An improved simple method of mouse lung intubation

Abstract

Given the ubiquitous use of mice to study lung disease, it is curious that more investigators do not use repeated intubation to study mechanical and cellular changes in individual mice. One of the reasons for this limited use of intubation is that it is relatively difficult, despite there being several published studies that describe ways to achieve it. In this paper, we describe a complete procedure, including novel approaches that simplify this intubation, so that it can be routinely accomplished with relatively little training. The technique can also be set up with relatively little expense and expertise. This should make it possible for any laboratory to routinely carry out this intubation, thereby allowing longitudinal studies in individual mice and potentially increasing the statistical power by using each mouse as its own control. Copyright © 2009 the American Physiological Society.