Utilization of Murine Laparoscopy for Continuous In-Vivo Assessment of the Liver in Multiple Disease Models

BACKGROUND: Current strategies for follow up of murine models of liver disease are flawed by inability to continuously monitor disease progression in the tissue level, and necessitate sacrifice of animals for tissue sampling. AIMS: In this study we aimed at developing a safe repetitive tool for sampling livers in vivo, by utilization of a miniaturized endoscopy system for laparoscopic liver biopsies and for injection of tumor cells into livers. RESULTS: We report the development of a protocol for murine laparoscopy that allows repeated visualization of murine intra-abdominal organs. The system enables safe and repeated liver biopsies in mice and rats, yielding adequate tissue for histological staining and RNA extraction. In addition, injection of tumor cells into livers facilitates under-vision implantation of hepatic tumors in liver, followed by visualization of tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS: Murine laparoscopy may be employed as a novel imaging modality for continuous assessment and manipulation of chronic liver disease models.