Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction Murine Model: A Surgical Procedure to Obstruct the Urinary Flow from a Kidney in Mouse Models

To perform the unilateral ureteral obstruction or UUO, make an incision in the skin at the abdomen and cut the muscle and peritoneal membrane. Place a 2.5-milliliter syringe underneath the mouse. Moisten two cotton swabs with PBS. Then, pull the intestines carefully to the side with the tweezers and place the swabs to identify the left ureter.

Use the tweezers to lift the left kidney. Use 4-0 silk to ligate the left ureter in two places approximately 1 centimeter apart. Cut the ureter at the center point of the two ligations and then use 4-0 nylon sutures to close the peritoneal membrane and incision.