key: cord-0025555-bo7csj0f authors: Nakagawa, Hayate; Blanco, Tomas; Kahale, Francesca; Bir Singh, Rohan; Dohlman, Thomas H.; Dana, Reza title: Novel adaptation of a running suture technique in a mouse model of corneal transplantation date: 2021-10-22 journal: J Biol Methods DOI: 10.14440/jbm.2021.373 sha: 7f5fe8ea23200dacdcdb715c0231a0db83a64748 doc_id: 25555 cord_uid: bo7csj0f Several murine models of corneal transplantation have been developed over the years to study the immunopathological processes that lead to the failure of grafted corneas. In all of them, the classic eight interrupted sutures technique is utilized for transplanting the donor cornea on the host bed. However, in clinical practice, a single continuous suture with a single knot is generally performed for corneal transplantation. Here, we describe the adaptation of the single continuous suture technique in a mouse model of corneal transplantation. Over the past 115 years, keratoplasty has progressed to become the most widely performed solid tissue transplantation procedure [1] . In 2019, the Eye Bank Association of America reported 51336 corneal transplantations performed in the United States [2] . The development of experimental murine models of corneal transplantation beginning three decades ago has contributed greatly to our understanding of the pathological processes that lead to graft failure [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] . These models have been used to evaluate the host alloimmune response to the graft, to investigate the role of angiogenesis in the immunological response [9, 10] , and to assess the therapeutic effect of various immunomodulatory strategies [11] [12] [13] . In murine models of corneal transplantation, the most commonly used technique is the interrupted suturing method, in which a 2 mm donor corneal graft is secured to a 1.5 mm diameter recipient bed with eight interrupted (individual) 11-0 nylon sutures which are left un-buried [14] . Seven days post-transplant, the sutures are removed from the grafted cornea [15] . In clinical practice, surgeons performing corneal transplantation traditionally utilize a similar interrupted suturing technique, which allows for individual suture removal; however, the "running" suture technique, which consists of a single continuous suture with one knot, is also commonly performed. Potential benefits of the running suture technique include less irritation, suture loosening, and neovascularization [16] , as well as even distribution of suture tension to reduce postoperative astigmatism [17, 18] . Here, we report the adaptation of a continuous suturing method, commonly used in the clinical setting, to a murine model of corneal transplantation. Although a comparison between running and interrupted suture techniques has been described in the literature [19] , here we provide a step-by-step description of the single continuous suture technique which will be of potential use for future investigators interested in using this model. Follow-up with slit-lamp photographs confirming the feasibility of this technique is shown. 9 6 to 8-week-old male/female* C57BL/6** mice (donor) 9 6 to 8-week-old male/female BALB/c mice (allogeneic recipient) • *Age-and sex-matched mice have fewer variable outcomes. • **Depending on the aim of the study, the technique can be applied to different strains, genders, ages, and animal models for donor and recipient animals 1. Obtaining the donor cornea Euthanize the donor C57BL/6 mouse via CO 2 inhalation. Mark the central cornea with a 2 mm diameter trephine. Apply enough pressure to penetrate the deep stroma without perforating the cornea. With a 30 G needle, enter the anterior chamber: proper tunneling leads to leakage of aqueous humor and partial collapse of the anterior chamber. Inject OVD to restore the anterior chamber. Carefully dry the corneal surface with a Weck-cel sponge. Along the marked, trephined edge, excise the central cornea using Vannas scissors. Induce general anesthesia by intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (120 mg/kg) and xylazine (20 mg/ kg) to the recipient BALB/c mouse. Apply one drop of 0.5% procainamide to the corneal surface as topical anesthesia. Once the animal is fully anesthetized, achieve mydriasis using one drop of 2.5% phenylephrine hydrochloride and 1% tropicamide. Place the mouse in a recumbent lateral position, placing the head so the eye can be visualized under the surgical microscope. Wash the ocular surface with PBS and dry it using Weck-cel sponges. Mark the central cornea with a 1.5 mm diameter trephine. Apply enough pressure to penetrate the deep stroma without perforating the cornea. (Fig. 1A) 3.5. Using a 30 G needle, enter the anterior chamber. Inject OVD to restore the anterior chamber. Carefully dry the surface with Weck-cel sponges. Along the marked, trephined edge, completely excise the central cornea using Vannas scissors and discard. Suturing the graft (Movie S1) POL Scientific Protocol 4.1. Anchor the 2 mm donor cornea on the 1.5 mm recipient bed using a single interrupted 11-0 nylon suture at 12 o'clock, penetrating the donor graft first, and biting through 90% of the recipient corneal depth. Place three additional interrupted cardinal sutures at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock ( Fig. 1B and Fig. 2A ). During and after suture placement, inject OVD to maintain anterior chamber depth. Start the continuous suture using an 11-0 nylon between 12 and 1 o'clock, running clockwise, placing two evenly-spaced suture bites within each quadrant ( Fig. 1C and Fig. 2B ). Adjust suture tension along each suture segment. Wash the anterior chamber with PBS to remove OVD, maintaining the anterior chamber and achieving a physiologic intraocular pressure (Fig. 1D) . Adjust suture tension along each suture segment and permanently secure the suture knot once the desired tension is achieved (Fig. 1E and Fig. 2C ). Remove the four cardinal interrupted sutures (Fig. 1F) . Observe the eye to make sure the pupil is round and the anterior chamber depth is normal (Fig. 1G and Fig. 2D ). Apply antibiotic ointment to the operated eye. Perform tarsorrhaphy with an 8-0 nylon suture to close the eyelids 5.4. Administer buprenorphine (0.05-0.1 mg/kg) by subcutaneous injection immediately after surgery to minimize post-operative pain. 6. Suture removal 6.1. At 24 hours post-transplantation, anesthetize mice as described above and remove tarsorrhaphy. At seven days post-transplantation, anesthetize mice as described above and cut the suture at one location in each quadrant and remove the suture (Fig. 1H) . Examine eyes by slit-lamp microscopy weekly for eight weeks to assess corneal opacity and neovascularization using a standard scoring system [14] . Post-operative appearance immediately after surgery. The continuous suture technique was successfully developed in a mouse model of corneal transplantation, and no complications were observed through 8-weeks of follow-up (Fig. 3) . All sutures remained in place and no suture breakage or changes in tension were observed. In contrast to corneal transplants with interrupted sutures, where neovascularization is sometimes observed due to un-buried suture knots, no neovascularization was observed in corneas with the continuous technique. During suture removal, we did not observe any complications such as aqueous humor leakage, anterior chamber decompensation, or graft dehiscence. Regarding the operative time for transplantation and suture removal, we found that the running suture technique requires more time for suturing the graft and less time for suture removal compared to the interrupted suture technique, but there was no difference in overall surgical time ( Table 1) . Incidentally, we observed fewer anterior synechiae in the continuous suture group (4/26 mice, 15%) as compared to the interrupted suture group (8/24 mice, 33%) (see Fig. 4 for representative images). Anterior synechiae formation is a common complication in corneal transplantation which may increase the rate of graft rejection and future studies may be warranted to investigate the possible contribution of anterior synechiae to graft rejection and failure [20] . In conclusion, the continuous running suturing technique is feasible in a mouse model of corneal transplantation and represents an adaptation of a very well-established clinical technique to an animal model. The current report provides detailed step-by-step instructions for investigators to put this model into practice, and in future studies it will be important to compare the running and interrupted suture techniques in terms of clinical characteristics (neovascularization and graft opacity) and graft survival. Potential issues that may be encountered with corneal transplantation using the continuous suture technique are outlined below. 1. A cataract is a major complication that results from physical contact with the lens capsule while preparing the recipient bed. 2. Hemorrhage in the anterior chamber and subsequent hyphema formation may occur due to surgery-related trauma, typically due to accidental injury to the iris during the procedure. Anterior chamber washout with PBS may be performed to clear the anterior chamber. 3. It is essential to keep the surgical field clear as a foreign body can become trapped within the suture and potentially result in suture breakage. 4. Anterior synechiae between the iris and cornea may form Protocol and may be identified by slit lamp exam and/or anterior segment OCT. These are typical complications observed with the classical interrupted technique, and although we cannot rule out other specific complications related to this new technique, it likely that encountered complications are related more to the surgical learning curve rather than the technique itself. Centennial review of corneal transplantation Future of Corneal Donation and Transplantation: Insights From the COVID-19 Pandemic Penetrating corneal transplantation in the inbred rat: a new model A method for performing full-thickness, orthotopic, penetrating keratoplasty in the mouse Orthotopic corneal transplantation in mice-evidence that the immunogenetic rules of rejection do not apply Topical interleukin 1 receptor antagonist promotes corneal transplant survival The immune privilege of corneal allografts Orthotopic corneal transplantation in the mouse-a new surgical technique with minimal endothelial cell loss. Graefe Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Management of highrisk corneal transplantation Kinetics of angiogenic responses in corneal transplantation Low-Dose IL-2 Therapy in Transplantation, Autoimmunity, and Inflammatory Diseases Systemic Immunomodulatory Strategies in High-risk Corneal Transplantation Treatment of donor corneal tissue with immunomodulatory cytokines: a novel strategy to promote graft survival in high-risk corneal transplantation. Sci Rep Ocular surgical models for immune and angiogenic responses Promotion of graft survival by vascular endothelial growth factor a neutralization after high-risk corneal transplantation Armitate WJ; Corneal Transplant Follow-up Study Collaborators. Clinical and surgical factors influencing corneal graft survival, visual acuity, and astigmatism Evaluation of techniques of single continuous suturing in penetrating keratoplasty Adjustment of single continuous suture to control astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty Evaluation of corneal graft rejection in a mouse model Increase in orthotopic murine corneal transplantation rejection rate with anterior synechiae This study was supported by the National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health (R01 EY012963 to RD, K08 EY031759 to THD). Movie S1. The video included how to place the interrupted suture, how to start the continuous suture, how to adjust suture tension at the end.Supplementary information of this article can be found online at https://jbm.wistia.com/medias/xkkdlg2v01. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0