Rodent mammary window for intravital microscopy of orthotopic breast cancer and related method

摘要

A rodent mammary window for intravital microscopy of orthotopic breast cancer and the related method of use in rodents to provide a useful model to investigate the cellular behavior of implanted tumor cells in an orthotopic environment and to observe the earliest events during angiogenesis. The mammary window is surgically secured in the mammary gland of the rodent on top of implanted tumor fragments or cells that have been implanted into the nipple sinus of the mammary gland. Periodically the rodent is secured to a microscopy platform with a restrainer plate mounted on top of the abdomen of the rodent such that a central aperture in the restrainer plate is aligned with the mammary window and selective aspects of tumor growth are observed by intravital microscopy including microvascular function and angiogenesis in the orthotopic site.