Isolated Lung Perfusion System in the Rabbit Model

Summary

The isolated rabbit lung preparation is a gold standard tool in pulmonary research. This publication aims to describe the technique as developed for the study of physiological and pathological mechanisms involved in airway reactivity, lung preservation, and preclinical research in lung transplantation and pulmonary edema.

Abstract

The isolated lung perfusion system has been widely used in pulmonary research, contributing to elucidate the lungs' inner workings, both micro and macroscopically. This technique is useful in the characterization of pulmonary physiology and pathology by measuring metabolic activities and respiratory functions, including interactions between circulatory substances and the effects of inhaled or perfused substances, as in drug testing. While in vitro methods involve the slicing and culturing of tissues, the isolated ex vivo lung perfusion system allows to work with a complete functional organ making possible the study of a continuous physiological function while recreating ventilation and perfusion. However, it should be noted that the effects of the absence of central innervation and lymphatic drainage still have to be fully assessed. This protocol aims to describe the assembly of the isolated lung apparatus, followed by the surgical extraction and cannulation of lungs and heart from experimental lab animals, as well as to display the perfusion technique and signal processing of data. The average viability of the isolated lung ranges between 5-8 h; during this period, the pulmonary capillary permeability increases, causing edema and lung injury. The functionality of preserved pulmonary tissue is measured by the capillary filtration coefficient (Kfc), used to determine the extent of pulmonary edema through time.

Introduction

Brodie and Dixon first described the ex-vivo lung perfusion system in 1903 ¹. Since then, it has become a gold standard tool for studying the physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, and biochemistry of the lungs^2,3. The technique offers a consistent and reproducible way to evaluate the viability of lung transplants, and to determine the effect of inflammatory mediators such as histamine, arachidonic acid metabolites, and substance P, among others, as well as their interactions during pulmonary phenomena such as bronchoconstriction, atelectasis, and pulmonary edema. The isolated l....

Protocol

The isolated perfusion system in the rabbit model has been widely used in the Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness Laboratory at the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias. The protocol includes New Zealand rabbits with an approximate weight of 2.5-3 kg. All animals were kept in standard vivarium conditions and ad libitum feeding in compliance with the official Mexican guidelines for laboratory animals (NOM 062-ZOO-1999) and under the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8^th edition, 2011). All the animal procedures and animal care methods presented in this protocol were previously approved by the Ethics Committee of the Instituto N....

Results

The isolated lung perfusion system allows organ manipulation for biopsy, sample collection from perfusion, and real-time data collection of physiological parameters. The isolated system can be used to test many hypotheses involving different functions and lung phenomena, from metabolic and enzymatic activity to edema formation and preservation periods for lung transplants.

Figure 1 displays a diagram of the fully assembled isolated lung perfusion system along with.......

Discussion

This work displays a general view of the isolated lung perfusion system, an essential technique in pulmonary physiology research. The isolated lung perfusion system offers a great degree of versatility in its uses and allows the evaluation of several parameters relevant in the testing of a wide range of hypotheses¹⁵. An isolated lung system is a tool with worldwide presence that, in the last decade, has further established its relevance for organ-specific evaluations and also expanded its usefulne.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
2-Stop Tygon E-Lab Tubing, 3.17 mm ID, 12/pack, Black/White	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-1864
Adapter for Positive Pressure Ventilation on IPL-4	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4312
Adapter for Positive Pressure Ventilation on IPL-4	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4312
Alternative Pressure-Free Gas Supply for IPL-4: To supply the trachea with gas mixture different from room air during negative ventilation	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4309
Base Unit for the Rabbit to Fetal Pig Isolated Perfused Lung	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4138
Bovine serum A2:D41albumin lyophilized powder	sigma	3912	500 g
Calcium chloride, CaCl2·2H2O.	JT Baker	10035-04-8
Cryogenic vials	Corning	430659	2 mL
D-glucosa, C6H12O6.	sigma	G5767
Differential Low Pressure Transducer DLP2.5, Range +- 2.5 cmH2O, HSE Connector	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-3882
Differential Pressure Transducer MPX, Range +- 100 cmH2O, HSE Connector	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-0064
Eppendorf tubes
Ethanol absolute HPLC grade	Caledon
Falcon tubes			14 mL
Harvard Peristaltic Pump P-230 (Complete with Control Box and P-230 Motor Drive)	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	70-7001
Heated Linear Pneumotachometer 0 to 10 L/min flow range	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	59-9349
Heater Controller for Single Pneumotachometer 230 VAC, 50 Hz	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	59-9703
Heparin	PISA		5000 UI
HPLC Column (C18 100A 5U)	Alltech	98121213	150 mm x 4.6 mm
Hydrophilic Syringe Filter	Millex	SLLGR04NL	4 mm
IPL-4 Core System for Isolated Rabbit to Fetal Pig Lung, 230	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4296
IPL-4 Core System for Isolated Rabbit to Fetal Pig Lung, 230 V	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4296
Jacketed Glass Reservoir for Buffer Solution, with Frit and Tubing, 6.0 L	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-0322
Lauda Thermostatic Circulator, Type E-103, 230 V/50 Hz, 3 L Bath Volume, Temperature Range 20 to 150°C	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-0125
Left Atrium Cannula for Rabbit with Basket, OD 5.9 mm	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4162
Low Range Blood Pressure Transducer P75 for PLUGSYS Module	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-0020
Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, MgSO4·7H2O	JT Baker	10034-99-8
Microcentrifuge Tube	Corning	430909
Negative Pressure Ventilation Control Option with Pressure Regulator for IPL-4	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4298
New Zeland rabbits
PISABENTAL (Pentobarbital sodium)	PISA	Q-7833-215
PLUGSYS Case, Type 603* 7	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-0045
PLUGSYS TCM Time Counter Module	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-1750
PLUGSYS Transducer Amplifier Module (TAM-A)	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-0065
PLUGSYS Transducer Amplifier Module (TAM-D)	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-1793
PLUGSYS VCM-4R Ventilation Control Module with Pressure Regulator	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-1755
Potassium chloride, KCl.	JT Baker	3040-01
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate, KH2PO4	JT Baker	7778-77-0
PROCIN (Xylacine clorhydrate)	PISA	Q-7833-099
Pulmonary Artery Cannula for Rabbit with Basket, OD 4.6 mm	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4161
Scalpel knife
Serotonin 5-HT
Servo Controller for Perfusion (SCP	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-2806
Snap Cap Microcentrifuge Tube	Costar	3620	1.7 mL
Sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3	sigma	S6014
Sodium chloride, NaCl.	sigma	S9888
Surgical gloves No. 7 1/2
Surgical gloves No. 8
Taygon tubes	Masterflex
Tracheal Cannula for Rabbit, OD 5.0 mm	Hugo Sachs Elektronik (HSE)	73-4163