Important Endpoints and Proliferative Markers to Assess Small Intestinal Injury and Adaptation using a Mouse Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Mucositis

J Vis Exp. 2019 May 12:(147). doi: 10.3791/59236.

Abstract

Intestinal adaptation is the natural compensatory mechanism that occurs when the bowel is lost due to trauma. The adaptive responses, such as crypt cell proliferation and increased nutrient absorption, are critical in recovery, yet poorly understood. Understanding the molecular mechanism behind the adaptive responses is crucial to facilitate the identification of nutrients or drugs to enhance adaptation. Different approaches and models have been described throughout the literature, but a detailed descriptive way to essentially perform the procedures is needed to obtain reproducible data. Here, we describe a method to estimate important endpoints and proliferative markers of small intestinal injury and compensatory hyperproliferation using a model of chemotherapy-induced mucositis in mice. We demonstrate the detection of proliferating cells using a cell cycle specific marker, as well as using small intestinal weight, crypt depth, and villus height as endpoints. Some of the critical steps within the described method are the removal and weighing of the small intestine and the rather complex software system suggested for the measurement of this technique. These methods have the advantages that they are not time-consuming, and that they are cost-effective and easy to carry out and measure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adaptation, Physiological*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Biomarkers / metabolism*
  • Body Weight
  • Bromodeoxyuridine / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endpoint Determination*
  • Female
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / metabolism
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects
  • Intestine, Small / injuries*
  • Intestine, Small / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mucositis / chemically induced*
  • Mucositis / pathology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 2
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
  • Bromodeoxyuridine