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All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.
1. Virus-delivery to the Murine Prostate
- Anesthetize the animal by intraperitoneal injection with a sterile 1 mL syringe and a 27G x ½" needle. Use an anesthesia dose of 0.01 mL/g body weight. If the procedure lasts longer than 30 min, maintain anesthesia by injecting 1/3 of the starting dose every 30 min.
- Examine the anesthetic depth by assessing muscle relaxation, pedal withdrawal, and palpebral reflexes. When loss of reflexes is observed, shave the lower abdomen of the animal.
- Carefully cover the animal's eyes with veterinary ophthalmic ointment using a sterile cotton swab to prevent blindness due to lack of corneal reflex.
- Wipe the shaved abdomen with 70% ethanol and 10% povidone-iodine to disinfect the surgical area. Scrub the surgical area from the center of the surgical area toward the periphery.
- Perform a vertical skin incision at the low-abdominal midline of approximately 1 cm using a sterile surgical scissor.
- Lift the peritoneum using fine point forceps to prevent damaging the organs that are lying underneath. Carefully make a <8 mm incision using surgical scissors through the peritoneum.
NOTE: In contrast to humans, a rodent's prostate gland comprises four separate lobes. The anterior lobe is attached to the seminal vesicle.
- Gently move the fat tissue aside to uncover the seminal vesicle. Using a ring forceps, carefully lift up the seminal vesicle until the anterior prostate can be identified (Figure 1).
- Inject a total volume of 30 µL virus (3 x 10¹⁰ viral particles) solution in the anterior prostate epithelium using a 0.5 mL insulin syringe with a 30G x 8 mm needle. Minimize leakage and ensure the fluid is absorbed within the tissue, forming a small bubble. Place the seminal vesicle back in the abdominal cavity.
- Suture the peritoneum with 2-3 simple interrupted stitches using 6-0 absorbable sutures with a 13 mm, 3/8 circle, and a tapered point needle.
- Staple the skin with three sterile 4.8 x 6.5 mm clips lifting the skin with forceps to avoid damaging the peritoneum.
- For better recovery, apply the anesthesia antidote in a dose of 0.01 mL/g body weight by intraperitoneal injection using a sterile 1 mL syringe and a 27G x ½" needle. Carefully place the animal back in its cage.