title: A method for sampling and tissue preparation of the parathyroid glands in miniature pigs for toxicity studies.
abstract: Miniature swine (minipigs) are often used in non-rodent toxicity studies. However, unlike other animal species, the parathyroid glands of minipigs are often covered with thymic tissue and are similar in color, making macroscopical identification difficult. We investigated a method for sampling and tissue preparation of the parathyroid glands using 5- to 7-month-old minipigs. The glands were identified by finding the insertion site of a branch from the carotid artery into the cervical part of the thymus. Then the glands were marked and sampled. In a preliminary study, the glands were macroscopically and microscopically detected in 3/8 animals. The glands were not identified macroscopically in 5/8 animals but were detected in 3 of these animals. In total, we succeeded in detection of the glands in 6/8 animals (75%). The method was applied in the main toxicity study, and we succeeded in 100% detection through technical advancement. The method described herein enables high rate of detection and is useful in the pathological evaluation of the parathyroid glands of minipigs.
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soshin
authors.forename: Hirotake
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Tsuneo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D018675:Toxicity Tests