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Updated: Sep 16, 2025
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Improved Methodology for Liquid Delivery to the Mouse Lung: Intubation using a Consumer Otoscope
Published on: June 17, 2025
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Improved Methodology for Liquid Delivery to the Mouse Lung: Intubation using a Consumer Otoscope
T Parks Remcho1, Robert D E Clark1, Alexander J Martin1
1Center for Translational Research in Infection and Inflammation, Tulane University School of Medicine.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|July 7, 2025
Summary
A new, affordable otoscope technique enables consistent liquid delivery to mouse lungs, improving pulmonary disease modeling and therapeutic development. This method reduces variability, allowing for smaller animal study groups.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Pre-clinical Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Accurate liquid delivery to the lungs in mice is crucial for pulmonary disease research and drug development.
- Current methods like oropharyngeal aspiration often lead to inconsistent delivery, impacting study reliability.
- There is a need for improved techniques ensuring reproducible intrapulmonary administration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a novel, cost-effective method for precise liquid delivery to the mouse airway.
- To enhance consistency and accuracy in intrapulmonary delivery for pre-clinical research.
- To reduce animal cohort sizes through improved delivery efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mobile phone-linked, lighted otoscope for direct glottis visualization and airway inoculation.
- Developed an optimized staging technique with lighting and positioning aids for reliable intubation.
- Employed a 20 G flexible catheter, with or without fiberoptic light, for intubation and liquid delivery.
Main Results:
- The described technique significantly reduces variance in intrapulmonary liquid delivery compared to traditional methods.
- Increased volume of delivered liquid successfully reached the lungs.
- Confirmed reliable endotracheal tube placement and consistent delivery.
Conclusions:
- This improved methodology offers effective, rapid, and consistent intubation and lung delivery in mice.
- The reduced variability enables the use of smaller animal cohorts, enhancing research efficiency.
- The technique supports reproducible and safe pre-clinical therapeutic development.
