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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
Dissection of the Mouse Pancreas for Histological Analysis and Metabolic Profiling
Published on: August 19, 2017
Histopathology in mouse metabolic investigations
Manuel Mark1, Marius Teletin, Cristina Antal
1Institut Clinique de la Souris and Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France.
Abstract:
Due to the small size of the mouse, evaluating its clinical phenotype is sometimes problematic. In contrast, mouse models are readily accessible to post-mortem analyses at any time during the course of a disease and prior to its clinical onset. RNA, protein, and histological analyses following sacrifice represent a powerful means to identify affected cell types and molecular events underlying the altered phenotype, and therefore to understanding the signaling or metabolic pathways involved. In this unit, an overview of post-mortem analyses is provided with a strong emphasis on the principles of routine histology, including tissue fixation, processing, embedding, and staining with hematoxylin and eosin. There are also several protocols for staining with specialized histological stains used in the metabolic field to detect intracellular lipids, intracellular lipid "ghosts", cholesterol esters, polysaccharides, mitochondria, pathological collagen deposits, and atherosclerotic plaques.
Insights
Post-mortem histological analyses of mouse models offer valuable insights into disease mechanisms when clinical evaluation is challenging. This method reveals cellular and molecular details, aiding in understanding metabolic pathways and disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Pathology
- Molecular Biology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Clinical phenotyping of mouse models can be difficult due to their small size.
- Mouse models offer opportunities for comprehensive post-mortem analysis throughout disease progression.
- Post-mortem analyses, including histology, are crucial for identifying cellular and molecular changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of post-mortem histological analysis techniques for mouse models.
- To detail routine histology principles and specialized staining methods for metabolic research.
- To facilitate the identification of affected cell types and molecular events in disease.
Main Methods:
- Tissue fixation, processing, embedding, and staining with hematoxylin and eosin.
- Application of specialized histological stains for detecting lipids, cholesterol esters, and polysaccharides.
- Histological staining protocols for visualizing mitochondria, collagen deposits, and atherosclerotic plaques.
Main Results:
- Routine histology provides a foundational understanding of tissue structure.
- Specialized stains enable the detection of various metabolic components and pathological changes.
- Histological analysis can pinpoint specific cell types and molecular alterations underlying disease phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Post-mortem histology is a powerful tool for dissecting disease mechanisms in mouse models.
- Comprehensive histological analysis aids in understanding signaling and metabolic pathways.
- This approach enhances the interpretation of altered phenotypes and disease progression.
