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* These authors contributed equally
Here, we present a protocol for the surgical implantation of a permanently indwelling optical window for the murine thorax, which enables high-resolution, intravital imaging of the lung. The permanence of the window makes it well-suited to the study of dynamic cellular processes in the lung, especially those that are slowly evolving, such as metastatic progression of disseminated tumor cells.
Metastasis, accounting for ~90% of cancer-related mortality, involves the systemic spread of cancer cells from primary tumors to secondary sites such as the bone, brain, and lung. Although extensively studied, the mechanistic details of this process remain poorly understood. While common imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), offer varying degrees of gross visualization, each lacks the temporal and spatial resolution necessary to detect the dynamics of individual tumor cells. To address this, numerous techniques have been described for intravital imaging of common metastatic sites. Of these sites, the lung has proven especially challenging to access for intravital imaging owing to its delicacy and critical role in sustaining life. Although several approaches have previously been described for single-cell intravital imaging of the intact lung, all involve highly invasive and terminal procedures, limiting the maximum possible imaging duration to 6-12 h. Described here is an improved technique for the permanent implantation of a minimally invasive thoracic optical Window for High-Resolution Imaging of the Lung (WHRIL). Combined with an adapted approach to microcartography, the innovative optical window facilitates serial intravital imaging of the intact lung at single-cell resolution across multiple imaging sessions and spanning multiple weeks. Given the unprecedented duration of time over which imaging data can be gathered, the WHRIL can facilitate the accelerated discovery of the dynamic mechanisms underlying metastatic progression and numerous additional biologic processes within the lung.
Responsible for ~90% of deaths, metastas is isthe major cause of cancer-related mortality1. Among the major sites of clinically observed metastasis (bone, liver, lung, brain)2, the lung has proven particularly challenging for in vivo imaging via intravital microscopy. This is because the lung is a delicate organ in perpetual motion. The lungs' continuous motion, further compounded by intrathoracic cardiac motion, represents a substantial barrier to accurate imaging. Therefore, due to its relative inaccessibility to modalities for high-resolution intravital optical imaging, cancer growth within the lung ....
All procedures described in this protocol have been performed in accordance with guidelines and regulations for the use of vertebrate animals, including prior approval by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Passivation of windows
The steps of the surgical procedure described in this protocol are summarized and illustrated in Figure 1. Briefly, prior to surgery, mice are anesthetized and the hair over the left thorax is removed. Mice are intubated and mechanically ventilated to enable survival upon breachment of the thoracic cavity. Soft tissue overlying the ribs is excised, and a small circular defect is created, spanning the 6th and 7th ribs. The optical window frame is inserted into .......
At sites of distant metastasis such as the lung, high-resolution optical imaging provides insight into the elaborate dynamics of tumor cell metastasis. By enabling in vivo visualization of single cancer cells and their interactions with the host tissue, high-resolution intravital imaging has proven instrumental to understanding the mechanisms underlying metastasis.
Described here is an improved surgical protocol for the permanent thoracic implantation of an optical window designed to .......
This work was supported by the following grants: CA216248, CA013330, Montefiore's Ruth L. Kirschstein T32 Training Grant CA200561, METAvivor Early Career Award, the Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center and its Integrated Imaging Program, and Jane A. and Myles P. Dempsey. We would like to thank the Analytical Imaging Facility (AIF) at Einstein College of Medicine for imaging support.
....Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
1% (w/v) solution of enzyme-active detergent | Alconox Inc | N/A | Â concentrated, anionic detergent with protease enzyme for manual and ultrasonic cleaning |
2 µm fluorescent microspheres | Invitrogen | F8827 | |
5 mm coverslip | Electron Microscopy Sciences | 72296-05 | |
5% (w/v) solution of sodium hydroxide | Sigma-Aldrich | S8045 | |
5% Isoflurane | Henry Schein, Inc | 29405 | |
5-0 braided silk with RB-1 cutting needle | Ethicon, Inc. | 774B | |
7% (w/v) solution of citric acid | Sigma-Aldrich | 251275 | |
8 mm stainless steel window frame | N/A | N/A | Custom made, Supplementary Figure 2 |
9 cm 2-0 silk tie | Ethicon, Inc. | LA55G | |
5 mm disposable biopsy punch | Integra | Â 33-35-SH | |
Blunt micro-dissecting scissors | Roboz | RS-5980 | |
Buprenorphine | Hospira | 0409-2012-32 | |
Cautery pen | Braintree Scientific | GEM 5917 | |
Chlorhexidine gluconate | Â Becton, Dickinson and Company | 260100 | ChloraPrep Single swabstick 1.75 mL |
Compressed air canister | Falcon | DPSJB-12 | |
Cyanoacrylate adhesive | Henkel Adhesives | LOC1363589 | |
Fiber-optic illuminator | O.C. White Company | FL3000 | |
Bead sterilizer | CellPoint Scientific | GERÂ 5287-120V | Germinator 500 |
Graefe forceps | Roboz | RS-5135 | |
Infrared heat lamp | Braintree Scientific | HL-1 | |
Insulin syringes | Becton Dickinson | 329424 | |
Isoflurane vaporizer | SurgiVet | VCT302 | |
Jacobson needle holder with lock | Kalson Surgical | T1-140 | |
Long cotton tip applicators | Medline Industries | MDS202055 | |
Nair | Church & Dwight Co., Inc. | 40002957 | |
Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin | Johnson & Johnson | 501373005 | Antibiotic ointmen |
Ophthalmic ointment | Dechra Veterinary Products | 17033-211-38 | |
Paper tape | Fisher Scientific | S68702 | |
Murine ventilator | Kent Scientific | PS-02 | PhysioSuite |
Rectangular Cover Glass | Corning | 2980-225 | |
Rodent intubation stand | Braintree Scientific | RIS 100 | |
Small animal lung inflation bulb | Harvard Apparatus | 72-9083 | |
Stainless steel cutting tool | N/A | N/A | Custom made, Supplementary Figure 1 |
Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim oral antibiotic | Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co. | 50383-823-16 | |
SurgiSuite Multi-Functional Surgical Platform for Mice, with Warming | Kent Scientific | SURGI-M02 | Heated surgical platform |
Tracheal catheter | Exelint International | 26746 | 22 G catheter |
Vacuum pickup system metal probe | Ted Pella, Inc. | 528-112 |
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