the lung parenchyma and the low-attenuation area (LAA)34,35.</li>
	<li>Calculate the percentage of LAA (LAA%) by dividing the LAA volume by the total lung volume.</li>
</ol>
4. Treadmill Test
<ol>
	<li>Give the mice an adaptation test at a speed of 10 m/min for 10 min on a running treadmill machine. &#160;Note: The electricity is always off when the procedure is being conducted.&#160;</li>
	<li>Administer a fatigue test to the mice.
	<ol>
		<li>Warm up the mice at a speed of 10 m/min for 5 min.</li>
		<li>Increase the speed to 15 m/min for 10 min.</li>
		<li>Increase the exercise intensity: increasing the speed by 5 m/min, starting at 20 m/min, every 30 min until mice cannot continue to run36.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Record the total running distance and running time as fatigue distance and fatigue time, respectively.</li>
</ol>
5. Pulmonary Function Measurements
<ol>
	<li>Anesthetize the mice with an intraperitoneal injection of pelltobarbitalum natricum (1%, 0.6 - 0.8 ml/100 g) adjust the dose according to individual situations to see that the mouse does not respond to a toe pinch&#160;and wait until the mice have maintained spontaneous breathing.&#160;Monitor and keep the mouse at a steady breathing frequency; and make sure no voluntary motions exist during the procedures.</li>
	<li>Carefully tracheostomize the mice and place them in a body plethysmograph that is connected to a computer-controlled ventilator. 
	NOTE: Ventilation is controlled via a valve located proximally to the endotracheal tube. The setup provides different semi-automatic maneuvers, including the maneuver of the quasi-static pressure volume and the maneuver of the fast flow volume.</li>
	<li>Impose an average breathing frequency of 150 breaths/min to the anesthetized mouse via pressure-controlled ventilation until a regular breathing pattern and complete expiration at each breathing cycle is obtained.</li>
	<li>Perform the quasi-static pressure-volume maneuver with the device by using the negative pressures generated in the plethysmograph.</li>
	<li>Perform the fast flow volume maneuver within the quasi-static pressure-volume loops to record the FVC and the FEV. Inflate the lung to +30 cm H2O and immediately afterwards connect it to a highly negative pressure to enforce expiration until the residual volume is at -30 cm H2O. Record the FEV in the first 25, 50, and 75 ms of exhalation (FEV25, FEV50, and FEV75, respectively). Reject the suboptimal maneuvers. For each test with every single mouse, conduct a minimum of three acceptable maneuvers to obtain a reliable mean for all numerical parameters.</li>
</ol>
6. BALF Collection
<ol>
	<li>Following terminal anesthesia with pelltobarbitalum natricum ((1%, 1.8-2.4 ml/100 g)&#160;adjust the dose according to individual situations to see that the mouse does not respond to a toe pinch and lose breath),&#160;lavage the mice with 2 mL of PBS via a 1 mm-diameter endotracheal tube and then retrieve the BALF10.</li>
	<li>Pool the retrieved lavage aliquots and centrifuge them at 4 &#176;C and 250 x g for 10 min.</li>
	<li>Collect the supernatant for immediate use and store the remainder at -80 &#176;C or liquid nitrogen.</li>
	<li>Count the total number of cells using a hemocytometer.</li>
	<li>Resuspend the cell pellet in PBS and then spin (1,400 x g, 6 min) 250 &#181;L of resuspended cells onto slides using a slide spinner centrifuge.</li>
	<li>Apply Wright staining to cells on the slides according to the manufacturer&#39;s protocol.</li>
	<li>Count 200 cells per mouse; identify the cells as macrophages or neutrophils, according to standard morphology, under 400X magnification; and count their numbers.</li>
</ol>
7. Cardiac Blood Sampling
<ol>
	<li>Collect blood via cardiac puncture, load it into 1.5-mL tubes, and keep it on ice for 30 min.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the blood samples for 5 min at 2,000 x g and 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Transfer the supernatant (serum) to a new tube and store it at -80 &#176;C or liquid nitrogen.</li>
	<li>Prepare the serum for IL-1&#946;, IL-10, and TNF-&#945; detection tests using the respective ELISA kits.</li>
</ol>
8. Lung Morphometric Analysis
<ol>
	<li>Dissect the lungs and tracheas from the mice.
	<ol>
		<li>Position each euthanized mouse onto a surgical board immediately after sacrifice.</li>
		<li>Dissect away the platysma and anterior tracheal muscles to visualize and access the tracheal rings.</li>
		<li>Open up the thoracic cavity. Dissect the lungs and the trachea, but do not separate the heart from the lungs.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Connect the endotracheal catheter to a syringe containing 4% paraformaldehyde through a PE90 polyethylene tube. 
	Caution: Paraformaldehyde is toxic. Wear gloves and safety glasses and use the solution inside a fume hood.</li>
	<li>Inflate the lung completely using 4% paraformaldehyde (10 drops, ~200 &#181;L) through the endotracheal catheter. Remove the heart after the completion of inflation.</li>
	<li>Maintain the lung in a 15&#160;mL tube containing 10 mL of 4% paraformaldehyde for at least 4 h.</li>
	<li>Embed the lung in paraffin. Obtain 5-&#181;m sections by paraffin block sectioning with a rotary microtome. During the sectioning, expose the maximum surface area of lung tissue within the bronchial tree area.</li>
	<li>For morphometric analysis, perform hematoxylin and eosin (H&#38;E) staining on the sections.</li>
	<li>Image the sections with a bright-field upright microscope (objective lens, 20X; exposure time, 1.667 ms).</li>
	<li>Have two investigators blinded to the treatment protocol independently count the histological sections. Use the mean linear intercept (Lm) as a parameter for measuring the distance of the inter-alveolar septal wall. Determine the Lm using the following steps:
	<ol>
		<li>Open the images of the sections in Photoshop and draw a reticule-grid on the image with five 550 &#181;m&#160;long lines.</li>
		<li>Count the number of alveoli across the grid line.</li>
		<li>Calculate the Lm by dividing the length of the grid line by the number of alveoli. For quantification, image five sections per mouse. Acquire ten images of each section (one image per field) and assess randomly. During field selection, avoid fields of airways and vessels by moving one field ahead or in another direction. 
		Note: The data are presented as the mean &#177; S.E.M. An un-paired t-test was carried out for comparison between air-exposed mice and ozone-exposed mice. Three animals of each group were used to calculate the significant difference. A p-value of &#60;0.05 was considered significant.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

Z.W.S. and W.W. are current employees and stock option holders of the Cellular Biomedicine Group (NASDAQ: CBMG). The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

In this study, we present a reliable method for generating a new COPD model. Compared to other models (i.e., LPS or PPE models), this OE model recapitulates the pathological process of COPD patients. Because cigarette smoke is the main hazardous material that causes COPD in human patients40, the CS model remains the most popular COPD model41,42. However, the CS model requires a 3- to 12-month R&#38;D period for new drugs. Compared...

It has been estimated that COPD, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, might be the third leading cause of death in the world in 20201,2. The potential incidence of COPD in a population over 40 years old is estimated to be 12.7% in males and 8.3% in females within the next 40 years3. No medications are currently available to reverse the progressive deterioration in COPD patients4. Reliable animal models of COPD not only demand the imitation of the disease pathological process but also require a short generation period. Current COPD models, including the LPS or a PPE-induced model, can induce emphysema-like symptoms5,6. A single administration or a week-long challenge of LPS or PPE to mice or rats results in marked neutrophilia in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), increases pro-inflammatory mediators (e.g., TNF-&#945; and IL-1&#946;) in the BALF or serum, produces lung parenchymal destruction-enlarged air spaces, and limits airflow5,6,7,8,9,10. However, LPS or PPE are not causes of human COPD and thus do not mimic the pathological process11. A CS-induced model produced a persistent airflow limitation, lung parenchymal destruction, and reduced functional exercise capacity. However, a traditional CS protocol requires at least 3 months to generate a COPD model12,13,14,15. Thus, it is important to generate a new, more efficient animal model that meets the two requirements.
Recently, in addition to cigarette smoking, air pollution and occupational exposure have become more common causes of COPD16,17,18. Ozone, as one of the major pollutants (though not the major component of air pollution), can directly react with the respiratory tract and damage the lung tissue of both children and young adults19,20,21,22,23,24,25. Ozone, as well as other stimulators including LPS, PPE, and CS, are involved in a serious of biochemical pathways of pulmonary oxidative stress and DNA damage and are linked to the initiation and promotion of COPD26,27. Another factor is that the symptoms of some COPD patients deteriorate after being exposed to ozone, indicating that ozone can disrupt lung function18,28,29. Therefore, we generated a new COPD model by repeatedly exposing mice to high concentrations of ozone for 7 weeks; this resulted in airflow defects and lung parenchymal damage similar to those of previous investigations30,31,32. We extended the OE protocol to female mice in this study and successfully reproduced the emphysema observed in male mice in our previous studies30,31,32. Because COPD mortality has decreased in men but increased in women in many countries33, a COPD model in females is needed to study the mechanisms and to develop therapeutic methods for female COPD patients. The applicability of the OE model to all genders lends further support to its use as a COPD model.

<table width="1024">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">BALB/c mice</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Slac Laboratory Animal,Shanghai, China</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:455px;">7-to-9-week-old female BALB/c mice were used in this study.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Individual ventilated cages</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Suhang, Shanghai, China</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">Model Number: MU64S7</td>
			<td>The cages were used for housing mice in the animal facility.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Sealing perspex-box</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Suhang, Shanghai, China</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">N/A</td>
			<td style="width:455px;">The box was used&#160; to contain the ozone generator. Mice were exposed to ozone within the box.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Electric generator</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Sander Ozoniser, Uetze-Eltze, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">Model 500&#160;</td>
			<td>The device was used for generating ozone.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Ozone probe</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">ATi Technologies, Ashton-U-Lyne, Greater Manchester, UK</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">Ozone 300</td>
			<td>The device was used for monitoring and controlling the generation of ozone.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Pelltobarbitalum natricum</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">P3761</td>
			<td style="width:455px;">Mice were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of pelltobarbitalum natricum.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Micro-Computed Tomography</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">GE Healthcare, London, ON, Canada</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">RS0800639-0075</td>
			<td>This device was used for acquiring images of the lung.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Micro-view 2.01 ABA software</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">GE Healthcare, London, ON, Canada</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">Micro-view 2.01&#160;</td>
			<td>This device was used for reconstruct the lung and analyze volume, LAA of the lung.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Treadmill machine&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Duanshi, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">DSPT-208</td>
			<td>This machine was usd for fatigue test.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="38">
			<td height="38" style="width:211px;height:38px;">Body plethysmograph</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">eSpira&#8482; Forced Manoeuvres System, EMMS, Edinburgh, UK</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">Forced Manoeuvres System</td>
			<td height="80">This device was used to test spirometry pulmonary function.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Ventilator</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">eSpira&#8482; Forced Manoeuvres System, EMMS, Edinburgh, UK</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">Forced Manoeuvres System</td>
			<td height="80">This device was used to test spirometry pulmonary function.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Slide spinner centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Denville Scientific, Holliston, MA, USA</td>
			<td>C1183&#160;</td>
			<td>It was used to spin BALF cells onto slides.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:211px;height:21px;">Wright Staining</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Hanhong, Shanghai, China</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">RE04000054</td>
			<td>&#160;It was used to staining macrophages, neutrophils in the suspended BALF.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Hemocytometer</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Hausser Scientific, Horsham, PA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">4000</td>
			<td>It was used to count cells.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:211px;height:21px;">IL-1&#946;</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">ab100704</td>
			<td height="63">They were used to test the respective factors in serum.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:211px;height:21px;">IL-10</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">ab46103</td>
			<td height="63">They were used to test the respective factors in serum.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:211px;height:21px;">TNF-&#945;</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">ab100747</td>
			<td height="63">They were used to test the respective factors in serum.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:211px;height:21px;">Paraformaldehyde&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">P6148</td>
			<td>The lung was inflated by 4% paraformaldehyde.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:211px;height:21px;">Paraffin</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Hualing, Shanghai, China</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">56#</td>
			<td>It was used to embed the lung.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:211px;height:21px;">Rotary Microtome</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Leica, Wetzlar,&#160; Hesse, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">RM2255</td>
			<td>It was used for sectioning the lung.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Hgaematoxylin and Eosin (H&#38;E) staining solution</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Solarbio, Beijing, China</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">G1120</td>
			<td>H&#38;E staining was done for morphometric analysis.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">Upright bright field microscope</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Olympus, Center Valley, PA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">CX41</td>
			<td>It was used to image the H&#38;E staining slides.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="width:211px;height:21px;">Adobe Photoshop 12</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Adobe, San Jose, CA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">Adobe Photoshop 12</td>
			<td>It was used to count the number of alveoli on the H&#38;E stained images.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="width:211px;height:42px;">GraphPad prism 5</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Graphpad Software Inc., San Diego, CA</td>
			<td style="width:143px;">GraphPad prism 5</td>
			<td>It was used for data analysis and production of figures.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

generation of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease model in mice by repeated ozone exposure

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and lung parenchymal destruction. It has a very high incidence in aging populations. The current conventional therapies for COPD focus mainly on symptom-modifying drugs; thus, the development of new therapies is urgently needed. Qualified animal models of COPD could help to characterize the underlying mechanisms and can be used for new drug screening. Current COPD models, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or the porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE)-induced emphysema model, generate COPD-like lesions in the lungs and airways but do not otherwise resemble the pathogenesis of human COPD. A cigarette smoke (CS)-induced model remains one of the most popular because it not only simulates COPD-like lesions in the respiratory system, but it is also based on one of the main hazardous materials that causes COPD in humans. However, the time-consuming and labor-intensive aspects of the CS-induced model dramatically limit its application in new drug screening. In this study, we successfully generated a new COPD model by exposing mice to high levels of ozone. This model demonstrated the following: 1) decreased forced expiratory volume 25, 50, and 75/forced vital capacity (FEV25/FVC, FEV50/FVC, and FEV75/FVC), indicating the deterioration of lung function; 2) enlarged lung alveoli, with lung parenchymal destruction; 3) reduced fatigue time and distance; and 4) increased inflammation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the ozone exposure (OE) model is a reliable animal model that is similar to humans because ozone overexposure is one of the etiological factors of COPD. Additionally, it only took 6 - 8 weeks, based on our previous work, to create an OE model, whereas it requires 3 - 12 months to induce the cigarette smoke model, indicating that the OE model might be a good choice for COPD research.

Examples of 3D &#181;CT images of each group are displayed in Figure 1a. The ozone-exposed mice had a significantly larger total lung volume (Figure 1a and b) and LAA% (Figure 1c) than did the air-exposed control mice. The lung volume and LAA% remained elevated after six weeks of ozone exposure31,3...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure at JoVE.com

Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure

This study describes the successful generation of a new chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) animal model by repeatedly exposing mice to high concentrations of ozone.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and lung parenchymal destruction. It has a very high ...

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10.8K Views.  Cellular Biomedicine Group, Shanghai. This study describes the successful generation of a new chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) animal model by repeatedly exposing mice to high concentrations of ozone.

Video: Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure

Assessing Teratogenic Changes in a Zebrafish Model of Fetal Alcohol Exposure

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a severe manifestation of embryonic exposure to ethanol. It presents with characteristic defects to the face and organs, including mental retardation due to disordered and damaged brain development. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a term used to cover a continuum of birth defects that occur due to maternal alcohol consumption, and occurs in approximately 4% of children born in the United States. With 50% of child-bearing age women reporting consumption of alcohol, and half of all pregnancies being unplanned, unintentional exposure is a continuing issue2. In order to best understand the damage produced by ethanol, plus produce a model with which to test potential interventions, we developed a model of developmental ethanol exposure using the zebrafish embryo. Zebrafish are ideal for this kind of teratogen study3-8. Each pair lays hundreds of eggs, which can then be collected without harming the adult fish. The zebrafish embryo is transparent and can be readily imaged with any number of stains. Analysis of these embryos after exposure to ethanol at different doses and times of duration and application shows that the gross developmental defects produced by ethanol are consistent with the human birth defect. Described here are the basic techniques used to study and manipulate the zebrafish FAS model.

In order to understand the molecular mechanisms of the ethanol-induced developmental damage, we have developed a zebrafish model of ethanol exposure and are exploring the physical, cellular, and genetic alterations that occur after ethanol exposure1. We then seek to find potential interventions and rapidly test them in this animal model.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a severe manifestation of embryonic exposure to ethanol. It presents with characteristic defects to the face and organs, ...

Urinary Bladder Distention Evoked Visceromotor Responses as a Model for Bladder Pain in Mice

Approximately 3-8 million people in the United States suffer from interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a debilitating condition characterized by increased urgency and frequency of urination, as well as nocturia and general pelvic pain, especially upon bladder filling or voiding. Despite years of research, the cause of IC/BPS remains elusive and treatment strategies are unable to provide complete relief to patients. In order to study nervous system contributions to the condition, many animal models have been developed to mimic the pain and symptoms associated with IC/BPS. One such murine model is urinary bladder distension (UBD). In this model, compressed air of a specific pressure is delivered to the bladder of a lightly anesthetized animal over a set period of time. Throughout the procedure, wires in the superior oblique abdominal muscles record electrical activity from the muscle. This activity is known as the visceromotor response (VMR) and is a reliable and reproducible measure of nociception. Here, we describe the steps necessary to perform this technique in mice including surgical manipulations, physiological recording, and data analysis. With the use of this model, the coordination between primary sensory neurons, spinal cord secondary afferents, and higher central nervous system areas involved in bladder pain can be unraveled. This basic science knowledge can then be clinically translated to treat patients suffering from IC/BPS.

Approximately 3-8 million people in the United States suffer from interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a debilitating condition characterized in part by pelvic pain. In order to study nervous system contributions to the condition, a physiological model of urinary bladder pain is used in mice and rats.

Approximately 3-8 million people in the United States suffer from interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a debilitating condition ...

Repeated Measurement of Respiratory Muscle Activity and Ventilation in Mouse Models of Neuromuscular Disease

Accessory respiratory muscles help to maintain ventilation when diaphragm function is impaired. The following protocol describes a method for repeated measurements over weeks or months of accessory respiratory muscle activity while simultaneously measuring ventilation in a non-anesthetized, freely behaving mouse. The technique includes the surgical implantation of a radio transmitter and the insertion of electrode leads into the scalene and trapezius muscles to measure the electromyogram activity of these inspiratory muscles. Ventilation is measured by whole-body plethysmography, and animal movement is assessed by video and is synchronized with electromyogram activity. Measurements of muscle activity and ventilation in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are presented to show how this tool can be used to investigate how respiratory muscle activity changes over time and to assess the impact of muscle activity on ventilation. The described methods can easily be adapted to measure the activity of other muscles or to assess accessory respiratory muscle activity in additional mouse models of disease or injury.

This paper introduces a method for repeated measurements of ventilation and respiratory muscle activity in a freely behaving amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mouse model throughout disease progression with whole-body plethysmography and electromyography via an implanted telemetry device.

Accessory respiratory muscles help to maintain ventilation when diaphragm function is impaired. The following protocol describes a method for repeated ...

Isometric Contractility Measurement of the Mouse Mesenteric Artery Using Wire Myography

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

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

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

Repeated Orotracheal Intubation in Mice

The literature describes several methods for mouse intubation that either require visualization of the glottis through the oral cavity or incision in the ventral neck for direct confirmation of cannula placement in the trachea. The relative difficulty or the tissue trauma induced to the subject by such procedures can be an impediment to an investigator&#8217;s ability to perform longitudinal studies. This article illustrates a technique in which physical manipulation of the mouse following the use of a depilatory to remove hair from the ventral neck permits transcutaneous visualization of the trachea for orotracheal intubation regardless of degree of skin pigmentation. This method is innocuous to the subject and easily achieved with a limited understanding of murine anatomy. This refined approach facilitates repeated intubation, which may be necessary for monitoring progression of disease or instillation of treatments. Using this method may result in a reduction of the number of animals and technical skill required to measure lung function in mouse models of respiratory disease.

The goal of this article is to describe a refined method of intubation of the laboratory mouse. The method is noninvasive and, therefore, ideal for studies that require serial monitoring of respiratory function and/or instillation of treatments into the lung.

The literature describes several methods for mouse intubation that either require visualization of the glottis through the oral cavity or incision in the ...

A Model of Reverse Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Left Heart Disease by Aortic Debanding in Rats

Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease (PH-LHD) is the most common form of PH, yet its pathophysiology is poorly characterized than pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). As a result, approved therapeutic interventions for the treatment or prevention of PH-LHD are missing. Medications used to treat PH in PAH patients are not recommended for treatment of PH-LHD, as reduced pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and increased pulmonary blood flow in the presence of increased left-sided filling pressures may cause left heart decompensation and pulmonary edema. New strategies need to be developed to reverse PH in LHD patients. In contrast to PAH, PH-LHD develops due to increased mechanical load caused by congestion of blood into the lung circulation during left heart failure. Clinically, mechanical unloading of the left ventricle (LV) by aortic valve replacement in aortic stenosis patients or by implantation of LV assist devices in end-stage heart failure patients normalizes not only pulmonary arterial and right ventricular (RV) pressures but also PVR, thus providing indirect evidence for reverse remodeling in the pulmonary vasculature. Using an established rat model of PH-LHD due to left heart failure triggered by pressure overload with subsequent development of PH, a model is developed to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of this physiological reverse remodeling process. Specifically, an aortic debanding surgery was performed, which resulted in reverse remodeling of the LV myocardium and its unloading. In parallel, complete normalization of RV systolic pressure and significant but incomplete reversal of RV hypertrophy was detectable. This model may present a valuable tool to study the mechanisms of physiological reverse remodeling in the pulmonary circulation and the RV, aiming to develop therapeutic strategies for treating PH-LHD and other forms of PH.

The present protocol describes a surgical procedure to remove ascending-aortic banding in a rat model of pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease. This technique studies endogenous mechanisms of reverse remodeling in the pulmonary circulation and the right heart, thus informing strategies to reverse pulmonary hypertension and/or right ventricular dysfunction.

Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease (PH-LHD) is the most common form of PH, yet its pathophysiology is poorly characterized than pulmonary ...

A Silicosis Mouse Model Established by Repeated Inhalation of Crystalline Silica Dust

Silicosis can be caused by exposure to respiratory crystalline silica dust (CSD) in an industrial environment. The pathophysiology, screening, and treatment of silicosis in humans have all been extensively studied using the mouse silicosis model. By repeatedly making mice inhale CSD into their lungs, the mice can mimic the clinical symptoms of human silicosis. This methodology is practical and efficient in terms of time and output and does not cause mechanical injury to the upper respiratory tract due to surgery. Furthermore, this model can successfully mimic acute/chronic transformation process of silicosis. The main procedures were as follows. The sterilized 1-5 &#181;m CSD powder was fully ground, suspended in saline, and dispersed in an ultrasonic water bath for 30 min. Mice under isoflurane-induced anesthesia switched from shallow rapid breathing to deep, slow aspiration for approximately 2 s. The mouse was placed in the palm of a hand, and the thumb tip gently touched the lip edge of the mouse's jaw to straighten the airway. After each exhalation, the mice breathed in the silica suspension drop by drop through one nostril, completing the process within 4-8 s. After the mice's breathing had stabilized, their chest was stroked and caressed to prevent the inhaled CSD from being coughed up. The mice were then returned to the cage. In conclusion, this model can quantify CSD along the typical physiological passage of tiny particles into the lung, from the upper respiratory tract to the terminal bronchioles and alveoli. It can also replicate the recurrent exposure of employees due to work. The model can be performed by one person and does not need expensive equipment. It conveniently and effectively simulates the disease features of human silicosis with high repeatability.

This protocol describes a method for establishing a mouse model of silicosis through repeated exposure to silica suspensions via a nasal drip. This model can efficiently, conveniently, and flexibly mimic the pathological process of human silicosis with high repeatability and economy.

Silicosis can be caused by exposure to respiratory crystalline silica dust (CSD) in an industrial environment. The pathophysiology, screening, and ...

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and frequent disease in elderly patients, with a tendency for progressive exacerbation. Constipation that reduces the quality of life and triggers the risk of diseases is a common concomitant symptom in patients with COPD. Currently, western medical treatment does not achieve the desired results for patients. A high recurrence rate accompanies it, whereas traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history and rich experience in treating chronic diseases. Both acupoint application and acupoint massage are characteristic therapies of TCM, with minor side effects, high safety, simple operation, and outstanding advantages. They are effective in treating constipation for patients with COPD and are considered an ideal alternative therapy for patients with chronic constipation. The purpose of this article is to introduce the method of acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for the treatment of constipation in patients with COPD, including the selection of points, items, treatment time, and operation procedure.

Here we demonstrate acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for treating constipation in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and frequent disease in elderly patients, with a tendency for progressive exacerbation. ...

Acupuncture Stimulation of Ears to Alleviate Sleeping Disorders in COPD Patients

Auricular Acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Sleep Disorders

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent and irreversible airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. It has a wide spectrum of complications, and sleep disorders, as part of it, are common in severe cases, especially in elderly patients. Long-term lack of sleep may lead to the aggravation of the original disease, reducing patients' quality of life. Benzodiazepines are mainly used for symptomatic treatment of COPD combined with sleep disorders. However, such drugs have the side effect of respiratory central inhibition and could probably aggravate hypoxia symptoms. Auricular acupuncture is a special method of treating physical and psychosomatic dysfunctions by stimulating specific points in the ear. This article explains the specific methods of clinical operation of auricular acupuncture in detail, including assessment of patient eligibility, medical devices used, acupuncture points, course of treatment, post-treatment care, responses to emergencies, etc. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment scale (CAT) were used as the observational index of this method. So far, clinical reports have proved that auricular acupuncture has a definite curative effect in the treatment of COPD combined with sleep disorders, and its advantages of simple operation, few adverse reactions are worthy of further study and promotion, which provide a reference for the clinical treatment of such diseases.

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders 

This protocol introduces an effective method to improve the sleep condition of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and alleviate cough symptoms by using auricular acupuncture techniques to percutaneously stimulate specific acupoints in the patients' ears.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent and irreversible airflow limitation and chronic ...

Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion to Relieve COPD with Abdominal Distension

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension

Most patients with COPD have a combination of abdominal distension, which has been shown to adversely affect pulmonary symptoms, frequency of acute exacerbations, and quality of life in patients with COPD. Warm acupuncture and moxibustion have been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms in patients with COPD combined with abdominal distention. Warm acupuncture and moxibustion are highly effective, easy to perform, and inexpensive forms of traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The standardized practice of warm acupuncture and moxibustion is very important for the treatment of COPD combined with abdominal distension. The specific steps include selecting the appropriate acupoints for needling through syndrome differentiation treatment and selecting moxa sticks of appropriate length for moxibustion for about 30 min after the De-qi. The course of treatment lasts for one week. The following indicators are specifically assessed: the score of the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the abdominal distension visual analog scale (VAS). This article will clearly illustrate how to standardize the manipulation of warm acupuncture and moxibustion to relieve COPD combined with abdominal distention.

Author Spotlight: An Effective Traditional Chinese Medicinal Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension 

Here, we present a protocol to properly manipulate warm acupuncture and moxibustion for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with abdominal distension.

Most patients with COPD have a combination of abdominal distension, which has been shown to adversely affect pulmonary symptoms, frequency of acute ...