Lymphangiography of the mouse tail

The lymphatic system is an important route for metastasis of cancer cells. Lymphatic microvessels have been studied by adapting lymphangiography to the mouse tail. In this technique, a high-molecular-weight fluorescently labeled tracer is injected into the interstitial compartment of the tail tissue. The tracer migrates to the local lymphatic vessels and fills the network, allowing visualization. By implanting a tumor in the tail, the structure and function of the lymphatics at the tumor periphery can be monitored. This protocol describes a method for injecting tumor cells into a mouse tail and for microlymphangiography.