Extracting Prostate from Mouse Urogenital System: A Technique to Separate Prostate Gland from Other Urinary and Genital System Organs in Male Mouse

The urogenital system, or UGS, includes the organs of the urinary and reproductive systems located in proximity to each other. The seminal vesicles, prostate gland, testis, and ductus deferens are parts of the reproductive system, while the urinary bladder and urethra are parts of the urinary system.

To isolate the prostate gland, begin by positioning a euthanized male mouse in the supine position on a surgical bed. Incise the abdominal skin and muscle layer. Continue to cut across the midline to expose the abdominal cavity.

Now, locate the fluid-filled urinary bladder. Use forceps to pull it up and lift the entire UGS from the mouse's abdomen. Use scissors to cut the tissues underlying the UGS, till the spine, to sever any connections to the abdominal cavity. Place the harvested UGS, dorsal side up, in dissecting media and observe it under the microscope.

Next, snip the bladder from its base to expose the underlying prostate gland. Invert the UGS to locate the two tube-like ductus deferens. Cut them from the base leaving behind the prostate, seminal vesicles, and urethra. Trace both semicircular seminal vesicles and incise them at their base. The resultant tissue contains the prostate lobes wrapped around the urethra.