We describe the manufacture of compressed hormone pellets, as well as subcutaneous surgical implantation into mice. This strategy can be combined with the growth of cell and tissue xenografts under the renal capsule of athymic nude mice to evaluate hormonal carcinogenesis and regulation of benign prostate growth.
New therapies for two common prostate diseases, prostate cancer (PrCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), depend critically on experiments evaluating their hormonal regulation. Sex steroid hormones (notably androgens and estrogens) are important in PrCa and BPH; we probe their respective roles in inducing prostate growth and carcinogenesis in mice with experiments using compressed hormone pellets. Hormone and/or drug pellets are easily manufactured with a pellet press, and surgically implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of the male mouse host. We also describe a protocol for the evaluation of hormonal carcinogenesis by combining subcutaneous hormone pellet implantation with xenografting of prostate cell recombinants under the renal capsule of immunocompromised mice. Moreover, subcutaneous hormone pellet implantation, in combination with renal capsule xenografting of BPH tissue, is useful to better understand hormonal regulation of benign prostate growth, and to test new therapies targeting sex steroid hormone pathways.
Prostate cancer (PrCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are significant health burdens. PrCa is the second most prevalent solid organ cancer in men and a leading cause of cancer related death 1. BPH is also highly prevalent among older men, and it is estimated that the clinical manifestation of BPH, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), will affect 50-90% of men 2. While androgens and estrogens are known to be important in PrCa and BPH, our understanding of the hormonal mechanisms that underlie carcinogenesis and growth remains incomplete 3,4. Simple and genetically tractable animal models underpin the studies that will address these priorities in prostate research. In hormone responsive diseases such as PrCa and BPH, the use of subcutaneous, slow release hormone pellets, in isolation or in combination with renal capsule xenografting (the transfer of cells, tissues or organs from one species into another) into the immunocompromised mouse host, provides a simple and reproducible method for studying hormonal regulation of growth and carcinogenesis.
Subcutaneous hormone pellet implantation is a simple and reproducible technique to study hormonal regulation of carcinogenesis and benign growth in the prostate 5. Subcutaneous implantation of adult male mice with 25 mg testosterone (T) and 2.5 mg 17β-estradiol (E2), causes an increase in serum E2 and gradual decrease in T, recreating the dynamic hormonal environment of aging men 5,6. In addition, this model recapitulates many of the clinical features of BPH-LUTS 5,7. Alternative methods of hormone administration include oral/gavage administration or intraperitoneal injection, which cause distress to the rodent, are less consistent in delivering the same amount of drug over time, and are more labor-intensive than a one-time surgical implantation. Other subcutaneous modes for hormone and/or drug delivery include Silastic capsules 8. While we also have experience with use of Silastic capsules, compressed pellets are favored for their ease of use and reproducibility. Furthermore, release rates of compressed hormone pellets better mimic the dynamic sex steroid hormone ratios observed in aging men 5,7.
Since the development of genetically immunocompromised mice, numerous in vivo model systems incorporating xenografting techniques have been developed for the study of a wide variety of normal and diseased tissues. There are several basic categories of xenografting. Tissue xenografts consist of a small piece of intact tissue, which can be a normal structure, malignant tumor, or benign growth. Szot et al. (2007) have recently illuminated renal capsule xenografting of pancreatic islets 9. Aamdal et al. (1985) described renal capsule xenografting of 27 human cancer cell lines in immunocompromised mouse hosts 10. Grafts can also be composed of a single immortalized cell line (cancerous or non-tumorigenic), or can consist of an immortalized cell line combined with cells isolated from mesenchyme (cell recombinant graft).
We favor xenografting of cell recombinants to probe the respective roles of stroma and epithelium in the development of PrCa and BPH. Cunha et al. (1980) was the first to report that when adult murine bladder epithelium is combined with embryonic urogenital sinus mesenchyme (UGM) and xenografted under the renal capsule of male mice hosts, the tissue develops into structures resembling prostate acini 11. Norman et al. (1986) showed that adult mouse prostatic ductal epithelium and UGM, when combined in tissue recombinants, undergo ductal growth and branching morphogenesis 12. Hayward et al. (1988) showed that human prostate epithelium responds to inductive fetal mesenchyme in a similar fashion 13. A hormonal model of carcinogenesis in the prostate, by combining the immortalized human prostate epithelial cell line BPH-1 with UGM, was first reported by Wang et al. 14 (2001) and has been used extensively in our laboratory 15. This model is well suited for understanding PrCa progression because benign prostatic epithelium transforms to metastatic disease, modeling advanced PrCa in humans 5. Because specific components can be genetically manipulated, cell recombinant grafting is particularly useful as an approach to evaluate stromal-epithelial interactions.
Other sites suitable for xenografting are intradermal, subcutaneous and orthotopic locations 16. Depending on the tissue and disease process of interest, these may be suitable alternative approaches. For the study of prostate hormonal carcinogenesis and benign growth regulation, we choose the renal capsule site for xenografting due to its higher graft take rate, abundant blood supply, and ability to implant a greater number of xenografts into one confined site 16. Moreover, hormonal manipulation of the host mouse that results in prostatic atrophy limits the use of prostate orthotopic grafting 16.
This protocol outlines techniques of compressed hormone/drug pellet manufacture and surgical implantation, as well as renal capsule xenografting of human prostate cell and tissue grafts. Together, these techniques provide a sensitive assay to determine if a genetically modified mouse is more susceptible to PrCa and/or BPH initiation than control strains. Xenografting is a powerful technique for in vivo evaluation of the potential of experimental cells to develop histologic and molecular features of malignancy, as well as an assay for novel treatment strategies for a wide variety of benign and malignant diseases.
1. Preparation of Compressed Hormone/Drug Pellet
2. Preparation of Cell Recombinant Xenografts
3. Preparation of Tissue Xenografts
4. Preparation of Fire Polished Glass Pipette
5. Preparation of Instruments and Surgical Suite
6. Surgical Procedure: Renal Capsule Xenografting
7. Surgical Procedure: Subcutaneous Pellet Implantation
Depending on the hypothesis to be tested, renal capsule xenografting of tissue or cell recombinants can be performed in isolation, or in combination with subcutaneous hormone pellet implantation. A schematic of a hypothetical experiment combining renal capsule xenografting experiment with subcutaneous hormone pellet implantation is illustrated in Figure 1. A variety of powdered and/or crystalline substances can be used in the manufacture of compressed pellets with the pellet press. Figure 2 shows 25 mg, 12 mg and 6 mg compressed hormone pellets.
Figure 3 shows an example of the fire-polished glass pipette used during the surgical procedure. Multiple passes of a glass Pasteur pipette through Bunsen burner flame result in a fire-polished, rounded tip that is used to create a pocket for grafts under the renal capsule and to manipulate grafts under the renal capsule.
As shown in Figure 4, primary tissue xenografts from patients with BPH, supplemented with exogenous testosterone (25 mg subcutaneous pellet) to simulate the male human hormonal milieu, survive and the tissue architecture is preserved (Figure 4A). Also shown in Figure 4, renal capsule grafting can be used to evaluate hormonal carcinogenesis. Cell recombinants containing benign prostate epithelium (BPH-1) and inductive urogenital mesenchyme (UGM) grown in untreated mice form benign growths (Figure 4B). The same graft, grown in a host that received subcutaneous hormone pellets of 25 mg T and 2.5 mg E2 for four months, develops into prostate carcinoma that invades the renal capsule (Figure 4C) 5,14.
Figure 1. Schematic of renal capsule xenografting and pellet implantation procedure. Renal capsule xenografting is performed via a dorsal midline approach. During the same surgical procedure, the mouse is surgically implanted with slow-releasing subcutaneous compressed hormone and/or drug pellets in the neck scruff region.
Figure 2. Examples of compressed hormone pellets manufactured with the present protocol. A. 12 mg pellet. B. 6 mg pellet. C. 25 mg pellet.
Figure 3. Fire-polished glass Pasteur pipette. The finished pipette is curved, with a smooth rounded tip suitable for creating a pocket for the xenograft under the renal capsule. The pipette is also used to manipulate the graft under the renal capsule.
Figure 4. Example of renal capsule xenografts. A. Tissue xenografts (arrowheads) of human BPH tissue are grown for one month under the renal capsule of a nude male mouse. The mouse host is supplemented with 25 mg testosterone pellet to simulate the hormonal milieu of the human male. B. Cell recombinant xenografts (arrowheads) containing human prostatic epithelial cell line (BPH-1) and inductive urogenital mesenchyme (UGM) grown under the renal capsule of a nude mouse that was not implanted with a subcutaneous hormone pellet for four months. C. Cell recombinant xenograft containing BPH-1 and UGM, grown under the renal capsule of a nude mouse that also underwent subcutaneous pellet implantation of 25 mg testosterone and 2.5 mg 17β-estradiol for four months.
This paper and the protocol outlined herein describe the manufacture of compressed hormone and/or drug pellets, and the surgical procedure for subcutaneous pellet implantation of mice. Depending on the research question to be addressed, this technique can be performed singly, or in combination with renal capsule xenografting of prostate cell recombinant grafts or prostate tissue xenografts, which are techniques widely used in prostate research 17-19. Taken together, these techniques offer a powerful approach to study hormonal carcinogenesis and regulation of benign growth in the human and mouse prostate.
Pellet manufacture is simple to perform, easily reproducible, and requires limited equipment. It can be applied to various hormone and drug preparations. It is critical to perform this technique in a chemical safety hood, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment. For experiments assessing prostate carcinogenesis and induction of murine bladder outlet obstruction we use 25 mg T and 2.5 mg E2 5,7,15. These doses are chosen because they produce the desired in vivo response and because they create serum hormone levels that are physiologically relevant for human males with the disease process of interest 6. Pellet molds allow several different sizes of pellets to be manufactured; we typically use 25 mg pellets for evaluating carcinogenesis and benign growth. Choice of the pellet size depends on the hypothesis to be addressed, as well as the production of a desired effect, the production of desired circulating levels and the duration of the experiment. If drug or hormone is combined with a binding agent (such as cholesterol) we recommend a homogenous mixture of hormone and binding agent.
Depending on the study, subcutaneous pellet implantation can be performed following castration of the male host 15. In our experience, implantation of 25 mg of T causes feedback inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, inhibiting endogenous secretion. Therefore we choose to compare mice treated with 25 mg T to simulate the androgenic environment of the human male to intact but untreated males, with endogenous T secretion maintained. We do not routinely utilize a castrate host due to the atrophic response of the prostate and prostate xenografts to androgen withdrawal.
This protocol also describes the creation of a piece of specialized equipment for renal capsule xenografting, the fire-polished glass Pasteur pipette. This can be easily performed with equipment present in most laboratories, resulting in a customized surgical instrument than can be manufactured and sterilized prior to use in the surgical procedure. Wearing personal protective equipment is important to ensure staff safety when creating the fire-polished glass pipette.
Prior to embarking on any of the surgical procedures outlined in this protocol, all techniques must be reviewed and approved by the institutional animal care and use committee. Surgical procedures performed in rodents require training and practice in both the technical aspects of the procedure, as well as the principles and practice of aseptic technique. For an introduction to the equipment and techniques important in these procedures we recommend staff view the video manuscript recently reported by Prichett-Corning et al. (2011) 20. We also recommend all staff receive hands-on training in rodent surgical procedures and aseptic technique.
In our laboratory, these procedures are typically performed with two staff members. The surgical assistant administers anesthesia, observes animals during recovery, assists the surgeon with non-sterile aspects of the procedure and documents all procedures. The surgeon maintains the sterile field, administers analgesia and performs the surgical procedures outlined in this protocol. With proper planning and training, the surgical procedure of subcutaneous hormone pellet implantation is simple and easy to perform.
There are several experimental design considerations for cell recombinant xenografting. As with any experiments utilizing immortalized cell lines, contamination is important to minimize and detect. For experiments using BPH-1 cell lines, we recommend a low passage number (less than 25). To control for effects of the stroma, we utilize grafts containing only BPH-1 cells for one kidney and grafts containing BPH-1 and UGM on the contralateral kidney. For experiments designed to address hormonal carcinogenesis, we typically have an untreated control condition (mouse is not implanted with a pellet, or is implanted with a cholesterol pellet). Positive controls (host mouse is implanted with T+E2 pellets) are equally important when evaluating other conditions that may promote carcinogenesis with this model system. Depending on the research question to be addressed, the duration of pellet implantation and/or xenograft growth may range from several weeks to four months; for experiments planned to exceed four months, we recommend additional pellet implantation to maintain exogenous hormone levels. For experiments involving benign prostate tissue xenografts, it is important to wear proper personal protective equipment and maintain universal precautions for blood borne pathogens. Freshly harvested tissue can be stored prior to xenografting for 12-72 hr.
The surgical technique for renal capsule xenografting requires planning, practice and some manual dexterity. Minimizing the duration of the surgical procedure, maintaining body temperature and careful surgical technique can mitigate perioperative mortality and surgical complications. The chance of perioperative death in our experience increases with the duration of the surgical procedure; for this reason we limit the surgical procedure to no longer than 20-25 min. Use of a heating lamp and warmed wax pad during surgery and recovery is ideal for maintaining body temperature. Routine post-operative care is another important aspect of the success of this technique. Mice should be observed during anesthesia recovery, and the day following surgery for signs of pain and distress. Administer appropriate analgesia to minimize post-procedural pain and distress.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
The authors would like to thank all members of the Ricke lab, past and present. We thank Calvin Patten, Jr., DVM and Brigitte Raabe, DVM, for helpful comments regarding the protocol. We would like to acknowledge the NIDDK, NCI, and NIEHS for their financial support for these studies: R01DK093690, R01CA123199, RC2ESO18764. TMN is a trainee in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Rochester funded by NIH T32 GM07356; the NIH under Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award F30DK093173 also supports this project. CDV is supported by T32CA157322 and ABT is supported by T32ES007015 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences or NIH.
EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS | |||
Pellet press | PARR Industries | 2815 | 3mm Punch & Die set |
Analytical Balance | Ohaus | 1918302 | Voyager or other |
Bunsen burner | Fisher Scientific | 03-962Q | |
Dissecting microscope | Leica | L2 | |
Deltaphase Pad Kit (reheatable wax) | Braintree Scientific | 39DP | Alternative to an electric heating pad |
Hot Bead sterilizer | F.S.T. | 18000-45 | |
Isoflurane Vaporizer | Supera Anesthesia Innov | VAP3000 | |
Induction Chamber | Supera Anesthesia Innov | RES644 | |
F/AIR Canister | Supera Anesthesia Innov | 80120 | |
4 port Manifold | Supera Anesthesia Innov | RES536 | |
Rebreathing Circuits | Supera Anesthesia Innov | CIR529 | |
Inlet/Outlet Fittings | Supera Anesthesia Innov | VAP203/4 | |
Pressure Reg/Gauge | Supera Anesthesia Innov | OXY508 | |
Oxygen Flowmeter | Supera Anesthesia Innov | OXY660 | |
21mm Clear Tubing | Supera Anesthesia Innov | 301-150 | |
Small Mice Nose Cone | Supera Anesthesia Innov | ACC526 | |
Sterile surgical gown | Midwest Vet Supply | 350.79866.2 | |
Surgical mask | Midwest Vet Supply | 350.50111.2 | 2-ply w/ earloops |
Sterile gauze | Midwest Vet Supply | 001.14100.2 | 2 x 2 inches |
Sterile Gloves | Kimberly Clark | 55092 | |
Bouffant | Midwest Vet Supply | 001.27100.2 | |
Cotton Tip Applicator | Midwest Vet Supply | 001.06220.2 | |
Surgical Scrub Wash | Midwest Vet Supply | 733.80010.3 | |
Sterile Fields (Fenestrated) | General Econopak, Inc | 88VCSTF | |
REAGENTS | |||
Cholesterol | Sigma-Aldrich | C-3292 | |
Testosterone Proprionate | Sigma-Aldrich | T-1875 | |
17β-estradiol | Sigma-Aldrich | E-2758 | |
Isoflurane | Midwest Vet Supply | 193.33161.3 | |
Carprofen | Midwest Vet Supply | 193.70200.3 | Injectable (Rimadyl) |
Betadine | Webster Veterinary | 07-836-3379 | |
Sterile saline | Midwest Vet Supply | 193.74504.3 | NaCl 0.9%, Injectable |
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS | |||
Straight Sharp/Blunt Scissors | Fine Scientific Tools (F.S.T.) | 14054-13 | |
Graefe forceps (Serrated, Toothed, Curved) | F.S.T. | 11055-10 | |
Fine Iris scissors | F.S.T. | 14090-09 | |
Graefe Scalpel | F.S.T. | 10071-12 | |
Dumont #5 forceps | F.S.T. | 11251-20 | |
Glass Pasteur pipets | Fisher Scientific | S67050 | 5″ length |
Graefe forceps (Serrated, Curved) | F.S.T. | 11052-10 | |
Graefe forceps (Serrated, Straight) | F.S.T. | 11050-10 | |
Vicryl Suture | Midwest Vet Supply | 295-92100.2 | 4-0, FS-2, Absorbable |
Needle Holder w/ scissor action | F.S.T. | 12002012 | |
Wound Clips | Braintree Scientific | ACS CS | May use 7mm or 9mm clips |
Reflex Wound Clipper | F.S.T. | 12031-09 | Correspond w/ wound clip size |
Would Clip Remover | F.S.T. | 12033-00 | Universal |
Sterilization Container | F.S.T. | 20810-01 | Any autoclavable container will do |
Syringe w/ needle | BD | 148292C | 1cc, 25Gx1 |
Ear Tag Applicator | National Band & Tag Co. | 1005s1 | Alternative to ear notching |
Small Animal Ear Tags | National Band & Tag Co. | 1005-1 |