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Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the pancreas, often associated with intractable abdominal pain. This article focuses on refining the technique to generate a mouse model of CP via bile duct infusion with 2,4,6 -trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a complex disease involving pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis, glandular atrophy, abdominal pain and other symptoms. Several rodent models have been developed to study CP, of which the bile duct 2,4,6 -trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) infusion model replicates the features of neuropathic pain seen in CP. However, bile duct drug infusion in mice is technically challenging. This protocol demonstrates the procedure of bile duct TNBS infusion for generation of a CP mouse model. TNBS was infused into the pancreas through the ampulla of Vater in the duodenum. This protocol optimized drug volume, surgical techniques, and drug handling during the procedure. TNBS-treated mice showed features of CP as reflected by bodyweight and pancreas weight reductions, changes in pain-associated behaviors, and abnormal pancreatic morphology. With these improvements, mortality associated with TNBS injection was minimal. This procedure is not only critical in generating pancreatic disease models but is also useful in local pancreatic drug delivery.
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the atrophy of the pancreas, fibrosis, abdominal pain, and eventual loss of both exocrine and endocrine functions1. Current medical and surgical treatments are not curative but are undertaken to relieve symptoms that are the consequence of the disease: refractory abdominal pain, endocrine and exocrine dysfunction. Therefore, more effective treatments are urgently needed2. Animal models provide an essential tool for developing a better understanding of the disease and investigating potential therapeutics3. Multiple mouse models for CP have been developed, of which cerulein and/or alcohol models are commonly used. Cerulein, an oligopeptide stimulating pancreatic secretion, has been shown to reproducibly induce a CP model featuring pancreatic atrophy, fibrosis, among others4. Another common model uses serial injections of L-arginine, which produces exocrine insufficiency similar to that observed in human patients5. CP can also be induced by complete or partial pancreatic duct ligation, as well as pancreatic duct hypertension6,7. Despite the variety of animal models available for CP, none of these models effectively reproduces the abdominal pain experienced by CP patients8.
Previous studies showed that local pancreatic injection of 2,4,6 -trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) replicates the persistent pain experienced by CP patients9,10,11. TNBS-treated mice demonstrated abdominal hypersensitivity and increased pain-related behaviors as well as a "generalized hypersensitivity" to painful stimuli, a phenomenon that has been observed in CP patients10. In addition to accurately mimicking CP pain, the TNBS model also replicates other pathological features of the human condition such as fibrosis, mononuclear cell infiltration, and replacement of acinar cells with fatty tissue10,12. However, TNBS infusion via bile duct is a technically challenging procedure in mice that may cause death. To our knowledge, there is no visual protocol to show how bile duct infusion is performed. In this article, we demonstrate the procedure of the bile duction infusion of TNBS to generate a CP mouse model. This procedure will help generate valuable animal models for the study of CP and other pancreatic diseases and can be used to infuse other materials (e.g., virus, cells) into the pancreas13.
All procedures were conducted with the approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees at the Medical University of South Carolina and the Ralph H. Johnson Medical Center. C57BL/6J male mice between 8-10 weeks of age were used in this study. Mice were housed under a standard 12 light/ 12 dark cycle with ad libitumaccess to food and water.
1. Preparation of TNBS solution for injection
2. Mouse preparation and surgery
3. Monitoring mouse behavior
4. Collection and histological analysis of pancreatic tissue
The bile duct infusion procedures were optimized to reduce mouse mortality associated with this procedure10. TNBS was first given in a total volume of 35 μL or 50 μL. Injection of TNBS in a volume of 50 μL could reach the whole pancreas and induce a more homogeneous disease phenotype (Figure 1B). In addition, injection of TNBS using insulin syringe with 31G needle could better control infusion speed relative to regular syringes and needle sizes. Freshly...
Bile duct infusion of TNBS to induce chronic pancreatitis is technically challenging in mice, as up to 22.5% of mice can die within 3-4 days of drug infusion10. Here, this report refined the procedure based on previous studies and reduced early mouse mortality to <10%. For example, the increased drug volume (from 35 μL to 50μL) can ensure the drugs reach the whole pancreas. Using an insulin syringe and a smaller needle size (31G) reduces potential damage to the pancreatic duct a...
All authors declare that they do not have conflict of interest.
This study was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA-ORD BLR&D Merit I01BX004536), and the National Institute of Health grants # 1R01DK105183, DK120394, and DK118529 to HW. We thank Dr. Hongju Wu for sharing technical experience.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
10% Neutral buffered formalin v/v | Fisher Scientific | 23426796 | |
Alcohol prep pads, sterile | Fisher Scientific | 22-363-750 | |
Animal Anesthesia system | VetEquip, Inc. | 901806 | |
Buprenorphine hydrochloride, injection | Par Sterile Products, LLC | NDC 42023-179-05 | |
Centrifuge tubes, 15 mL | Fisher Scientific | 0553859A | |
Ethanol, absolute (200 proof), molecular biology grade | Fisher Scientific | BP2818500 | |
Extra fine Micro Dissecting scissors 4” straight sharp | Roboz Surgical Instrument Co. | RS-5882 | |
Graefe forceps 4” extra delicate tip | Roboz Surgical Instrument Co. | RS-5136 | |
Heated pad | Amazon | B07HMKMBKM | |
Hegar-Baumgartner Needle Holder 5.25” | Roboz Surgical Instrument Co. | RS-7850 | |
Insulin syringe with 31-gauge needle | BD | 324909 | |
Iodine prep pads | Fisher Scientific | 19-027048 | |
Isoflurane | Piramal Critical Care | NDC 66794-017-25 | |
Micro clip applying forceps 5.5” | Roboz Surgical Instrument Co. | RS-5410 | |
Micro clip, straight strong curved 1x6mm | Roboz Surgical Instrument Co. | RS-5433 | |
Micro clip, straight, 0.75mm clip width | Roboz Surgical Instrument Co. | RS-5420 | |
Picrylsulfonic acid solution, TNBS, 1M in H2O | Millipore Sigma | 92822-1ML | |
Polypropylene Suture 4-0 | Med-Vet International | MV-8683 | |
Polypropylene Suture 5-0 | Med-Vet International | MV-8661 | |
Sodium chloride, 0.9% intravenous solution | VWR | 2B1322Q | |
Surgical drape, sterile | Med-Vet International | DR1826 | |
Tissue Cassette | Fisher Scientific | 22-272416 | |
Von Frey filaments | Bioseb | EB2-VFF |
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