【Animal modeling】-Quantitative analysis of liver tumors in BALB/c mutant curly mice based on Image J software

  Objective To investigate the differences between BALB/c mutant curly-haired mice and normal BALB/c mice to construct tumor models via portal vein injection, and to establish a quantitative analysis method of tumor images based on Image J software.

  Methods H22 cells were injected into the livers of two groups of mice through the hepatic portal vein, and the livers were harvested 21 days later. The largest hepatic lobe diffused lesions were selected, firstly, taking pictures to obtain a vertical view of tumor appearance for comparison, and then using Image J software to quantitatively analyze and compare the images of liver tumors.

  Results Multiple diffuse tumors were formed in the livers of both groups of mice. Appearance showed that the multiple and diffuse degree of tumor in the curly mouse group was significantly higher than that in the normal mouse group, and the tumor was more closely related to the surrounding normal liver tissue infiltration. The results of Image J software analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups of mice in the proportion of livers, but the proportion of tumors and the proportion of tumors in the liver of the curly-haired mice were significantly greater than those of the normal mice (P<0.01).

  Conclusion The animal model of advanced liver tumor was successfully simulated. The ability of BALB/c mutant curly-haired mice to form tumor cells via portal vein injection was significantly better than that of normal BALB/c mice. At the same time, a quantitative image analysis method based on image analysis software Image J was established.