Guidelines for collection and processing of lungs from aged mice for histological studies.

John Morton,Timothy A Snider

doi:10.1080/20010001.2017.1313676

Abstract

ABSTRACTPulmonary inflammation and the development of spontaneous lung tumors are important age-related lesions in mice. Therefore, gross and histological examination of the respiratory system is a critical component of geropathology research studies for translating surrogate endpoints to clinical aging studies. Collection, trimming, and processing of lung tissue from aged mice require a high-quality sequential process since aged mice are irreplaceable resource-intensive animal models. This protocol provides a basic technique that provides excellent sections for histological evaluation of the respiratory system of old mice suitable for most research applications. The points of emphasis are infusing the lungs at necropsy with formalin through the airways to prevent atelectasis artifacts that can preclude accurate histological evaluation, and embedding of anatomically oriented in toto lung lobes to allow for complete and thorough evaluation of all lung regions.

Highlights

Aged mice in preclinical aging studies represent an investment of extensive amounts of time, resources, and effort, and generally cannot be replaced
Geropathology assessment at the end of the study is a key element in helping to define the pathological basis of aging endpoints [1] and in testing the efficacy of interventions
For the purposes of this focused protocol, details are restricted to the collection and processing of trachea and lung tissue and are intended as a guideline, especially for those less familiar with the geropathology of old mice

Summary

Introduction

Aged mice in preclinical aging studies represent an investment of extensive amounts of time, resources, and effort, and generally cannot be replaced. KEYWORDS Aged mice; lungs; geropathology; lung collection protocol; histology Accurate characterization of these lesions depends upon the proper collection and processing of pulmonary tissue for histological examination. For the purposes of this focused protocol, details are restricted to the collection and processing of trachea and lung tissue and are intended as a guideline, especially for those less familiar with the geropathology of old mice.

Results

Conclusion