This work was supported by a Wisconsin Partnership Program New Investigator Award (ID 2832), a National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute R01 Grant (HL-068673) and a T32 training Grant (HL-110853). We thank Dr. Melina Kibbe&#8217;s group at Northwestern University for providing helpful information.

NOTE: Ethics Statement: All procedures conform to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Academies Press, 8th edition, 2011),&#160;&#160;and protocols approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of Wisconsin. All surgeries were performed under isoflurane anesthesia (through inhaling, flow rate 2 ml/min), and all efforts were made to minimize suffering. Animals were euthanized in a chamber gradually filled with CO2.
1. Induction of General Anesthesia and Skin Incision
<ol>
	<li>Use male C57BL/6 mice with an age of 12&#8211;16 weeks and weight of 23&#8211;28 g. Anesthetize the animal by isoflurane through a closed-circuit anesthetic apparatus. Confirm proper anesthetization by pinching its toe. Apply some artificial tears ointment on eyes to prevent dryness.</li>
	<li>Place the mouse in a supine position with the left hind limb slightly abducted and the knee joint slightly flexed. Shave the hair around the left upper thigh region and disinfect the skin with&#160;Chlorhexidine, applied three times using sterile cotton tipped applicators. Use a hot bead sterilizer to keep the instruments sterilized during the surgery.</li>
	<li>Place a sterilized gauze drape over the left leg. Make a 1.5 cm straight, longitudinal skin incision on the left medial thigh from the knee joint&#160;to the groin (Figure 1A).</li>
</ol>
2. Exposure of Femoral Artery and Branches
NOTE: Figure 1B shows the gross vasculature anatomy in the upper thigh. The superficial femoral artery (SFA) can be observed through a dissecting microscope when the skin incision is properly made along the midline of the medial thigh.
<ol>
	<li>Open up the thin fascia overlying the SFA with fine tweezers and then loop the SFA with 9-0 nylon suture. 
	NOTE: In this process, the femoral nerve is easily put aside, but the adjacent femoral vein requires close attention because its wall is so thin that it easily perforates and bleeds. The key technique is to focus on the artery itself; as long as the dissection is carried out close to the artery, any accidental vein damage is avoidable.</li>
	<li>Once the SFA is looped, hold the suture with mosquito forceps and pull it slightly downward. This maneuver makes further dissection easier, but to avoid damaging the artery do not pull too forcefully.</li>
	<li>Continue dissecting the artery proximally to expose and loop the common femoral artery (CFA) with 9-0 nylon suture. 
	NOTE: Usually, looping the CFA at a point distal to the epigastric artery (Figure 1B) is enough for wire insertion. Hold the CFA suture loop with mosquito forceps in the same way.</li>
	<li>Pull the CFA suture loop upward and the SFA suture loop downward to uncover the bifurcation of SFA and deep femoral artery (DFA). The DFA, the major branch of the CFA, goes toward the thigh muscle (Figure 1B). 
	NOTE: The wire will be inserted from the DFA later.</li>
	<li>Loop the DFA with extra caution because the adjacent vein is tangled beneath the artery. In case of bleeding from the vein, a 30- to 60 sec&#160;simple compression with gauze is usually sufficient to produce hemostasis.</li>
	<li>Once the DFA is looped with 9-0 nylon suture, make sure all three suture loops are at their correct positions (Figure 2A).</li>
	<li>Proceed with the dissection of the DFA distally to ligate the artery at a point as far as possible from the bifurcation. Cut extra suture but leave a certain length so that the two ends can be held with mosquito forceps, which stabilize the DFA making the wire insertion easier.</li>
</ol>
3. Creating Wire Injury
<ol>
	<li>Insert Wire via DFA
	<ol>
		<li>Strain the CFA, SFA, and DFA sutures to establish a temporary hemostat.</li>
		<li>Make a small hole in the DFA with microscissors. Insert the tips of the curved microtweezers to dilate the hole large enough for a wire with a 0.015 inch diameter (Figure 2B demonstrates the size difference between the artery and the wire).
		<ol>
			<li>Before making a hole in the DFA, loosen the CFA suture loop and gently clamp/squeeze the DFA several times with dull-tipped microtweezers. This maneuver expands the arterial diameter remarkably to ease the wire insertion. Moistening the wire thoroughly with PBS is also important for a smooth insertion.</li>
			<li>When making a hole in the DFA, do not crop the arterial wall, but make a small v-shaped nip and pinch the flap with sharp-tipped microtweezers for manipulation.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Insert the wire through the adequately-dilated hole on the DFA. Gently advance the wire toward the iliac artery while loosening the suture loop around the CFA. 5&#8211;8 mm is enough to cover all the CFA length in most cases (Figure 2C). Do not insert the wire forcefully as an arterial perforation usually results in loss of the mouse. Shortening the wire to about 15-mm in length helps with handling.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Leave Wire inside for 1 Min
	<ol>
		<li>After inserting the wire to the optimal length, leave it for 1 min to overstretch the arterial wall. Moisten the wire and arteries with PBS to prevent drying. Another 9-0 nylon suture can be placed around the DFA proximal to the wire-insertion point during this waiting time. This suture will be used later to close the hole on the DFA following removal of the wire.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Retrieve Wire and Resume the Blood Flow
	<ol>
		<li>Hold the wire with vessel cannulation forceps, and pull it back gently; the wire should be retrieved smoothly. To overcome any resistance, usually caused by adherence of the wire to the arterial wall, pulling back the wire with gentle rotation is helpful. Again, a forceful maneuver could result in animal loss.</li>
		<li>After retrieving the wire, ligate the DFA at the point of bifurcation with 9-0 nylon suture. Do not ligate too close to the bifurcation, which would jeopardize the blood outflow to the SFA.</li>
		<li>Loosen the SFA and CFA suture loops to resume the normal blood flow. Note that the CFA is well-expanded by wire insertion (Figure 2D).</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
4. Skin Closure and Postoperative Care
<ol>
	<li>Control bleeds. Minor oozing can be stopped by simple compression; some major arterial bleeds will require stitches with a 11-0 nylon suture. These sutured arteries will eventually result in arterial occlusion.</li>
	<li>Close the skin wound with skin staplers (usually 3&#8211;4 staples). Keep the wound area sterilized by&#160;applying Chlorhexidine surgical solution.</li>
	<li>Apply post-surgery treatments. Control the pain of the mouse with subcutaneous injections of buprenorphine. Keep the mouse on the warming pad until it has regained sufficient consciousness to maintain sternal recumbency. House it in a clean cage without company of other animals until fully recovered.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Dzau, V. J., Braun-Dullaeus, R. C., Sedding, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vascular+proliferation+and+atherosclerosis:+new+perspectives+and+therapeutic+strategies.">Vascular proliferation and atherosclerosis: new perspectives and therapeutic strategies.</a> Nat Med. 8 (11), 1249-1256 (2002).</li><li>Hui, D. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intimal+hyperplasia+in+murine+models.">Intimal hyperplasia in murine models.</a> Curr Drug Targets. 9 (3), 251-260 (2008).</li><li>Ferns, G. A., Avades, T. 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+mechanisms+of+coronary+restenosis:+insights+from+experimental+models.">The mechanisms of coronary restenosis: insights from experimental models.</a> Int J Exp Pathol. 81 (2), 63-88 (2000).</li><li>Sata, M., 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=A+mouse+model+of+vascular+injury+that+induces+rapid+onset+of+medial+cell+apoptosis+followed+by+reproducible+neointimal+hyperplasia.">A mouse model of vascular injury that induces rapid onset of medial cell apoptosis followed by reproducible neointimal hyperplasia.</a> J Mol Cell Cardiol. 32 (11), 2097-2104 (2000).</li><li>Xu, Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+models+of+arteriosclerosis:+from+arterial+injuries+to+vascular+grafts.">Mouse models of arteriosclerosis: from arterial injuries to vascular grafts.</a> Am J Pathol. 165 (1), 1-10 (2004).</li><li>Lv, L., Meng, Q., Ye, M., Wang, P., Xue, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=STAT4+deficiency+protects+against+neointima+formation+following+arterial+injury+in+mice.">STAT4 deficiency protects against neointima formation following arterial injury in mice.</a> J Mol Cell Cardiol. 74C, 284-294 (2014).</li><li>Zhu, B., Kuhel, D. G., Witte, D. P., Hui, D. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Apolipoprotein+E+inhibits+neointimal+hyperplasia+after+arterial+injury+in+mice.">Apolipoprotein E inhibits neointimal hyperplasia after arterial injury in mice.</a> Am J Pathol. 157 (6), 1839-1848 (2000).</li><li>Fu, Y., Duru, E. A., Davies, M. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+metabolic+syndrome+on+the+response+to+arterial+injury.">Effect of metabolic syndrome on the response to arterial injury.</a> J Surg Res. , (2014).</li><li>Kuhel, D. G., Zhu, B., Witte, D. P., Hui, D. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distinction+in+genetic+determinants+for+injury-induced+neointimal+hyperplasia+and+diet-induced+atherosclerosis+in+inbred+mice.">Distinction in genetic determinants for injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia and diet-induced atherosclerosis in inbred mice.</a> Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 22 (6), 955-960 (2002).</li><li>Cooley, B. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+strain+differential+neointimal+response+in+vein+grafts+and+wire-injured+arteries.">Mouse strain differential neointimal response in vein grafts and wire-injured arteries.</a> Circ J. 71 (10), 1649-1652 (2007).</li><li>Ishigami, N., 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=Deficiency+of+CuZn+superoxide+dismutase+promotes+inflammation+and+alters+medial+structure+following+vascular+injury.">Deficiency of CuZn superoxide dismutase promotes inflammation and alters medial structure following vascular injury.</a> J Atheroscler Thromb. 18 (11), 1009-1017 (2011).</li></ol>

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

The wire injury procedure is applicable to all strains of mice as long as their anatomical structures are similar.4 In this paper, we used male C57BL/6 mice with an age of 12&#8211;16 weeks. As we have learned from our preliminary studies, the femoral arteries of mice younger than 10 weeks are often so small that wire insertion is quite challenging. On the other hand, wire insertion in mice older than 16 weeks is technically easier but tends to result in more variable neointimal hyperplasia. Female mice tend t...

In the era of expanded application of endovascular treatments for various cardiovascular diseases, restenosis after angioplasty is one of the major problems for patients undergoing such treatments. Damage to the vascular endothelium at the time of angioplasty, in concert with the atherosclerotic background, induces excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation in the medial layer, resulting in neointimal hyperplasia.1,2 A viable animal model that recapitulates post-angioplasty neointimal hyperplasia is, thus, important not only for the investigation of disease mechanisms but also for the development of effective therapeutics to treat this pathology.
Mice represent an excellent model animal to recapitulate neointimal hyperplasia for the following reasons: the genetic backgrounds of experimental mice are well established; a wide variety of genetically-modified strains are available;2 obtaining littermates of the same background is easy; and the cost of the animals is relatively low. Arterial ligation model and wire injury model are the two most common mouse models of mechanically-induced neointimal hyperplasia. The arterial ligation model is easy to create, but physiologically dissimilar to the actual angioplasty procedure. The wire injury model closely mimics actual angioplasty procedures but is technically difficult due to the small size of mouse arteries.2,3 Sata et al. first described a wire injury method for mouse femoral arteries based on the anatomical structure of the vasculature and the use of proper-sized flexible wire. Utilizing this technique, they succeeded in reproducibly inducing neointimal hyperplasia in various strains of mice.4
Although femoral wire injury is a well-established model, some of the technical aspects of the technique are highly challenging compared to other models such as ligation.5 The purpose of this paper is to describe our mouse wire injury model procedures in detail, which is a modified version of Sata&#8217;s original method. We have made two main modifications: 1) Looping only the arteries, and 2) No lidocaine use.

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a murine model of arterial restenosis: technical aspects of femoral wire injury

Cardiovascular disease caused by atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the developed world. Narrowing of the vessel lumen, due to atherosclerotic plaque development or the rupturing of established plaques, interrupts normal blood flow leading to various morbidities such as myocardial infarction and stroke. In the clinic endovascular procedures such as angioplasty are commonly performed to reopen the lumen. However, these treatments inevitably damage the vessel wall as well as the vascular endothelium, triggering an excessive healing response and the development of a neointimal plaque that extends into the lumen causing vessel restenosis (re-narrowing). Restenosis remains a major cause of failure of endovascular treatments for atherosclerosis. Thus, preclinical animal models of restenosis are vitally important for investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms as well as translational approaches to vascular interventions. Among several murine experimental models, femoral artery wire injury is widely accepted as the most suitable for studies of post-angioplasty restenosis because it closely resembles the angioplasty procedure that injures both endothelium and vessel wall. However, many researchers have difficulty utilizing this model due to its high degree of technical difficulty. This is primarily because a metal wire needs to be inserted into the femoral artery, which is approximately three times thinner than the wire, to generate sufficient injury to induce prominent neointima. Here, we describe the essential surgical details to effectively overcome the major technical difficulties of this model. By following the presented procedures, performing the mouse femoral artery wire injury becomes easier. Once familiarized, the whole procedure can be completed within 20 min.

Four weeks following surgery, harvest the wire-injured femoral artery and make a paraffin block specimen to analyze the neointima formation. Induce general anesthesia as described above. Open the chest immediately and insert a 20-gauge butterfly needle to the left ventricle. Connect the line to an infusion bottle. Perform perfusion fixation via drip infusion of PBS followed by 4 % paraformaldehyde (usually 10&#8211;20 ml, each). The infusion bottle is placed approximately 140 cm higher than the heart level so th...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Murine Model of Arterial Restenosis: Technical Aspects of Femoral Wire Injury at JoVE.com

A Murine Model of Arterial Restenosis: Technical Aspects of Femoral Wire Injury

The mouse femoral artery wire injury model of restenosis is technically challenging. In this protocol we show the key technical details essential for successfully performing wire injury to induce consistent&#160;neointima for studies of restenosis.

Cardiovascular disease caused by atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the developed world. Narrowing of the vessel lumen, due to ...

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19.9K Views.  University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The mouse femoral artery wire injury model of restenosis is technically challenging. In this protocol we show the key technical details essential for successfully performing wire injury to induce consistent neointima for studies of restenosis.

Video: A Murine Model of Arterial Restenosis: Technical Aspects of Femoral Wire Injury

Microsurgical Venous Pouch Arterial-Bifurcation Aneurysms in the Rabbit Model: Technical Aspects

For ruptured human cerebral aneurysms endovascular embolization has become an equivalent alternative to aneurysm clipping.1 However, large clinical trials have shown disappointing long-term results with unacceptable high rates of aneurysm recanalization and delayed aneurysm rupture.2 To overcome these problems, animal experimental studies are crucial for the development of better endovascular devices.3-5
Several animal models in rats, rabbits, canines and swine are available.6-8 Comparisons of the different animal models showed the superiority of the rabbit model with regard to hemodynamics and comparability of the coagulation system and cost-effectiveness.9-11 
The venous pouch arterial bifurcation model in rabbits is formed by a venous pouch sutured into an artificially created true bifurcation of both common carotid arteries (CCA). The main advantage of this model are true bifurcational hemodynamics.12 The major drawbacks are the sofar high microsurgical technical demands and high morbidity and mortality rates of up to 50%.13 These limitations have resulted in less frequent use of this aneurysm model in the recent years. These shortcomings could be overcome with improved surgical procedures and modified peri- and postoperative analgetic management and anticoagulation.14-16 Our techniques reported in this paper demonstrate this optimized technique for microsurgical creation of arterial bifurcation aneurysms.

An optimized technique for the microsurgical creation of arterial bifurcation aneurysms mimicking bifurcation human cerebral aneurysms is described. A venous pouch is sutured into an artificially created true bifurcation of both common carotid arteries. Facilitated microsurgical techniques and aggressive postoperative anticoagulation and analgesia lead to minimized morbidity rates and high aneurysm patency rates.

For ruptured human cerebral aneurysms endovascular embolization has become an equivalent alternative to aneurysm clipping.1 However, large clinical trials ...

Femoral Arterial and Venous Catheterization for Blood Sampling, Drug Administration and Conscious Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Measurements

In multiple fields of study, access to the circulatory system in laboratory studies is necessary. Pharmacological studies in rats using chronically implanted catheters permit a researcher to effectively and humanely administer substances, perform repeated blood sampling and assists in conscious direct measurements of blood pressure and heart rate. Once the catheter is implanted long-term sampling is possible. Patency and catheter life depends on multiple factors including the lock solution used, flushing regimen and catheter material. This video will demonstrate the methodology of femoral artery and venous catheterization of the rat. In addition the video will demonstrate the use of the femoral venous and arterial catheters for blood sampling, drug administration and use of the arterial catheter in taking measurements of blood pressure and heart rate in a conscious freely-moving rat. A tether and harness attached to a swivel system will allow the animal to be housed and have samples taken by the researcher with minimal disruption to the animal. To maintain patency of the catheter, careful daily maintenance of the catheter is required using lock solution (100 U/ml heparinized saline), machine-ground blunt tip syringe needles and the use of syringe filters to minimize potential contamination. With careful aseptic surgical techniques, proper catheter materials and careful catheter maintenance techniques, it is possible to sustain patent catheters and healthy animals for long periods of time (several weeks).

Chronic catheterization of blood vessels in the rat is often required for administration of substances, obtain blood sample over a period of time or for direct conscious blood pressure measurements. Femoral arterial catheterization of the rat and corresponding measurements of blood pressure in the conscious animal will be demonstrated.

In multiple fields of study, access to the circulatory system in laboratory studies is necessary. Pharmacological studies in rats using chronically ...

A Murine Model of Stent Implantation in the Carotid Artery for the Study of Restenosis

Despite the considerable progress made in the stent development in the last decades, cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of death in western countries. Beside the benefits offered by the development of different drug-eluting stents, the coronary revascularization bears also the life-threatening risks of in-stent thrombosis and restenosis. Research on new therapeutic strategies is impaired by the lack of appropriate methods to study stent implantation and restenosis processes. Here, we describe a rapid and accessible procedure of stent implantation in mouse carotid artery, which offers the possibility to study in a convenient way the molecular mechanisms of vessel remodeling and the effects of different drug coatings.

A model of stent implantation in mouse carotid artery is described. Compared to other similar methods, this procedure is very rapid, simple and accessible, offering the possibility to study in a convenient way the vascular wall reaction to different drug-eluting stents and the molecular mechanisms of restenosis.

Despite  the considerable progress made in the stent development in the last decades,  cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of death in western ...

Technical Aspects of the Mouse Aortocaval Fistula

Technical aspects of creating an arteriovenous fistula in the mouse are discussed. Under general anesthesia, an abdominal incision is made, and the aorta and inferior vena cava (IVC) are exposed. The proximal infrarenal aorta and the distal aorta are dissected for clamp placement and needle puncture, respectively. Special attention is paid to avoid dissection between the aorta and the IVC. After clamping the aorta, a 25 G needle is used to puncture both walls of the aorta into the IVC. The surrounding connective tissue is used for hemostatic compression. Successful creation of the AVF will show pulsatile arterial blood flow in the IVC. Further confirmation of successful AVF can be achieved by post-operative Doppler ultrasound.

The goal is to produce an arteriovenous fistula that is simple and reproducible. This method does not use sutures or glue adhesive. Therefore the samples can be used with the least amount of foreign materials for analysis.

Technical aspects of creating an arteriovenous fistula in the mouse are discussed. Under general anesthesia, an abdominal incision is made, and the aorta ...

The Rabbit Blood-shunt Model for the Study of Acute and Late Sequelae of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Technical Aspects

Early brain injury and delayed cerebral vasospasm both contribute to unfavorable outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Reproducible and controllable animal models that simulate both conditions are presently uncommon. Therefore, new models are needed in order to mimic human pathophysiological conditions resulting from SAH.
This report describes the technical nuances of a rabbit blood-shunt SAH model that enables control of intracerebral pressure (ICP). An extracorporeal shunt is placed between the arterial system and the subarachnoid space, which enables examiner-independent SAH in a closed cranium. Step-by-step procedural instructions and necessary equipment are described, as well as technical considerations to produce the model with minimal mortality and morbidity. Important details required for successful surgical creation of this robust, simple and consistent ICP-controlled SAH rabbit model are described.

The experimental intracranial pressure-controlled blood shunt subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model in the rabbit combines the standard procedures &#8212; subclavian artery cannulation and transcutaneous cisterna magna puncture, which enables close mimicking of human pathophysiological conditions after SAH. We present step-by-step instructions and discuss key surgical points for successful experimental SAH creation.

Early brain injury and delayed cerebral vasospasm both contribute to unfavorable outcomes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Reproducible and ...

A Simple Critical-sized Femoral Defect Model in Mice

While bone has a remarkable capacity for regeneration, serious bone trauma often results in damage that does not properly heal. In fact, one tenth of all limb bone fractures fail to heal completely due to the extent of the trauma, disease, or age of the patient. Our ability to improve bone regenerative strategies is critically dependent on the ability to mimic serious bone trauma in test animals, but the generation and stabilization of large bone lesions is technically challenging. In most cases, serious long bone trauma is mimicked experimentally by establishing a defect that will not naturally heal. This is achieved by complete removal of a bone segment that is larger than 1.5 times the diameter of the bone cross-section. The bone is then stabilized with a metal implant to maintain proper orientation of the fracture edges and allow for mobility. 
Due to their small size and the fragility of their long bones, establishment of such lesions in mice are beyond the capabilities of most research groups. As such, long bone defect models are confined to rats and larger animals. Nevertheless, mice afford significant research advantages in that they can be genetically modified and bred as immune-compromised strains that do not reject human cells and tissue.
Herein, we demonstrate a technique that facilitates the generation of a segmental defect in mouse femora using standard laboratory and veterinary equipment. With practice, fabrication of the fixation device and surgical implantation is feasible for the majority of trained veterinarians and animal research personnel. Using example data, we also provide methodologies for the quantitative analysis of bone healing for the model.

Animal models are frequently employed to mimic serious bone injury in biomedical research. Due to their small size, establishment of stabilized bone lesions in mice are beyond the capabilities of most research groups. Herein, we describe a simple method for establishing and analyzing experimental femoral defects in mice.

While bone has a remarkable capacity for regeneration, serious bone trauma often results in damage that does not properly heal. In fact, one tenth of all ...

Murine Model of Femoral Artery Wire Injury with Implantation of a Perivascular Drug Delivery Patch

Percutaneous interventions including balloon angioplasty and stenting have been used to restore blood flow in vessels with occlusive vascular disease. While these therapies lead to the rapid restoration of blood flow, these technologies remain limited by restenosis in the case of bare metal stents and angioplasty, or reduced healing and possibly enhanced risk of thrombosis in the case of drug eluting stents. A key pathophysiological mechanism in the formation of restenosis is intimal hyperplasia caused by the activation of vascular smooth muscle cells and inflammation due to arterial stretch and injury. Surgeries that induce arterial injury in genetically modified mice are useful for the mechanistic study of the vascular response to injury but are often technically challenging to perform in mouse models due to the their small size and lack of appropriate sized devices. We describe two approaches for a surgical technique that induces endothelial denudation and arterial stretch in the femoral artery of mice to produce robust neointimal hyperplasia. The first approach creates an arteriotomy in the muscular branch of the femoral artery to obtain vascular access. Following wire injury this arterial branch is ligated to close the arteriotomy. A second approach creates an arteriotomy in the main femoral artery that is later closed through localized cautery. This method allows for vascular access through a larger vessel and, consequently, provides a less technically demanding procedure that can be used in smaller mice. Following either method of arterial injury, a degradable drug delivery patch can be placed over or around the injured artery to deliver therapeutic agents.

We describe a surgical technique that produces wire injury in the femoral artery of mice to induce neointimal hyperplasia to serve as a model testing system for the perivascular delivery of therapeutic compounds for the inhibition of restenosis.

Percutaneous interventions including balloon angioplasty and stenting have been used to restore blood flow in vessels with occlusive vascular disease. ...

Murine Model of Intestinal Ischemia-reperfusion Injury

Intestinal ischemia is a life-threatening condition associated with a broad range of clinical conditions including atherosclerosis, thrombosis, hypotension, necrotizing enterocolitis, bowel transplantation, trauma and chronic inflammation. Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a consequence of acute mesenteric ischemia, caused by inadequate blood flow through the mesenteric vessels, resulting in intestinal damage. Reperfusion following ischemia can further exacerbate damage of the intestine. The mechanisms of IR injury are complex and poorly understood. Therefore, experimental small animal models are critical for understanding the pathophysiology of IR injury and the development of novel therapies.
Here we describe a mouse model of acute intestinal IR injury that provides reproducible injury of the small intestine without mortality. This is achieved by inducing ischemia in the region of the distal ileum by temporally occluding the peripheral and terminal collateral branches of the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min using microvascular clips. Reperfusion for 1 hr, or 2 hr after injury results in reproducible injury of the intestine examined by histological analysis. Proper position of the microvascular clips is critical for the procedure. Therefore the video clip provides a detailed visual step-by-step description of this technique. This model of intestinal IR injury can be utilized to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of injury and regeneration.

Here we describe the detailed procedure of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in mice which results in reproducible injury without mortality to encourage the standardization of this technique across the field. This model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury can be utilized to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of injury and regeneration.

Intestinal ischemia is a life-threatening condition associated with a broad range of clinical conditions including atherosclerosis, thrombosis, ...

Induction of Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Mice: The "Wire-Injury" Model

Atherosclerosis is a proliferative fibro-inflammatory disease developing in the arterial wall, inducing a deficient blood flow or a lack of blood flow. Moreover, by rupture of the defective vascular wall, atherosclerosis induces occlusive thrombus formation, which represents the main cause of myocardial infarction or stroke and the most frequent cause of death. Despite the advances in the cardiovascular field, many questions remain unanswered, and additional basic research is essential to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms during atherosclerosis and its effects. Due to limited clinical studies, there is a need for representative animal models recreating atherosclerotic conditions such as neointima formation after stent implantation, balloon angioplasty, or endarterectomy. Since the mouse presents many advantages and is the most frequently used model for studying molecular processes, the current study proposes an invasive procedure of endothelial denudation, also known as the wire-injury model, which is representative of the human condition of neointima formation in arteries after revascularization procedures.

Induction of Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Mice: The &quot;Wire-Injury&quot; Model

This study describes an invasive procedure for the induction of accelerated atherosclerosis in mice. In comparison to other methods using electric- or cryo-induced injury, mechanical-induced injury mimics the human condition of restenosis after revascularization therapies and is ideal for the study of the molecular mechanisms involved.

Atherosclerosis is a proliferative fibro-inflammatory disease developing in the arterial wall, inducing a deficient blood flow or a lack of blood flow. ...

Open Tracheostomy Gastric Acid Aspiration Murine Model of Acute Lung Injury Results in Maximal Acute Nonlethal Lung Injury

Acid pneumonitis is a major cause of sterile acute lung injury (ALI) in humans. Acid pneumonitis spans the clinical spectrum from asymptomatic to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), characterized by neutrophilic alveolitis, and injury to both alveolar epithelium and vascular endothelium. Clinically, ARDS is defined by acute onset of hypoxemia, bilateral patchy pulmonary infiltrates and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Human studies have provided us with valuable information about the physiological and inflammatory changes in the lung caused by ARDS, which has led to various hypotheses about the underling mechanisms. Unfortunately, difficulties determining the etiology of ARDS, as well as a wide range of pathophysiology have resulted in a lack of critical information that could be useful in developing therapeutic strategies.
Translational animal models are valuable when their pathogenesis and pathophysiology accurately reproduce a concept proven in both in vitro and clinical settings. Although large animal models (e.g., sheep) share characteristics of the anatomy of human trachea-bronchial tree, murine models provide a host of other advantages including: low cost; short reproductive cycle lending itself to greater data acquisition; a well understood immunologic system; and a well characterized genome leading to the availability of a variety of gene deletion and transgenic strains. A robust model of low pH induced ARDS requires a murine ALI that targets mainly the alveolar epithelium, secondarily the vascular endothelium, as well as the small airways leading to the alveoli. Furthermore, a reproducible injury with wide differences between different injurious and non-injurious insults is important.
The murine gastric acid aspiration model presented here using hydrochloric acid employs an open tracheostomy and recreates a pathogenic scenario that reproduces the low pH pneumonitis injury in humans. Additionally, this model can be used to examine interaction of a low pH insult with other pulmonary injurious entities (e.g., food particles, pathogenic bacteria).

This protocol induces acute lung injury in a mouse that has close fidelity to the pathogenesis of acid pneumonitis observed in humans. We generate a maximal acute nonlethal low pH lung injury and account for differences in rodent-human anatomic respiratory structure using an open tracheostomy coupled with circumferential pressure release.

Acid pneumonitis is a major cause of sterile acute lung injury (ALI) in humans. Acid pneumonitis spans the clinical spectrum from asymptomatic to acute ...