An improved method in rat intubation and thymectomy

Backgroud: Thymokidney had been reported as an approach of vascularized thymus for transplantation to inducing donor specific tolerance. A completely thymectomized model ensuring that the obtained thymus is not injured has not been reported and is desired for evaluating an autologous thymokidney function in rats. Materials and Methods: Adult Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 150-300g (n=30) underwent no-invasively intubation under the help of a improved self-made wedge-shaped cannula made from a 2 ml plastic syringe and transillumination from the rat anterior tracheal area by an operation spotlight, then the rats received a thoracotomy while the breathing was supported by a small-animal ventilator, both lobes of the thymus were entirely extirpated under the ×10 microscope. The postoperative survival rate of the rats was observed, and the changes in the T-cell reservoir from random 9 of 30 rats within 21 days after surgery were monitored using flow cytometry. The complete thymectomy rate is confirmed by autopsy and histological examination after 21 days post-operation. Results: The postoperative survival rate of rats was 100%, the exsected thymus organ is free of injury and the rate of a complete thymectomy was 100%. Conclusions: This model has a stable survival rate and the thymectomy was complete. The obtained thymus tissue is free of injury and can be used for transplantation.