Porcine Aorta Isolation: A Surgical Procedure to Excise the Thoracic Aorta From Miniature Pigs for Downstream Analysis

After confirming a lack of response to pain reflex in the anesthetized pig, wash the porcine abdominal wall three times with 75% medical alcohol and one tincture of iodine. After the last wash, use a scalpel to make an abdominal incision to expose the inferior vena cava, and use a 5-milliliter syringe to inject 5,000 units of heparin sodium into the inferior vena cava.

After 5 minutes, insert a catheter into the abdominal aorta, and use a scalpel to incise the diaphragm. With the help of a second investigator, remove the left ventricle with the scalpel, and use bone forceps to excise the ribs to expose the heart and lungs. Locate the aorta posterior to the heart and lungs, and clamp the ends.

Use scissors to excise the aorta, and wash it one time with pre-cooled washing buffer. Remove any excess tissue around the aorta with sterile forceps and scissors, and place the vessel into a 50-milliliter centrifuge tube containing fresh, pre-cooled, washing buffer for transfer to the laboratory.