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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
A Modified Surgical Technique for Kidney Transplantation in Mice
Published on: July 22, 2022
Establishment and evaluation of a modified mouse model of renal subcapsular transplantation of microvolume cells
Long Zhang1, Xiaohui Chen1, Xueqing Shi1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, China.
Abstract:
The renal subcapsular space provides an easily accessible, nutrition-rich pocket that supports engraftment, and as such, is often used as a site for stem and cancer cell transplantation. Renal capsule transplantation requires high technical requirements, the recipient mice have greater surgical damage, the mouse kidney is small and the kidney capsule is fragile, and the operation is easy to fail. The conventional method is not suitable for microvolume cell transplantation to this site in animals with a small kidney, such as mice, due to high risks of cell loss or dislocation or injury to the capsule. In this study, we developed and validated a modified approach for the mouse model of renal subcapsular transplantation of microvolume mouse skeletal stem cells (SSCs). We used a pipette with a refined tip to separate the capsule from the parenchyma. Moreover, we used cells suspended in Matrigel rather than a liquid carrier for transplantation. Using the modified method, we were able to transplant microvolume mouse SSCs as low as 0.2 μL beneath the mouse renal capsule with excellent reproducibility. After 4 weeks of in vivo culture, the implanted mouse SSCs formed grafts on the surface of the parenchyma at the target site of transplantation. Histological staining of the grafts indicated osteogenic, fibrogenic, and lipogenic differentiation. Micro-CT imaging of the grafts revealed bone formation. This modified model could be used to effectively transplant different types of microvolume cells to the renal subcapsular space when the donor cells are difficult to acquire or the recipient mice have a very small size kidney.
Insights
Researchers developed a new method for transplanting tiny cell volumes into mouse kidneys. This technique improves engraftment success for skeletal stem cells (SSCs) and other cell types.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Transplantation Biology
- Skeletal Biology
Background:
- The renal subcapsular space is a suitable site for cell transplantation due to its rich nutrient supply.
- Conventional methods for renal subcapsular transplantation in mice are technically challenging, leading to high failure rates and cell loss, especially for microvolume cell transplantation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a modified, reproducible method for microvolume cell transplantation into the mouse renal subcapsular space.
- To overcome the limitations of existing techniques for transplanting small cell volumes into small kidneys.
Main Methods:
- A modified surgical approach using a pipette with a refined tip to carefully separate the kidney capsule from the parenchyma.
- Utilizing Matrigel as a carrier for suspending microvolume skeletal stem cells (SSCs) instead of a liquid carrier.
- Transplantation of microvolume mouse SSCs (as low as 0.2 μL) beneath the mouse renal capsule.
Main Results:
- The modified method achieved excellent reproducibility for transplanting microvolume mouse SSCs.
- Implanted SSCs formed viable grafts on the kidney parenchyma surface after 4 weeks.
- Histological analysis confirmed osteogenic, fibrogenic, and lipogenic differentiation of the grafts.
- Micro-CT imaging revealed bone formation within the grafts.
Conclusions:
- This modified renal subcapsular transplantation technique enables the successful engraftment of microvolume cells in mice.
- The method is suitable for various cell types, particularly when donor cells are scarce or recipient kidneys are small.
- This model offers a valuable tool for studying cell transplantation and differentiation in vivo.
