Transurethral Instillation Procedure in Adult Male Mouse

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Animal Models
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Transurethral instillation is crucial for creating lower urinary tract (LUT) pathology models and testing intravesical treatments.
• Current methods primarily focus on female mice due to anatomical challenges in males.
• Male transurethral instillation is difficult and previously undescribed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a detailed, step-by-step procedure for transurethral instillation in male mice.
• To provide guidance on selecting appropriate polyethylene (PE) tubing for male urethral instillation.
• To enable the induction of bladder pathologies and assessment of treatments in male murine models.

Main Methods:

• Detailed preparation of polyethylene (PE) tubing for male urethral insertion.
• Step-by-step surgical preparation of the male mouse, including glans and penis manipulation.
• Precise insertion and angling of PE tubing into the urethral meatus, following the urethra's curvature.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of a transurethral instillation technique in male mice.
• Guidance provided on PE tubing selection based on desired inoculation site.
• The described method minimizes urethral injury and ensures accurate solution delivery.

Conclusions:

• This technique overcomes the challenges of male transurethral instillation.
• It expands the utility of murine models for studying bladder pathologies and treatments in both sexes.
• Facilitates the development of new intravesical therapies for male lower urinary tract conditions.