The Study of Animal Model of Lymphedema Using the Mouse Tail

Objectives: To investigate the time course of the development of acquired and experimental lymphedema. Methods: We studied an experimental model of acute post surgical lymphedema in the tails of female hairless mice. The procedures that remove the skin and subcutaneous tissue in tails of the mice (5-10 mm from tail base) were performed, and then the murine has acquired lymphatic insufficiency. We measured volume of the tails in 2 times per week for 5 weeks, histological biopsy, and lymphoscintigraphy to assess lymphatic flow. Results: There was gradually increased volume of the tails and observed twice volume at post surgical 18 days. In lymphoscintigraphy, we identified decreased lymphatic flow and dermal back flow in the tails. Histological biopsy showed inflammatory response that was edema and increased neutrophils in epidermis and subdermis, and lymphatic microvascular dilatation. Conclusions: We have a mouse model of acute acquired lymphedema. This post surgical murine tail model of lymphedema can be used to simulate an attribute of human lymphedema and provides knowledge about functional and structural alterations of lymphedema.