Inferior Lacrimal Gland Removal From Rabbit Model: A Surgical Procedure to Remove the Larger Inferior Tear Gland From Rabbit Eye Orbit

Abstract

Source: Honkanen, R. A., et al. Establishment of a Severe Dry Eye Model Using Complete Dacryoadenectomy in Rabbits. J. Vis. Exp. (2020).

In this video, we describe a surgical procedure to remove the large inferior lacrimal gland from a rabbit model to study the effect on tear production in the animal. 

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board. 1. Resect the ILG Allow at least 5 min for the local anesthetic to take effect in the rabbit. Incise the skin, the depressor muscle of the inferior palpebra, the zygomaticolabial part of the zygomatic muscle, and orbicularis muscle with the Colorado microdissection needle and make the skin incisions along the surgical markings. S…

Representative Results

Figure 1: Removal of the ILG. (A) The skin and superficial muscle are incised until the fascial plane overlying the zygomatic bone or superficial part of the masseter muscle is reached. The head of the ILG usually is clearly evident as a small bulge located under the anterior limbus. (B) The fibrous capsule of the ILG is incised with scissors exposing the ILG. On…

Materials

Acepromazine, Aceproinj	Henry Schein Animal Health, Dublin, OH	NDC11695-0079-8	0.1ml/kg subcutaneously injection for rabbit sedation
Anesthesia vaporizer	VetEquip, Pleasanton, CA	Item # 911103
Animal restraining bag	Henry Schein Animal Health, Dublin, OH	Jorvet J0170	Use appropriately sized bag
Cautery unit, high-temperature, battery-powered	Medline Industries Inc, Northfield, IL	REF ESCT001	Keep on hand in case of bleeding
Clipper, Wahl Mini Arco	Henry Schein Animal Health, Dublin, OH	No. 022573	Cordless shears for fur removal
Colorado needle	Stryker Craniomaxillofacial, Kalamazoo, MI	N103A	Use with electrosurgical unit to make incisions
Electrosurgical unit with monopolar cautery plate	Valleylab, Boulder, CO	Force FXc	Use with electrosurgical unit to make incisions
Forceps, curved dressing	Bausch and Lomb (Storz), Bridgewater, NJ	Storz E1406	delicate serrated dressing forceps
Forceps, 0.3	Bausch and Lomb (Storz), Bridgewater, NJ	ET6319	For removal of nictating membrane
Forceps, Bishop Harmon	Bausch and Lomb (Storz), Bridgewater, NJ	E1500-C	Use toothed forceps for dacryoadenectomy
Hair remover lotion, Nair	Widely available	Softening Baby oil	Dipilitory cream for sensitive skin
Isoflurane	Henry Schein Animal Health, Dublin, OH	29405	Possible alternative sedation
Laryngeal mask airway	Docsinnovent Ltd, London, UK	Vgel R3
Lid speculum, wire	Bausch and Lomb (Storz), Bridgewater, NJ	Barraquer SUH01	For removal of nictating membrane
Scissors, Vannas	McKesson Medical-Surgical, San Francisco, CA	Miltex 2-130	Capsulotomy scissors for dacryoadenectomy
Sedation gas mask	DRE Veterinary, Louisville, KY	#1381	Possible alternative sedation
Surgical marking pen	Medical Action Industries, Arden, ND	REF 115
Sutures, 5-0 Mersilene	Ethicon US, LLC		Ethylene terephthalate sutures, used for deep connective tissue closure
Rabbit, New Zealand White	Charles River Labs, Waltham, MA (NZW)	2-3 kg	Research animals
Sutures, Vicryl 6-0	Ethicon US, LLC		Polyglactin 910 sutures, used for superficial muscle and skin closure
Syringe, 1 cc	BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ	Ref 309659	For injection of lidocaine/ epinephrine
Tissue forceps, 0.8mm Graefe	Roboz Surgical Store, Gaithersburg, MD	RS-5150	Curved Weck forceps