Murine model of oropharyngeal gastric fluid aspiration—A new assessment method for intrapulmonary liquid distribution using digital pixel calculation

ABSTRACT

Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to investigate a new method for visualization and quantification of intrapulmonary liquid distribution after oropharyngeal gastric fluid aspiration in mice. Material and Methods: Eleven mice received oropharyngeal aspiration with a gastric fluid, India ink, and saline solution. Digital imaging and pixel calculation were used to analyze intrapulmonary fluid distribution selectively. Results: Digital pixel analysis and orophanryngeal aspiration are both safe techniques in mice and deliver reproducible/valid results. Analysis revealed an average aspirate distribution of 86.8% of the total lung area. The proportional amount of the left lung was significantly greater than that of the right lung (P = 0.023). The lobe with the lowest mean distribution was the right lower lobe (79.2% ± 4.4%). Conclusion: Digital pixel calculation is a reliable method for quantitative, macroscopic evaluation of fluid distribution in the lung. This method is a useful tool for training purposes and it can be used to ensure interinvestigator reproducibility.

KEYWORDS:

• digital pixel calculation
• gastric fluid
• lung
• mice
• oropharyngeal aspiration

Declaration of interests

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Funding

This work was funded in part by the Parks Protocol Memorial Fund and the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation for general scientific research support.