Induction of Intestinal Graft-versus-host Disease and Its Mini-endoscopic Assessment in Live Mice

Mini-endoscopic evaluation of the colon in live mice provides key experimental support for investigating intestinal manifestations of acute graph-versus-host disease, GvHD, upon allogenic, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The non-invasive assessment of acute GvHD-related colitis can function as a working substitute for gold standard histopathology, thereby rendering repeated animal sacrifices to obtain tissue specimens unnecessary. Demonstrating the procedure will be Vera Buchele, a post-doc from my laboratory.

One day after total-body irradiation of the recipient BALB/c mice, place a CD-45.1 live 5B6 SJL donor mouse in the prone position on a clean working sheath, and use one 13-cm curved and serrated tip of a simkin forceps to lift the fur at one Achilles heel. Using hardened 8.5-cm fine scissors with straight tips, incise the skin between the forceps and one heel, elongating the incision cranially to facilitate removal of the skin and fur from the hind limbs. When the skin has been removed from the hind limbs, cut through each hip, ankle, and knee joint.