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An alternative method for intrathymic injections in mice

Lab Animal volume 39, pages 248–252 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The thymus is a bi-lobed lymphatic organ located in the anterior portion of the ventral thoracic cavity, just behind the sternum. Because the thymus is the site of development of T lymphocytes (T cells), it is frequently targeted in research studies that involve the immune system. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of transgenic and gene-targeted mouse models of immune disorders has enabled a concomitant increase in the number of studies of T-cell development. Such studies may require the administration of intrathymic injections, which have traditionally been done using a surgical approach. Surgical manipulation can result in pain or distress to the animal, which may affect the immune system, potentially confounding experimental results. Here, the authors describe a nonsurgical, ultrasound-guided approach for intrathymic injection in the mouse that results in negligible distress to the animal.

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Figure 1
Figure 2: Prepared mouse on ultrasound platform.
Figure 3: The mouse's ventral thorax has been covered with ultrasound gel in preparation for injection.
Figure 4: Ultrasound imaging of thymus and intrathymic injection.
Figure 5

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Acknowledgements

We thank Daryl Despres from the National Institutes of Health Mouse Imaging Facility for his assistance with this project. This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetic Disease Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

    Robin Blair-Handon &  Kristen Mueller

  2. Office of Laboratory Animal Medicine, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

    Shelley Hoogstraten-Miller

Authors
  1. Robin Blair-Handon
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  2. Kristen Mueller
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  3. Shelley Hoogstraten-Miller
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Correspondence to Shelley Hoogstraten-Miller.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Blair-Handon, R., Mueller, K. & Hoogstraten-Miller, S. An alternative method for intrathymic injections in mice. Lab Anim 39, 248–252 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0810-248

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