Extracting Intact Kidney from Mouse: A Technique to Obtain Kidney Without Renal Capsule from Murine Models

Abstract

Source: Grainger, N. et al. Isolating and Imaging Live, Intact Pacemaker Regions of Mouse Renal Pelvis by Vibratome Sectioning. J. Vis. Exp. (2021)

In this video, we describe the procedure for kidney extraction from the retroperitoneal space of the mouse. The extracted kidney can further be microdissected to obtain an intact kidney without a renal capsule and the surrounding fat layer.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Kidney Dissection

1. Anaesthetize mice by inhalation of 3–4% isoflurane in a ventilated hood. Confirm the induction of deep anesthesia by loss of toe and/or tail pinch reflex and then euthanize the mice by cervical dislocation.
2. Apply 70% ethanol to the chest to dampen the fur. Using external dissection scissors, open the abdominal cavity via a longitudinal incision, with scissor blades angled away from the animal to prevent damage to th....

Results

Figure 1: Basic kidney anatomy and location of PKJ pacemaker region. (A) Diagram of the intact kidney showing the orientation of the RP and ureter. The re.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
60 mm x 15 mm Petri dish	Sigma Aldrich	P5481	Kidney sharp dissection dish
Absorbent paper	Fisher Scientific	06-666A	To dry the kidney before applying<br/> glue
B6;129S-Gt(ROSA)26Sor/J	The Jackson Laboratory	13148	GCaMP3 Mice
B6;129S-Gt(ROSA)26Sor/J	The Jackson Laboratory	24105	GCaMP6f Mice
B6.FVB-Tg(Myh11-cre/ERT2)1Soff/J	The Jackson Laboratory	19079	smMHC-CRE Mice
C57BL/6-Tg(Pdgfra-cre)1Clc/J	The Jackson Laboratory	13148	PDGFRa-CRE Mice
Ethanol	Phamco-Aaper	SDA 2B-6	For dissection
Extra-fine Bonn Scissors	Fine Science Tools	14083-08	Used for internal dissecting scissors
Fine scissors	Fine Science Tools	14060-09	Used for external dissecting scissors
Fine-tip forceps	Fine Science Tools	11254-20	Used for fine dissection of kidney
Isoflurane	Baxter	NDC 1001936060	For anesthesia
Silicon elastomer	Fisher Scientific	NC9285739	Sylgard 184
Student Adson Forceps	Fine Science Tools	91106-12	For gently holding and moving the<br/> kidney
Student Dumont Forceps	Fine Science Tools	91150-20	Used for internal dissecting forceps
Vannas spring scissors	Fine Science Tools	15000-03	For sharp dissection and cleanup of<br/> isolated kidney