Observation of Digestive Tract Tissue Morphology in Mice Using Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy

doi:10.12300/j.issn.1674-5817.2025.035

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To explore the application value of probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) in rapidly detecting and evaluating the morphological characteristics of digestive tract tissues in mice. Methods Twelve male SPF Kunming mice aged 6 weeks were randomly divided into two groups. Six mice were subjected to gastric gavage with 52% Red Star Erguotou to establish the model, and six were given saline by gastric gavage as a control. After 28 days of modeling, 3 mice were randomly selected from each group. After deep anesthesia induced by inhalation of 3% isoflurane, the mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and rectum tissues were excised and immersed in 1% fluorescein sodium solution for staining. The microstructure of the mucosal surface of each tissue was observed using pCLE. The remaining mice in the model group and the control group were deeply anesthetized by inhaling 3% isoflurane, then cardiac perfusion was performed successively with saline and 4% paraformaldehyde. The stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and rectum tissues were excised for dehydration, section and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the morphological changes of the tissues were observed under a microscope. Results Under pCLE imaging, fluorescence staining on the surface of the gastrointestinal mucosa was uniform in the control group; the morphology of gastric pits, intestinal villi, and intestinal crypts was intact, arranged compactly, and had distinct boundaries. In the model group, the gastrointestinal mucosa exhibited mucosal swelling and deformation, with uneven fluorescence staining and fluorescein leakage. Furthermore, some tissues showed defects or cell shedding, and the boundaries between adjacent characteristic structures (e.g., gastric pits, intestinal crypts) were blurred. HE staining showed that the gastrointestinal tissue structure of the control group mice was normal and well-organized, with no structural defects. Moreover, submucosal glands were uniform in size, with no hyperplasia observed, and no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. In the model group, some gastrointestinal mucosal structures were defective and sparsely arranged; submucosal glands showed atrophy, accompanied by obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. The histological characteristics detected by pCLE were consistent with those of HE staining. Conclusion pCLE can be used to obtain rapid, real-time, large-scale, and high-resolution microscopic imaging of the gastrointestinal mucosa, realistically and comprehensively displaying its physiological and microstructural characteristics. It shows promising prospects and practical utility in the histological evaluation of digestive system injuries in small animals.

Key words: Chronic alcohol exposure injury, Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy, Digestive tracts, Mice

CLC Number:

Q95-33

LIU Yueqin,XUE Weiguo,WANG Shuyou,et al. Observation of Digestive Tract Tissue Morphology in Mice Using Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy[J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2025, 45(4): 457-465. DOI: 10.12300/j.issn.1674-5817.2025.035.

Figures/Tables 5

References 21

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