Pituitary isograft transplantation in mice.

Euthanize the donor mouse and decapitate at the base of the neck. Peel back the skin and connective tissue to expose the skull, then carefully cut along suture lines to remove the skull dome and access the brain.

Using forceps, gently remove the brain to expose the pituitary located between the optic nerves. Carefully trace along the pituitary to remove overlying membrane and lift it from the skull base, then place in PBS or culture media.

Anesthetize the recipient mouse, shave the surgical area, and swab with 70% ethanol. Make a 1 cm skin incision at the bottom of the ribcage and a slightly shorter incision through the abdominal wall.

Moisten the 18-gauge 1.5-inch trocar with PBS. Gently lay the pituitary on the beveled end and draw it completely into the barrel, then set the loaded trocar aside while preparing to expose the kidney.

Use a dampened cotton swab to roll the kidney out of the abdominal incision and hold it in place. Insert the trocar with beveled edge up under the kidney capsule at a level angle, then inject the pituitary using the plunger.

Lift the skin and abdominal wall to allow the kidney to fall back inside the abdomen. Apply antibiotic solution to the surgical site to guard against infection.

Sew the abdominal wall incision with one or two stitches. Close the exterior skin incision with two wound clips to complete the transplant procedure.