Mar 04, 2025
Slow Release Pellet Implantation
- Katerina Rademacher1,
- Ken Nakamura1
- 1Gladstone Institutes
Protocol Citation: Katerina Rademacher, Ken Nakamura 2025. Slow Release Pellet Implantation. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.n92ldr428g5b/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: February 27, 2025
Last Modified: March 05, 2025
Protocol Integer ID: 123559
Keywords: ASAPCRN
Funders Acknowledgements:
ASAP
Grant ID: 025184
Abstract
This protocol describes how to subcutaneously implant slow-release pellets into mice.
Surgery Setup
Surgery Setup
Draw up drugs needed for surgery (e.g. anesthetics, analgesics).
Turn on bead sterilizer and light.
Prepare a recovery cage on a heating pad.
Place sterile surgical tools (forceps, scalpel, small scissors, hemostat) to one side of the stereotax.
Dispense a small amount of betadine into a weigh boat and place to one side.
Place a packet of sterile swabs nearby.
Turn on the heating pad for the stereotax.
Anesthesia and Incision
Anesthesia and Incision
Turn on oxygen and place mouse into isoflurane chamber and adjust isoflurane to 1-5% until mouse has fallen asleep.
Place mouse onto the stereotaxic frame and adjust isoflurane flow to 2%. Monitor the depth of anesthesia at least every 5 minutes during surgery.
Apply eye lubricant.
Prep the animal between the neck and shoulder blades:
Shave off a patch of fur.
Apply alternating swabs of betadine and 80% ethanol x 3
Confirm there is no bipedal toe pinch response. Use the scalpel to cut a midline incision that is 1.5x the diameter of the slow-release pellet.
Pellet implantation and suture
Pellet implantation and suture
Spread the subcutaneous tissue to create a pocket for the pellet. The pocket should be large enough such that the pellet is not resting immediately beneath the incision.
Insert the sterile slow-release pellet.
Close the wound with suture.
Monitoring and Clean up
Monitoring and Clean up
Turn the isoflurane off, remove the mouse from the stereotax and inject with analgesics.
Place mouse into recovery cage, and monitor until ambulatory before returning to its home cage.
Clean and sterilize instruments between each mouse.
At the end of the day:
Clean and sterilize all instruments.
Remove consumables from the surgical area.
Make sure isoflurane and oxygen are set to zero and turned off. Turn of the heating pad and bead sterilizer.
Post-operative care
Post-operative care
Follow appropriate postoperative care according to IACUC protocol