The authors would like to thank Michael Goldberg for preparing stabilized siRNA solution and Heather Tobin for her assistance with the animals. This study was funded by DOD Innovator Award W81XWH-08-1-0659 to DEI. The postdoctoral training of SK was supported by the Susan G Komen foundation (KG101329). The authors would like to thank Kristin Johnson for preparation of the schematic.

1. Preparation of Injection Solution
<ol>
	<li>Prepare 0.2% Evans blue dye in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or other aqueous solution of interest. This vital dye is useful for assessing the success of intraductal injections and is recommended as a visualization aid when developing expertise in the technique.</li>
</ol>
The volume required will depend on the number and location of the glands to be injected. All 10 mammary glands of female mice can be injected but due to the smaller gland size, gland pairs 1 and 5 are typically injected with 10 &mu;l of solution. All other mammary pairs are injected with 20 &mu;l. These volumes are sufficient to fill the entire ductal tree.
2. Preoperative Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Record the body weight of each mouse. As with all preclinical studies, animal weights should be monitored regularly (twice a week or greater) to assess potential toxicity.</li>
	<li>Anesthetize the mouse using an isoflurane chamber and apply eye lubricant. During the procedure mice will continue to be anesthetized using inhaled 2-4% concentration of isoflurane in oxygen via a nose cone. Carefully monitor the mouse for changes in respiratory rate, adjusting the level of isoflurane accordingly.</li>
	<li>Inject meloxicam (5-10 mg/kg) subcutaneously prior to the procedure as analgesia.</li>
	<li>Apply an over-the-counter hair removal cream to the nipple area. Wait 5 min and gently remove loose hair with a cotton-tip applicator using a circular motion. Remove the cream using damp paper towels wetted with warm water. Shaving is not recommended due to the risk of damaging the nipples.</li>
	<li>Secure the mouse under the stereoscope by gently taping down the extremities.</li>
	<li>Clean injection sites with alcohol swabs.</li>
</ol>
3. Intraductal injection
<ol>
	<li>Locate appropriate nipples to be injected under the stereoscope. Use fine micro-dissecting tweezers to remove any dead skin that covers the nipple opening.</li>
	<li>Load 10-20 &mu;l of injection solution into a 50 &mu;l syringe with a 33 G metal hub needle affixed. Sometimes, after injection, small amounts (1 &mu;l or less) can leak out of the nipple upon pulling out the needle. Therefore, it is recommended to inject 11 or 21 &mu;l respectively to account for the potential loss.</li>
	<li>Hold the nipple gently with the fine tweezers and lift it slightly to position it for injection. It is not necessary to cut the nipple.</li>
	<li>Inject the solution slowly to minimize potential damage caused by rapidly moving fluid within the ductal lumens. The injection rate should be maintained at approximately 40 &mu;l/min.</li>
</ol>
4. Postoperative Care
<ol>
	<li>Observe the injection site. There should be no signs of trauma to the nipple region or surrounding tissue. Swelling in the area surrounding the nipple likely indicates a mammary fat pad injection rather than a successful intraductal injection.</li>
	<li>Remove the animal from the nose cone and move to a separate cage for recovery. Place the cage under a heat lamp to prevent hypothermia and assist in recovery. Mice are housed singly and will be monitored closely until they regain consciousness and mobility.</li>
</ol>
5. Analysis of Mammary Gland Tissue
<ol>
	<li>Upon completion of the study, mice are euthanized by cervical dislocation following CO2 compressed gas in an isolation chamber. Mammary glands are excised and may be used for whole mount preparation 11, histology, or RNA and protein isolation.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Dooley, W. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ductal+lavage+for+detection+of+cellular+atypia+in+women+at+high+risk+for+breast+cancer.">Ductal lavage for detection of cellular atypia in women at high risk for breast cancer.</a> J Natl Cancer Inst. 93, 1624-1632 (2001).</li><li>Jacobs, L., Sukumar, S., Stearns, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intraductal+therapy+for+the+prevention+of+breast+cancer.">Intraductal therapy for the prevention of breast cancer.</a> Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 11, 646-652 (2011).</li><li>King, B. L., Love, S. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+intraductal+approach+to+the+breast:+raison+d'etre.">The intraductal approach to the breast: raison d'etre.</a> Breast Cancer Res. 8, 206 (2006).</li><li>Murata, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ductal+access+for+prevention+and+therapy+of+mammary+tumors.">Ductal access for prevention and therapy of mammary tumors.</a> Cancer Res. 66, 638-645 (2006).</li><li>Stearns, V., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preclinical+and+clinical+evaluation+of+intraductally+administered+agents+in+early+breast+cancer.">Preclinical and clinical evaluation of intraductally administered agents in early breast cancer.</a> Sci Transl Med. 3, 106ra108 (2011).</li><li>Flanagan, M., Love, S., Hwang, E. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Status+of+Intraductal+Therapy+for+Ductal+Carcinoma+in+Situ.">Status of Intraductal Therapy for Ductal Carcinoma in Situ.</a> Curr Breast Cancer Rep. 2, 75-82 (2010).</li><li>Nguyen, D. -. A., Beeman, N., Lewis, M., Schaack, J., Neville, M. C., Ip, M. M., Asch, B. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Methods in mammary gland biology and breast cancer research. , 259-270 (2000).</li><li>Behbod, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+intraductal+human-in-mouse+transplantation+model+mimics+the+subtypes+of+ductal+carcinoma+in+situ.">An intraductal human-in-mouse transplantation model mimics the subtypes of ductal carcinoma in situ.</a> Breast Cancer Res. 11, R66 (2009).</li><li>Bu, W., Xin, L., Toneff, M., Li, L., Li, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lentivirus+vectors+for+stably+introducing+genes+into+mammary+epithelial+cells+in+vivo.">Lentivirus vectors for stably introducing genes into mammary epithelial cells in vivo.</a> J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 14, 401-404 (2009).</li><li>Reddy, J. P., Li, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+RCAS-TVA+system+for+introduction+of+oncogenes+into+selected+somatic+mammary+epithelial+cells+in+vivo.">The RCAS-TVA system for introduction of oncogenes into selected somatic mammary epithelial cells in vivo.</a> J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 14, 405-409 (2009).</li><li>Plante, I., Stewart, M. K., Laird, D. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+mammary+gland+development+and+function+in+mouse+models.">Evaluation of mammary gland development and function in mouse models.</a> J. Vis. Exp. , e2828 (2011).</li></ol>

The authors have no financial disclosures.

Transgenic and knockout mice are invaluable tools for studying the in vivo role of individual genes in breast cancer. However, it is costly and time-consuming to generate these animals and the gene knockdown is usually ubiquitous which sometimes precludes us from recognizing the specific effects of that gene on the mammary gland. Therefore, a targeted knockdown would alleviate issues of non-specific side-effects and toxicities in other organs.
The intraductal injection of siRNA presented here enables the localized gene knockdown in the mouse mammary gland. It is a rapid method for a targeted and localized drug delivery to the mammary gland not limited to siRNA delivery. Such a mammary gland-specific drug delivery avoids unspecific side-effects and toxicity to other organs and allows for the study of gene alterations at specific time points during mammary gland development and breast tumor formation. There is no evidence of siRNA particles in non-injected glands, the liver or other organs providing further evidence that this method presents a preferred way for localized gene knockdown in the mammary gland. Furthermore, the intraductal injections can be repeated weekly or biweekly over several months to allow for long-term monitoring of therapeutic agents.
This technique opens up the possibility for assaying the intraductal delivery of various reagents to the mouse mammary ducts. Advances in localized delivery in well-characterized mouse models should accelerate the application of non-invasive, targeted therapeutic strategies in humans.

The mouse mammary gland is composed of a complex ductal-alveolar tree that converges into a central duct at the nipple. In mice as well as humans, the majority of breast tumors originate in the epithelial cells lining the milk ducts. Current available treatments include intravenous chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Localized intraductal treatments have been explored 1-3 and offer significant advantages in terms of reduced toxicity and side effects. However, several challenges remain before these can be applied more widely. The ability to perform comparable procedures in the mouse mammary gland facilitates the characterization of intraductal interventions. Here we present a non-invasive method for the delivery of reagents directly into the mouse mammary duct.
Intraductal delivery of chemotherapeutic agents in both breast cancer patients and mouse models has previously been shown to be highly effective with no evidence of systemic toxicity or long-term histopathological changes 3-6. Furthermore, tumor cell injection and lentiviral vector delivery of oncogenes have been shown previously to be feasible via intraductal injection 7-10.
In addition to drug delivery, this procedure is useful for local silencing of mammary gland genes through intraductal injection of siRNA. Injection of small volumes of siRNA solution is effective without altering the anatomy and physiology of the mammary gland. In our laboratory we have recently shown successful silencing of key mediator genes in transgenic mice that spontaneously develop mammary tumors resulting in prevention of tumor progression (Brock et al., unpublished). We have been able to repeat biweekly injections into the same nipples up to 7 times in 2-week intervals with no visible tissue damage or toxicity.
Intraductal injections can be timed in an adult mouse to address developmentally-specific events relevant to mammary gland development during pregnancy, lactation, and involution or to target later stages during tumor development and progression. Virgin females as young as 8 weeks of age have been injected non-invasively in our laboratory.

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Name of Reagent/Material</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>isoflurane</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>2-4%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>meloxicam</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>5-10 mg/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Evans blue dye</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>E2129-10G</td>
			<td>0.2% in PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>hair removing cream</td>
			<td>Veet</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>Choose sensitive option</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>stereoscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td>Stemi DV4</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>micro-dissecting tweezers</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>rs-4976</td>
			<td>With a 0.10 x 0.06 mm tip made of dumostar</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hamilton syringe</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>7637-01</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>33-gauge needle</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>7803-05</td>
			<td>point style 4, 12 degree bevel (standard)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>siGLO cyclophilin B control siRNA</td>
			<td>Dharmacon</td>
			<td>D-001610-01-05</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

intraductal injection for localized drug delivery to the mouse mammary gland

Herein we describe a protocol to deliver various reagents to the mouse mammary gland via intraductal injections. Localized drug delivery and knock-down of genes within the mammary epithelium has been difficult to achieve due to the lack of appropriate targeting molecules that are independent of developmental stages such as pregnancy and lactation. Herein, we describe a technique for localized delivery of reagents to the mammary gland at any stage in adulthood via intraductal injection into the nipples of mice. The injections can be performed on live mice, under anesthesia, and allow for a non-invasive and localized drug delivery to the mammary gland. Furthermore, the injections can be repeated over several months without damaging the nipple. Vital dyes such as Evans Blue are very helpful to learn the technique. Upon intraductal injection of the blue dye, the entire ductal tree becomes visible to the eye. Furthermore, fluorescently labeled reagents also allow for visualization and distribution within the mammary gland. This technique is adaptable for a variety of compounds including siRNA, chemotherapeutic agents, and small molecules.

The nipples can be easily localized using a stereomicroscope once hair has been removed in the area surrounding it (Figure 1A). To master the injection technique, it is recommended to inject Evans blue dye and monitor the integrity of the gland (Figures 1B and C). This approach also allows for the determination of appropriate volumes to be injected into each gland as one can visually assess whether the dye reaches the entire ductal system (Figures 1C and 2A). An image of the injected Evans blue image can then be compared to the whole-mounted mammary gland, in which the entire ductal tree is stained with Carmine alum dye (Figure 2B).
Please note that robustness of this injection method is highly dependent on the operator. For example, perforating the duct will result in a mammary fat pad injection and injecting the solution too fast may damage the ductal epithelial cells and provoke an inflammatory response. Successful intraductal injection enables the localized drug delivery to the mammary gland and reduces non-specific side-effects often observed otherwise.
An example image of a gland injected with fluorescently tagged siRNA targeting cyclophilin (a non-essential gene) is shown in Figure 3.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/50692/50692fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1. An inguinal mammary gland injected through the nipple with Evans blue dye. A) Appearance of the nipple before injection and B) after injection with 20 &mu;l Evans blue dye. No swelling or tissue damage is observed. C) Upon opening the skin, the dye permits visualization of the entire mammary ductal tree.
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/50692/50692fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2. Whole-mount analysis of Evans blue-injected gland. A) Representative image of a dissected gland excised from the animal and spread onto a glass slide immediately after injection. B) Whole mount staining of the same gland with carmine dye after fat had been cleared. Comparison with A) confirms that the injected solution fills the mammary ductal tree and the gland is anatomically intact.
<img alt="Figure 3" src="/files/ftp_upload/50692/50692fig3.jpg" /> 
Figure 3. Intraductal delivery of fluorescent siRNA. Representative image of fresh tissue sample, excised 48 hr postinjection.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Intraductal Injection for Localized Drug Delivery to the Mouse Mammary Gland at JoVE.com

Intraductal Injection for Localized Drug Delivery to the Mouse Mammary Gland

A protocol for the non-invasive intraductal delivery of aqueous reagents to the mouse mammary gland is described. The method takes advantage of localized injection into the nipples of mammary glands targeting mammary ducts specifically. This technique is adaptable for a variety of compounds including siRNA, chemotherapeutic agents and small molecules.

Herein we describe a protocol to deliver various reagents to the mouse mammary gland via intraductal injections. Localized drug delivery and knock-down of ...

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34.9K Views.  Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. A protocol for the non-invasive intraductal delivery of aqueous reagents to the mouse mammary gland is described. The method takes advantage of localized injection into the nipples of mammary glands targeting mammary ducts specifically. This technique is adaptable for a variety of compounds including siRNA, chemotherapeutic agents and small molecules.

Video: Intraductal Injection for Localized Drug Delivery to the Mouse Mammary Gland

Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells form Mammospheres During Lactogenic Differentiation

A phenotypic measure commonly used to determine the degree of lactogenic differentiation in mouse mammary epithelial cell cultures is the formation of dome shaped cell structures referred to as mammospheres 1. The HC11 cell line has been employed as a model system for the study of regulation of mammary lactogenic differentiation both in vitro and in vivo 2. The HC11 cells differentiate and synthesize milk proteins in response to treatment with lactogenic hormones. Following the growth of HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells to confluence, lactogenic differentiation was induced by the addition of a combination of lactogenic hormones including dexamethasone, insulin, and prolactin, referred to as DIP. The HC11 cells induced to differentiate were photographed at times up to 120 hours post induction of differentiation and the number of mammospheres that appeared in each culture was enumerated. The size of the individual mammospheres correlates with the degree of differentiation and this is depicted in the images of the differentiating cells.

HC11 lactogenic differentiation can be characterized by the formation of domed structures referred to as mammospheres. The structures can be enumerated by phase contrast microscopy to aid in quantifying lactogenic differentiation.

A phenotypic measure commonly used to determine the degree of lactogenic differentiation in mouse mammary epithelial cell cultures is the formation of ...

Changes in Mammary Gland Morphology and Breast Cancer Risk in Rats

Studies in rodent models of breast cancer show that exposures to dietary/hormonal factors during the in utero and pubertal periods, when the mammary gland undergoes extensive modeling and re-modeling, alter susceptibility to carcinogen-induced mammary tumors. Similar findings have been described in humans: for example, high birthweight increases later risk of developing breast cancer, and dietary intake of soy during childhood decreases breast cancer risk. It is thought that these prenatal and postnatal dietary modifications induce persistent morphological changes in the mammary gland that in turn modify breast cancer risk later in life. These morphological changes likely reflect epigenetic modifications, such as changes in DNA methylation, histones and miRNA expression that then affect gene transcription . In this article we describe how changes in mammary gland morphology can predict mammary cancer risk in rats. Our protocol specifically describes how to dissect and remove the rat abdominal mammary gland and how to prepare mammary gland whole mounts. It also describes how to analyze mammary gland morphology according to three end-points (number of terminal end buds, epithelial elongation and differentiation) and to use the data to predict risk of developing mammary cancer.

Our protocol describes how to dissect the rat abdominal mammary gland and how to prepare mammary gland whole mounts. It also describes how to analyze mammary gland morphology using three end-points (number of terminal end buds, epithelial elongation and differentiation) and to use these results to predict mammary cancer risk in rats which were exposed to dietary modifications in utero or during prepuberty.

Studies in rodent models of breast cancer show that exposures to dietary/hormonal factors during the in utero and pubertal periods, when the mammary gland ...

Evaluation of Mammary Gland Development and Function in Mouse Models

The human mammary gland is composed of 15-20 lobes that secrete milk into a branching duct system opening at the nipple. Those lobes are themselves composed of a number of terminal duct lobular units made of secretory alveoli and converging ducts1. In mice, a similar architecture is observed at pregnancy in which ducts and alveoli are interspersed within the connective tissue stroma. The mouse mammary gland epithelium is a tree like system of ducts composed of two layers of cells, an inner layer of luminal cells surrounded by an outer layer of myoepithelial cells denoted by the confines of a basement membrane2. At birth, only a rudimental ductal tree is present, composed of a primary duct and 15-20 branches. Branch elongation and amplification start at the beginning of puberty, around 4 weeks old, under the influence of hormones3,4,5. At 10 weeks, most of the stroma is invaded by a complex system of ducts that will undergo cycles of branching and regression in each estrous cycle until pregnancy2. At the onset of pregnancy, a second phase of development begins, with the proliferation and differentiation of the epithelium to form grape-shaped milk secretory structures called alveoli6,7. Following parturition and throughout lactation, milk is produced by luminal secretory cells and stored within the lumen of alveoli. Oxytocin release, stimulated by a neural reflex induced by suckling of pups, induces synchronized contractions of the myoepithelial cells around the alveoli and along the ducts, allowing milk to be transported through the ducts to the nipple where it becomes available to the pups 8. Mammary gland development, differentiation and function are tightly orchestrated and require, not only interactions between the stroma and the epithelium, but also between myoepithelial and luminal cells within the epithelium9,10,11. Thereby, mutations in many genes implicated in these interactions may impair either ductal elongation during puberty or alveoli formation during early pregnancy, differentiation during late pregnancy and secretory activation leading to lactation12,13. In this article, we describe how to dissect mouse mammary glands and assess their development using whole mounts. We also demonstrate how to evaluate myoepithelial contractions and milk ejection using an ex-vivo oxytocin-based functional assay. The effect of a gene mutation on mammary gland development and function can thus be determined in situ by performing these two techniques in mutant and wild-type control mice.

This method describes how to dissect and assess mammary gland development and function from mice. Excised mammary glands are assessed for the degree of development using whole mount while milk ejection is evaluated using an oxytocin-based myoepithelial cell contraction assay.

The human mammary gland is composed of 15-20 lobes that secrete milk into a branching duct system opening at the nipple. Those lobes are themselves ...

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa

Spermatozoa are quite unique amongst cell types. Although produced in the testis, both nuclear gene transcription and translation are switched off once the pre-cursor round cell begins to elongate and differentiate into what is morphologically recognized as a spermatozoon. However, the spermatozoon is very immature, having no ability for motility or egg recognition. Both of these events occur once the spermatozoa transit a secondary organ known as the epididymis. During the ~12 day passage that it takes for a sperm cell to pass through the epididymis, post-translational modifications of existing proteins play a pivotal role in the maturation of the cell. One major facet of such is protein phosphorylation. In order to characterize phosphorylation events taking place during sperm maturation, both pure sperm cell populations and pre-fractionation of phosphopeptides must be established. Using back flushing techniques, a method for the isolation of pure spermatozoa of high quality and yield from the distal or caudal epididymides is outlined. The steps for solubilization, digestion, and pre-fractionation of sperm phosphopeptides through TiO2 affinity chromatography are explained. Once isolated, phosphopeptides can be injected into MS to identify both protein phosphorylation events on specific amino acid residues and quantify the levels of phosphorylation taking place during the sperm maturation processes.

Proteomic analysis of any cell type is highly dependent on both purity and pre-fractionation of the starting material in order to de-complexify the sample prior to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (MS). By using back-flushing techniques, pure spermatozoa can be obtained from rodents. Following digestion, phosphopeptides can be enriched using TiO2.

Spermatozoa are quite unique amongst cell types. Although produced in the testis, both nuclear gene transcription and translation are switched off once ...

Indirect Immunofluorescence on Frozen Sections of Mouse Mammary Gland

Indirect immunofluorescence is used to detect and locate proteins of interest in a tissue. The protocol presented here describes a complete and simple method for the immune detection of proteins, the mouse lactating mammary gland being taken as an example. A protocol for the preparation of the tissue samples, especially concerning the dissection of mouse mammary gland, tissue fixation and frozen tissue sectioning, are detailed. A standard protocol to perform indirect immunofluorescence, including an optional antigen retrieval step, is also presented. The observation of the labeled tissue sections as well as image acquisition and post-treatments are also stated. This procedure gives a full overview, from the collection of animal tissue to the cellular localization of a protein. Although this general method can be applied to other tissue samples, it should be adapted to each tissue/primary antibody couple studied.

The indirect immunofluorescence protocol described in this article allows the detection and the localization of proteins in the mouse mammary gland. A complete method is given to prepare mammary gland samples, to perform immunohistochemistry, to image the tissue sections by fluorescence microscopy, and to reconstruct images.

Indirect immunofluorescence is used to detect and locate proteins of interest in a tissue. The protocol presented here describes a complete and simple ...

A Comparative Study of Drug Delivery Methods Targeted to the Mouse Inner Ear: Bullostomy Versus Transtympanic Injection

We present two minimally invasive microsurgical techniques in rodents for specific drug delivery into the middle ear so that it may reach the inner ear. The first procedure consists of perforation of the tympanic bulla, termed bullostomy; the second one is a transtympanic injection. Both emulate human clinical intratympanic procedures.
Chitosan-glycerophosphate (CGP) and Ringer&#180;s Lactate buffer (RL) were used as biocompatible vehicles for local drug delivery. CGP is a nontoxic biodegradable polymer widely used in pharmaceutical applications. It is a viscous liquid at RT&#160;but it congeals to a semi solid phase at body temperature. RL is an isotonic solution used for intravenous administrations in humans. A small volume of this vehicle is precisely placed on the Round Window (RW) niche by means of a bullostomy. A transtympanic injection fills the middle ear and allows less control but broader access to the inner ear.
The safety profiles of both techniques were studied and compared by using functional and morphological tests. Hearing was evaluated by registering the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) before and several times after microsurgery. The cytoarchitecture and preservation level of cochlear structures were studied by conventional histological techniques in paraformaldehyde-fixed and decalcified cochlear samples. In parallel, unfixed cochlear samples were taken and immediately frozen to analyze gene expression profiles of inflammatory markers by quantitative Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).
Both procedures are suitable as drug delivery methods into the mouse middle ear, although transtympanic injection proved to be less invasive compared to bullostomy.

A Comparative Study of Drug Delivery Methods Targeted to the Mouse Inner Ear: Bullostomy Versus Transtympanic Injection

Two microsurgery approaches for local drug delivery to the inner ear are described here and compared in terms of impact on hearing parameters, cochlear cytoarchitecture and expression of inflammatory markers.

We present two minimally invasive microsurgical techniques in rodents for specific drug delivery into the middle ear so that it may reach the inner ear. ...

Isolation of Intact, Whole Mouse Mammary Glands for Analysis of Extracellular Matrix Expression and Gland Morphology

The goal of this procedure was to harvest the #4 abdominal mammary glands from female nulliparous mice in order to assess ECM expression and ductal architecture. Here, a small pocket below the skin was created using Mayo scissors, allowing separation of the glands within the subcutaneous tissue from the underlying peritoneum. Visualization of the glands was aided by the use of 3.5x-R surgical micro loupes. The pelt was inverted and pinned back allowing identification of the intact mammary fat pads. Each of the #4 abdominal glands was bluntly dissected by sliding the scalpel blade laterally between the subcutaneous layer and the glands. Immediately post-harvest, glands were placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for subsequent tissue processing. Excision of the entire gland is advantageous because it primarily eliminates the risk of excluding important tissue-wide interactions between ductal epithelial cells and other microenvironmental cellular populations that could be missed in a partial biopsy. One drawback of the methodology is the use of serial sections from fixed tissues which limits analyses of ductal morphogenesis and protein expression to discrete locations within the gland. As such, changes in ductal architecture and protein expression in 3 dimensions (3D) is not readily obtainable. Overall, the technique is applicable to studies requiring whole intact murine mammary glands for downstream investigations such as developmental ductal morphogenesis or breast cancer.

Here, we present a protocol for the isolation of whole, intact mouse mammary glands to investigate extracellular matrix (ECM) expression and ductal morphology. Mouse #4 abdominal glands were extracted from 8-10 week old female nulliparous mice, fixed in neutral buffered formalin, sectioned and stained using immunohistochemistry for ECM proteins.

The goal of this procedure was to harvest the #4 abdominal mammary glands from female nulliparous mice in order to assess ECM expression and ductal ...

Partial Bile Duct Ligation in the Mouse: A Controlled Model of Localized Obstructive Cholestasis

In rodents, complete bile duct ligation (cBDL) of the common bile duct is an established surgical technique for studying obstructive cholestasis and bile duct proliferation. However, long-term experiments can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. In select mouse strains with underlying liver disease, meaningful comparisons can be made even with ligation of a single lobe of the liver, which can reduce animal losses and expenses. Here, we describe partial bile duct ligation (pBDL) in the mouse, in which only the left hepatic bile duct is ligated, causing biliary obstruction in the left lobe but not the remaining lobes. With careful microsurgical technique, pBDL experiments can be cost-effective, since the unligated lobe serves as an internal control to the ligated lobes, when subjected to the same conditions in the same animal. Unlike cBDL, a separate sham-operated control group is not necessary. pBDL is highly useful to directly compare localized versus systemic effects of cholestasis and other retained bile components. pBDL can also be repurposed as a novel method to investigate mechanisms related to medications and cell migration.

Here, we present partial bile duct ligation as a surgical model of liver injury and regeneration in rodents.

In rodents, complete bile duct ligation (cBDL) of the common bile duct is an established surgical technique for studying obstructive cholestasis and bile ...

Trans-inner Cell Mass Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells Leads to Higher Chimerism Rates

In an effort to increase efficiency in the creation of genetically modified mice via ES Cell methodologies, we present an adaptation to the current blastocyst injection protocol. Here we report that a simple rotation of the embryo, and injection through Trans-Inner cell mass (TICM) increased the percentage of chimeric mice from 31% to 50%, with no additional equipment or further specialized training. 26 different inbred clones, and 35 total clones were injected over a period of 9 months. There was no significant difference in either pregnancy rate or recovery rate of embryos between traditional injection techniques and TICM. Therefore, without any major alteration in the injection process and a simple positioning of the blastocyst and injecting through the ICM, releasing the ES cells into the blastocoel cavity can potentially improve the quantity of chimeric production and subsequent germline transmission.

Here we present a protocol to increase chimera production without the use of new equipment. A simple orientation change of the embryo for injection can increase the number of embryos produced, and potentially reduce the timeline to germline transmission.

In an effort to increase efficiency in the creation of genetically modified mice via ES Cell methodologies, we present an adaptation to the current ...

Laser-assisted Lentiviral Gene Delivery to Mouse Fertilized Eggs

Lentiviruses are efficient vectors for gene delivery to mammalian cells. Following transduction, the lentiviral genome is stably incorporated into the host chromosome and is passed on to progeny. Thus, they are ideal vectors for creation of stable cell lines, in vivo delivery of indicators, and transduction of single cell fertilized eggs to create transgenic animals. However, mouse fertilized eggs and early stage embryos are protected by the zona pellucida, a glycoprotein matrix that forms a barrier against lentiviral gene delivery. Lentiviruses are too large to penetrate the zona and are typically delivered by microinjection of viral particles into the perivitelline cavity, the space between the zona and the embryonic cells. The requirement for highly skilled technologists and specialized equipment has minimized the use of lentiviruses for gene delivery to mouse embryos. This article describes a protocol for permeabilizing the mouse fertilized eggs by perforating the zona with a laser. Laser-perforation does not result in any damage to embryos and allows lentiviruses to gain access to embryonic cells for gene delivery. Transduced embryos can develop into blastocyst in vitro, and if implanted in pseudopregnant mice, develop into transgenic pups. The laser used in this protocol is effective and easy to use. Genes delivered by lentiviruses stably incorporate into mouse embryonic cells and are germline transmittable. This is an alternative method for creation of transgenic mice that requires no micromanipulation and microinjection of fertilized eggs.

Mouse fertilized eggs and early stage embryos are protected by the zona pellucida, a glycoprotein matrix that forms a barrier against gene delivery. This article describes a protocol for perforating the zona with a laser to transduce embryonic cells with lentiviral vectors and to create transgenic mice.

Lentiviruses are efficient vectors for gene delivery to mammalian cells. Following transduction, the lentiviral genome is stably incorporated into the ...

Intraductal Injection for Localized Drug Delivery to the Mouse Mammary Gland

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Trans-inner Cell Mass Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells Leads to Higher Chimerism Rates

Laser-assisted Lentiviral Gene Delivery to Mouse Fertilized Eggs