Sampling Strategies and Processing of Biobank Tissue Samples from Porcine Biomedical Models

Summary

The practical application and performance of methods for generation of representative tissue samples of porcine animal models for a broad spectrum of downstream analyses in biobank projects are demonstrated, including volumetry, systematic random sampling, and differential processing of tissue samples for qualitative and quantitative morphologic and molecular analyses types.

Abstract

In translational medical research, porcine models have steadily become more popular. Considering the high value of individual animals, particularly of genetically modified pig models, and the often-limited number of available animals of these models, establishment of (biobank) collections of adequately processed tissue samples suited for a broad spectrum of subsequent analyses methods, including analyses not specified at the time point of sampling, represent meaningful approaches to take full advantage of the translational value of the model. With respect to the peculiarities of porcine anatomy, comprehensive guidelines have recently been established for standardized generation of representative, high-quality samples from different porcine organs and tissues. These guidelines are essential prerequisites for the reproducibility of results and their comparability between different studies and investigators. The recording of basic data, such as organ weights and volumes, the determination of the sampling locations and of the numbers of tissue samples to be generated, as well as their orientation, size, processing and trimming directions, are relevant factors determining the generalizability and usability of the specimen for molecular, qualitative, and quantitative morphological analyses. Here, an illustrative, practical, step-by-step demonstration of the most important techniques for generation of representative, multi-purpose biobank specimen from porcine tissues is presented. The methods described here include determination of organ/tissue volumes and densities, the application of a volume-weighted systematic random sampling procedure for parenchymal organs by point-counting, determination of the extent of tissue shrinkage related to histological embedding of samples, and generation of randomly oriented samples for quantitative stereological analyses, such as isotropic uniform random (IUR) sections generated by the "Orientator" and "Isector" methods, and vertical uniform random (VUR) sections.

Introduction

In translational medicine, pigs are increasingly common for use as large animal models^1,2,3,4,5, due to several advantageous similarities between the porcine and human anatomy and physiology, and the availability of established molecular biological methods allowing for generation of tailored, genetically modified pig models for a wide range of disease conditions^1,4.

However, compared to rodent models, the number of animal....

Protocol

All methods described here use tissue samples derived from dead animals and fully comply with the German legal regulations of animal welfare.

1. Volumetry

1. Submersion Technique for Determination of Tissue/Organ Densities (Figure 1 and Figure 2)^7,12,16
   1. Prepare materials: Scalpel blades, paper towels, fine forceps, standard laboratory scales, glass or plastic beakers, 0.9% saline, and self-constructed specimen holders ....

Results

Submersion technique for determination of tissue/organ density

Figure 12A-B shows the representative determination of the density and volume of a porcine kidney using the submersion technique described in step 1.1 (Figure 1, Figure 2). More representative results of density measurements of additional porcine organs and tissues.......

Discussion

Generation of biobank sample collections from porcine animal models requires robust techniques and protocols for the determination of organ/tissue volumes, the reproducible generation of representative, redundant tissue samples suitable for a broad range of different analysis methods, and for randomization of the orientation of sample sections for quantitative stereological analyses. The methods described in the present article are adapted to the sizes of porcine organs and tissues, and have been developed to effectively.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Agar	Carl Roth GmbH, Germany	Agar (powder), Cat.: 5210.3	Dissolve approximately 1 g of agar in 10 ml cold water in a glass or plastic beaker, heat in microwave-oven at 700 W, boil the solution twice with rigorous stirring. Cast into mold while still warm and let solidify. Caution: While handling with hot liquid agar, wear protective goggles and gloves.
Caliper	Hornbach Baumarkt GmbH, Bornheim, Germany	Schieblehre Chrom/Vernickelt 120 mm Cat.: 3664902	Any kind of caliper (mechanical or electronic) will do as well.
Casting molds (metal)	Engelbrecht Medizin & Labortechnik, Edermünde, Germany	Einbettschälchen aus Edelstahl, 14 x 24 x 5 mm, Cat.: 14302b	Any other kind of metal casting mold used for paraffin-embedding will do as well.
Copy templates of cross grids (5mm - 6 cm)	n.a.	n.a.	Copy templates of cross grids (5mm - 6 cm) are provided in the supplemental data file of Albl et al.  Toxicol Pathol. 44, 414-420, doi: 10.1177/0192623316631023 (2016)
Copy templates of equiangular and cosine-weighted circles	n.a.	n.a.	Copy templates of equiangular and cosine-weighted circles are provided in Nyengaard & Gundersen. Eur Respir Rev. 15, 107-114, doi: 10.1183/09059180.00010101 (2006) and in Gundersen et al. Stereological Principles and Sampling Procedures for Toxicologic Pathologists. In: Haschek and Rousseaux´s Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology. 3rd ed, 215-286, ISBN: 9780124157590 (2013).
Foldback clamps (YIHAI binder clips, 15 mm and 19 mm)	Ningbo Tianhong Stationery Co ltd., China	Y10006 and Y10005	Any other type of standard office foldback clamps will do as well.
Forceps (anatomical)	NeoLab Migge GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	neoLab Standard -Pinzette 130 mm, anatomisch, rund, Cat.: 1-1811	Any type of anatomical forceps will do.
Formaldehyde-solution 4%	SAV-Liquid Produktion GmbH, Flintsbach, Germany	Formaldehyd 37/40 %, Cat.: 1000411525005	Dilute to 4% from concentrated solution. Buffer to neutral pH. Wear appropriate eye-, hand- and respiratory protection. Process tissue samples fixed in formaldehyde solution under an exhaust hood and wear protective goggles and laboratory gloves.
Graph paper (for calibration)	Büromarkt Böttcher AG, Jena, Germany. www.bueromarkt-ag.de	Penig Millimeterpapier A4, Cat.: 2514	Any type of graph paper (scaled in millimeter) will do.
Laboratory beakers (5ml, 10 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml)	NeoLab Migge GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	Becherglas SIMAX® , niedrige Form, Borosilikatglas 3.3 Cat.: E-1031, E-1032, E-1035, E-1036	Any kind of glass- or plastic beakers of 5 – 100 ml volume will do.
Laboratory scale(s)	Mettler Toledo GmbH, Gießen, Germany	PM6000	Any standard laboratory scales with measuring ranges between 0.1 mg to approximately 20 g, respectively between 100 mg to approximately 500 g will do
	Sartorius AG, Göttingen, Germany	BP61S
Microtome blades	Engelbrecht Medizin & Labortechnik, Edermünde, Germany	FEATHER Microtome blasdes S35, Cat.:14700	Any kind of single-use microtome blades will do.
Morphometry/planimetry software/system	National Institute of Health (NIH)	ImageJ	Download from https://www. imagej.nih.gov/ij/ (1997).
Zeiss-Kontron, Eching, Germany	VideoplanTM image analysis system	Out of stock
Photo camera	Nikon	D40	Any kind of digital photocamera that can be mounted to a tripod  will do.
Plastic transparencies	Avery Zweckform GmbH, Oberlaindern, Germany	Laser Overhead-Folie DINA4 Cat.:  3562	Any (laser)-printable plastic transparency will do.
Random number tables	n.a.	n.a.	Random number tables can conveniently be generated (with defined numbers of random numbers and within defined intervals), using random number generators, such as: https://www.random.org/
Razor blades	Plano GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany	T5016	Any kind of razor blades will do.
Ruler	Büromarkt Böttcher AG, Jena, Germany. www.bueromarkt-ag.de	Office-Point Lineal 30 cm, Kunststoff, transparent, Cat.: ln30	Any kind of cm-mm-scaled ruler will do as well.
Saline (0.9%)	Carl Roth GmbH, Germany	Natriumchlorid, >99% Cat.: 0601.1	To prepare 0.9% saline, dissolve 9 g NaCl in 1000 ml of distilled water at 20°C.
Scalpel blades	Aesculap AG & Co KG, Tuttlingen, Germany	BRAUN Surgical blades N°22	Any kind of scalpel blades will do.
Scanner	Hewlett-Packard	hp scanjet 7400c	Any type of standard office scanner capable of scanning with resolutions from 150-600 dpi will do.
Slicing devices	n.a.	n.a.	Examples forself constructed slicing devices can be found in Knust, et al. Anatomical record. 292, 113-122, doi: 10.1002/ar.20747 (2009) and in the supplemental data file of Albl et al.  Toxicol Pathol. 44, 414-420, doi: 10.1177/0192623316631023 (2016).
Spherical casting molds (e.g., in 25.5 mm diameter)	Pralinen-Zutaten.de, Windach, Germany	Pralinen-Hohlkugeln Vollmilch, 25.5 mm	Spherical casting molds can as well be be self-constructed, or obtained from other confectioner suppliers (for for pralines). The casting molds indicated here are actually the package/wrapping of hollow pralines bodies (first eat the pralines and then use the package for generation of i-sector sections)
Thin wire	Basteln & Hobby Schobes, Straßfurth, Germany. www,bastel-welt.de	Messingdraht (0.3 mm) Cat.: 216464742	Any other kind of thin wire will also do.
Tissue paper	NeoLab Migge GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany	Declcate Task Wipes-White, Cat.: 1-5305	Any other kind of laboratory tissue paper will do as well.
Waterproof pen	Staedler Mars GmbH & Co KG, Nürnberg, Grmany	Lumocolor permanent 313, 0.4 mm, S, black, Cat.: 313-2	Any other kind of waterproof pen will do as well.