A Simple Method of Mouse Lung Intubation

Abstract

A simple procedure to intubate mice for pulmonary function measurements would have several advantages in longitudinal studies with limited numbers or expensive animal. One of the reasons that this is not done more routinely is that it is relatively difficult, despite there being several published studies that describe ways to achieve it. In this paper we demonstrate a procedure that eliminates one of the major hurdles associated with this intubation, that of visualizing the trachea during the entire time of intubation. The approach uses a 0.5 mm fiberoptic light source that serves as an introducer to direct the intubation cannula into the mouse trachea. We show that it is possible to use this procedure to measure lung mechanics in individual mice over a time course of at least several weeks. The technique can be set up with relatively little expense and expertise, and it can be routinely accomplished with relatively little training. This should make it possible for any laboratory to routinely carry out this intubation, thereby allowing longitudinal studies in individual mice, thereby minimizing the number of mice needed and increasing the statistical power by using each mouse as its own control. Video LinkThe video component of this article can be found at

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“…Such techniques appear to be largely successful but they are quite expensive and require intense training for the operator. Notably, Das et al reported a simplified approach for intubating mice in longitudinal studies where the study involved limited number of expensive research animals [24]. They demonstrated usage of fiber-optic light source to visualize trachea which makes the technique convenient to the researcher and aids in measurement of lung mechanisms for relatively longer duration (approximately several weeks) [24].…”

“…Notably, Das et al reported a simplified approach for intubating mice in longitudinal studies where the study involved limited number of expensive research animals [24]. They demonstrated usage of fiber-optic light source to visualize trachea which makes the technique convenient to the researcher and aids in measurement of lung mechanisms for relatively longer duration (approximately several weeks) [24]. Crucially, this method could facilitate repeated BALf collection in rats that could reveal real time cellular/cytokine profile changes in the models of chronic respiratory diseases [25].…”