A procedure for pulmonary lavage in mice

Area of Science:

• Animal research methodologies
• Pulmonary biology and disease modeling

Background:

• Pulmonary lavage is crucial for studying lung physiology and pathology.
• Efficient recovery of proteins and cells from mouse lungs is essential for research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and validate a novel method for pulmonary lavage in mice.
• To optimize protein and free cell recovery from mouse lungs.

Main Methods:

• The described method involves exsanguination, tracheal catheter insertion, and repeated saline solution lavage.
• Protein and cell yields were quantified after multiple lavage cycles.

Main Results:

• Protein was successfully recovered from cell-free lavage fluid.
• The majority of protein was obtained after three 1-ml washes.
• Approximately 0.563 mg of protein and 2.9 x 10^6 free cells were recovered per mouse.

Conclusions:

• The described pulmonary lavage technique is effective for recovering proteins and cells from mouse lungs.
• The method provides a reliable source of biomaterials for preclinical research.