Harvesting Peritoneal Fat Depots: A Technique to Study Ovarian Cancer Colonization of Peritoneal Adipose Tissues in Mouse Models

As harvesting peritoneal fat depots constitutes internal organ removal, make a midline incision close to the inguinal papillae through the peritoneal wall to expose the internal organs. To excise the omental fat, expose the omental pancreatic complex by extending the spleen from the peritoneal cavity with forceps.

For the gonadal fat, use forceps to lift the gonadal fat surrounding the ovaries and excise it by cutting tissue connections. Immediately place the tissues in ice-cold PBS. Next, remove the uterine fat by using forceps to lift the uterine fat surrounding the uterine horns and excise by cutting the tissue connections before immediately placing the tissues in ice-cold PBS.

When obtaining the mesenteric fat, cut the junction between the small intestine and the pylorus. Use forceps to firmly grip the free end of the small intestine and slowly peel it away from the mesenteric fat. Release the mesenteric fat from the mesenteric root using dissecting scissors. Then, immediately place the tissues in ice-cold PBS.

Finally, to remove the splenoportal fat, lift the distal end of the spleen using forceps to expose the thin fatty band of tissue connecting the hilum of the spleen to the pancreas. Excise the splenoportal fat by first releasing it from the pancreas and then carefully dissecting it from the spleen. Then, immediately place the tissues in PBS.