Orthotopic Inoculation of Thyroid Cancer Cells into Murine Thyroid: A Procedure to Establish Orthotopic Thyroid Cancer Mouse Model

Orthotopic inoculation facilitates the delivery of cancer cells to a recipient animal at an organ or site that matches the tissue histotype. To begin, prep an anesthetized immunocompromised nude mouse in the supine position.

Next, make a surgical incision in the neck region to reveal the salivary glands. Displace the salivary glands and dissect the strap muscles to expose the underlying trachea and thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland, an endocrine gland, consists of two lobes that lie on either side of the trachea and surround the cricoid cartilage. These two lobes are connected by a thin strip of thyroid tissue called the isthmus.

Now, prepare a suspension of thyroid cancer cells with a suitable buffer in a syringe. Carefully inject the cell suspension into the mouse’s thyroid lobe.

Subsequently, reposition the salivary glands and suture the incision. Allow the mouse to recover. Monitor the mouse weekly to observe the growth of orthotopic tumors within the thyroid lobe.