Murine Ileal Resection Model: Studying Ileectomy-Induced Bile Metabolism in Murine Model

- Enterohepatic circulation of bile acids, or BAs, maintains its homeostasis in the body. Liver cells or hepatocytes produce BAs from where they move towards the ileum and are actively transported inside intestinal cells or ileocytes. Inside ileocytes, BAs activate the synthesis of the Fibroblast Growth Factor, or FGF, hormone. FGF is transposed back to the liver by the hepatic portal vein and binds the receptors on hepatocytes, thus, sending a downstream negative feedback signal for shutting down the BA production.

Ileal resection is a common treatment strategy for colon cancer. Therefore, we prepare a murine ileal resection model to glean insights into ileum's role in colon cancer.

Begin by placing an anesthetized mouse on a dissection board and make a midline abdominal incision. Next, expose the ileum and resect the selected ileal segment and suture the ileal ends together. Finally, return the anastomotic intestine in the abdominal cavity and suture together the incised muscle and skin layer.

Allow the mouse to recover and analyze the effects of ileum removal, which may cause bile overaccumulation in the intestines. In the following protocol, we will prepare a murine ileal resec