Hi everyone,
I plan to innoculate U87-MG cell line into mice to create an in vivo model of glioblastoma. I have several questions that I hope I can get help with:
a. I plan to investigate the tumor's angiogenesis, apoptosis, necrosis, and invasiveness. Is it better to inject the cell subcutaneously or intracranially?
b. How many U87-MG cells are required to create one in vivo model of glioblastoma?
c. How do you immunosuppress the mice? How many days are required for the mice to be immunosuppressed?
d. Should I choose to do this intracranially, is there a way to know that the tumor has attached to the brain and has grown?
e. Should I choose to do this subcutaneously, how do I know that the tumor is alive and well?
If you have a recommended paper to read regarding this topic, please do share the link.
Thanks in advance
Hello!
Please you look at these publications:
Article The development of xenograft glioblastoma implants in nude mice brain
Article A Simple Guide Screw Method for Intracranial Xenograft Studies in Mice
Here some answers that might help:
a. I plan to investigate the tumor's angiogenesis, apoptosis, necrosis, and invasiveness. Is it better to inject the cell subcutaneously or intracranially?
For in vivo models of glioblatoma, I'd always prefer orthotopic models because, even if you you have to use immunodeficient mice, the brain provides microenvironmental cues (such as reduced oxygen tension and others), that you won't have by using s.c. model. Anyway, if you wnat to look for invasiveness, the s.c. model would not be of any help, even though the U87 cells are not extremely invasive for glioblastoma cells.
b. How many U87-MG cells are required to create one in vivo model of glioblastoma?
For intracranial injections, we usually implant between 50000 U87 cells.
c. How do you immunosuppress the mice? How many days are required for the mice to be immunosuppressed?
We use immunodeficient NMRI nude mice, showing a tumor-uptake rate of 100%.
d. Should I choose to do this intracranially, is there a way to know that the tumor has attached to the brain and has grown?
By using luciferase expressing cells for the implantation, you can follow tumor progression by in vivo luminescence measurement, that's what we usually do. Other possibility, frequent MRI measurements.
e. Should I choose to do this subcutaneously, how do I know that the tumor is alive and well?
As mentioned above, I'd recommend an orthotopic model.
Hope that helps.
