Modeling Transuterine Fetal Tracheal Occlusion in Murine Model: A Surgical Procedure for Ligation of the Fetal Trachea Within a Pregnant Mouse

Abstract

Source: Aydın, E. et al. Transuterine Fetal Tracheal Occlusion Model in Mice. J. Vis. Exp. (2021)

This video demonstrates the transuterine tracheal occlusion procedure of a mouse fetus in a pregnant mouse. This model can be used to study the impact of occluded trachea on lung development.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Laparotomy

1. Clean the abdominal surface with alcohol and povidone-iodine. Maintain sterile conditions throughout the operation.
2. Perform a vertical incision for the laparotomy of pregnant dams. Cut all layers separately.
3. Identify uterine horns on each side.
4. Determine the candidate fetuses for the surgery.
   NOTE: Do not operate on the fetuses that are the nearest to the vagina.
5. Operate on two fetuses in each....

Results

Figure 1. Tracheal occlusion. (A) The transuterine suture passing through the neck. (B) Schematic representation of the structures after the suture passes through and before the knot. Abbreviations: C = Carotid art.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Buprenorphine 	Par Pharmaceutical	NDC 42023-179-05	For regional anesthesia
Magnification glasses	USA Medical-Surgical	SLR-250LBLK	At least 2.5x
Silk suture	Ethicon	VCP682G	4-0, 24 mm, cutting
Isoflurane 	Halocarbon Life Sciences NDC 	66794-017-25 	For regional anesthesia
Polypropylene suture  	Ethicon	Y432H 	6-0, 13 mm 1/2c Taperpoint