This works was supported through grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN 238382-2011) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP115076). Heather Paul was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postgraduate Scholarship and an Alberta Innovates Health Solutions scholarship. Megan Hallam was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship, a Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship, and an Alberta Children&#39;s Hospital Research Institute Training Award in Genetics, Child Development, and Health.

This protocol was approved by the University of Calgary Animal Care Committee and conformed to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
1. Separate Dam from Offspring
<ol>
	<li>Separate the dam from her offspring for a minimum of 5 min prior to milking12. 
	NOTE: The dam can be milked up to 5-6 hr after separation1,6,13, however periods of separation longer than 4 hr may alter milk composition14. While separation time does not appear to impact milk collection volume12, it is advised that a consistent separation time be maintained throughout the study. Milk composition may change throughout lactation15, therefore attempts should be made to keep the day of milk collection consistent. Maximum milk production is suggested to occur on lactation day 1412.</li>
	<li>Using a warming chamber, ensure the pups are able to maintain proper body temperature without the presence of their mother for the duration of the milking procedure. 
	NOTE: In the study presented below, milking was performed at weaning, when the dams were approximately 22 weeks old and the offspring 21 days old, therefore no warming chamber was used.</li>
</ol>
2. Set-up and Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Collect all materials required for the milking procedure. 
	NOTE: All materials can be found in the materials and equipment table.</li>
	<li>Place a heating pad on the bench where milking will take place and cover the pad with an absorbent bench under-pad.</li>
	<li>Set up the anesthetic system. Ensure that the system has sufficient oxygen and isoflurane prior to beginning. Attach the anesthetic mask that will be used for initial anesthesia induction to the machine. Place the mask that will be used for anesthesia maintenance nearby if different than the initial anesthetic mask.</li>
	<li>Attach a 25 G needle to a 1 ml syringe for oxytocin injection using aseptic technique.</li>
	<li>Turn on the heating pad so that maternal body temperature is maintained during the milking procedure.&#160;NOTE: Monitor the temperature of the heating pad to ensure the pad does not become too hot and cause burns. Alternatively, use a heat source, such as a heated surgical table, that can be set to a specific temperature.&#160;</li>
</ol>
3. Anesthetize the Dam Using Isoflurane
<ol>
	<li>Open the oxygen tank and turn the flow to 1 L (1,000 cc) per min. Turn on the flow of isoflurane and set to 5%. CAUTION: Avoid direct inhalation of anesthetic and prevent accumulation of anesthetic vapors.</li>
	<li>Anesthetize the dam.</li>
	<li>Switch over to the maintenance mask if required, placing the dam supine on the absorbent bench pad. Confirm anesthetization by lack of pedal reflex.</li>
	<li>Reduce the flow of isoflurane to 2-3% for maintenance of anesthesia. Continually monitor dam throughout the procedure to ensure depression of respiration does not occur.&#160;NOTE: Once under anesthesia, the dam&#8217;s eyes should be protected using a sterile eye lubricant to prevent the eyes from drying out or becoming scratched.&#160;</li>
</ol>
4. Oxytocin Injection
<ol>
	<li>Ensure the oxytocin (20 USP Units/ml) has not passed its expiry date. Disinfect the vial of oxytocin with a sterile alcohol wipe/alcohol cleansing pad.</li>
	<li>Using aseptic technique, draw up 2 IU (0.1 ml) of oxytocin into the syringe. Use a new needle and syringe for each dam that will be milked. 
	NOTE: Oxytocin doses generally range from single injections of 1 to 5 IU1,6,12,16. Alternatively, a dose of 4 IU/kg body weight can be used12. A single dose of 2 IU can be repeated once if difficulty milking is encountered.</li>
	<li>Inject the oxytocin intraperitoneally. Insert the needle into the lower right quadrant of the abdomen with the needle pointing towards the head, at an angle of 15-30&#176;, about 0.5 cm deep.</li>
	<li>Pull back on the plunger to ensure negative pressure prior to injection. If any fluid (blood, urine, intestinal contents, etc.) is aspirated into the syringe, remove the needle and attempt the injection with a new needle and syringe. If no fluid is aspirated inject the oxytocin and discard the needle and syringe immediately into a biohazard container.</li>
	<li>Wait approximately 5-15 min for the oxytocin to stimulate milk letdown.</li>
</ol>
5. Preparation of Milking Sites
<ol>
	<li>Choose the sites/teats from which milk will be collected. Milk can be collected from any teat12.</li>
	<li>Gently remove the fur around the teats to be milked with the trimmers, as fur may cause difficulty in sample collection due to wicking of the milk. Be gentle - the skin around the teats is extremely sensitive and may be dry and as such is susceptible to scratches and tears.</li>
	<li>Sterilization of the teat is not necessary, but optionally, clean the teat with lukewarm water after the fur is removed. Prepare at least two sites as more than one site may be required for milk collection. 
	NOTE: If the milk analysis includes microbial profiling, the teat area may require sterilization with iodine5.</li>
</ol>
6. Milk Collection
<ol>
	<li>Gently squeeze the base of the teat, manually expelling the milk for collection. 
	NOTE: If the milk analysis includes microbial profiling, the first few drops of milk should be discarded.</li>
	<li>Collect the milk droplets into a capillary tube, filling the capillary tube. Capillary tubes that accommodate larger volumes (e.g., 50 &#181;l) ease the process. 
	NOTE: If difficulty in collecting milk is encountered, a second dose of oxytocin can be administered. It is recommended the dose not exceed 4 IU total.</li>
	<li>Dispense the milk from the capillary tube into a sterile microcentrifuge tube by touching the end of the tube that was used to draw milk from the teat to the side of the microcentrifuge tube - observe the milk being drawn out of the capillary tube via capillary action. 
	NOTE: &#39;Blow out&#39; the milk that is not drawn into the tube using an 18 G needle attached to a 1 ml syringe.</li>
	<li>Continually monitor the dam for signs of pain or respiratory depression and adjust the flow of isoflurane accordingly.</li>
	<li>Continue to collect milk as described in this section until sufficient milk has been collected for the chosen milk analysis. For the creamatocrit and protein concentration determination described below, collect 0.25 ml of milk. 
	NOTE: Use a different milking site if milk letdown slows or the chosen site does not expel milk sufficiently. A maximum of approximately 2.5 ml of milk per animal can be collected17, or up to 0.5 ml per teat. The authors recommend that total time under anesthetic be limited to approximately 45-60 min, or 45 min of milking.</li>
	<li>Collect milk into a microhematocrit tube for creamatocrit measurement from fresh milk samples, and seal the end of the tube with clay sealant. Label the microhematocrit tube with the dam ID and store the milk sample upright.</li>
	<li>When milking is complete, turn off the flow of isoflurane and oxygen. Remove the mask from the dam and continue to monitor dam until awake.&#160;It is recommended that if not fully conscious, the dam should be placed on an absorbent bench pad during the recovery period, rather than directly on the cage bedding, to prevent the bedding from being aspirated or scratching the dam&#8217;s eyes during recovery.&#160; 
	NOTE: Do not leave the dam unattended until it has regained sufficient consciousness to maintain sternal recumbancy.</li>
	<li>If no further analyses are required, freeze milk at -80 &#176;C. Others have suggested that milk can be stored for up to 3 hr at 4 &#176;C or 5 months at -20 &#176;C18.</li>
</ol>
7. Creamatocrit Measurement
<ol>
	<li>Estimate the fat content in the milk by calculating the milk creamatocrit (the percentage of cream in the milk sample)19. 
	NOTE: Measurements with human milk have demonstrated that either fresh or frozen milk can be used for a creamatocrit measurement, however fresh milk is more highly correlated (r = 0.92 versus r = 0.90) with lipid concentration11. The use of fresh or frozen milk for creamatocrit measurements should be kept consistent across the study, as thawed milk is associated with a small decrease in creamatocrit values11.</li>
	<li>For fresh milk, collect a sample of milk from the teat into a microhematocrit tube; fill at least &#190; full (approximately 15-20 &#181;l). Alternatively, draw fresh milk from the collected sample into the capillary tube after mixing well. Seal the end with clay sealant.</li>
	<li>Place the capillary tube into the hematocrit spinner, with the sealed end pointing towards the outside, ensuring the centrifuge is balanced.</li>
	<li>Begin the hematocrit spin (120 sec at 13,700 x g). 
	NOTE: Spin time or speed may change depending on the model of centrifuge used.</li>
	<li>Remove the tube from the centrifuge after the spin is complete and perform the measurements for calculating the creamatocrit. Observe the sample&#39;s separation into a cream layer and a clear layer.</li>
	<li>Measure and record the total length of fluid in the tube and the length of the fat (cream) layer using calipers or a ruler. 
	NOTE: The creamatocrit is expressed as the percentage of the cream layer within the the milk sample19, calculated as (length of cream layer/total length of milk column) x 100 (Figure 1A). Calculate fat concentration and energy values from the creamatocrit measurement as follows: Fat concentration (g/L) = (creamatocrit (%)-0.59)/0.146 (Figure 1B)19; Energy value (kcal/L) = 290 + (66.8*creamatocrit (%) (Figure 1C)19.</li>
</ol>
8. Protein Concentration Determination
<ol>
	<li>Using Bovine Serum Albumin as a protein standard, determine total milk protein concentration using a standard protein assay, such as a Lowry protein assay6. 
	NOTE: Dilution of the milk may be necessary for the milk protein measurements to fall within the standard curve of the assay.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
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W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lessons+from+mother:+Long-term+impact+of+antibodies+in+breast+milk+on+the+gut+microbiota+and+intestinal+immune+system+of+breastfed+offspring.">Lessons from mother: Long-term impact of antibodies in breast milk on the gut microbiota and intestinal immune system of breastfed offspring.</a> Gut Microbes. 5 (5), 663-668 (2014).</li><li>Keen, C. L., L&#246;nnerdal, B., Clegg, M., Hurley, L. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developmental+changes+in+composition+of+rat+milk:+trace+elements,+minerals,+protein,+carbohydrate+and+fat.">Developmental changes in composition of rat milk: trace elements, minerals, protein, carbohydrate and fat.</a> J. of Nutr. 111 (2), 226-236 (1981).</li><li>Cabrera-Rubio, R., Collado, M. 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I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thrifty+metabolic+programming+in+rats+is+induced+by+both+maternal+undernutrition+and+postnatal+leptin+treatment,+but+masked+in+the+presence+of+both:+implications+for+models+of+developmental+programming.">Thrifty metabolic programming in rats is induced by both maternal undernutrition and postnatal leptin treatment, but masked in the presence of both: implications for models of developmental programming.</a> BMC Genomics. 15, 49 (2014).</li><li>Gomez-Gallago, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+method+to+collect+high+volumes+of+milk+from+mice+(Mus+musculus).">A method to collect high volumes of milk from mice (Mus musculus).</a> An. Vet. Murcia. 29, 55-61 (2013).</li><li>Wang, C. D., Chu, P. S., Mellen, B. G., Shenai, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Creamatocrit+and+the+nutrient+composition+of+human+milk.">Creamatocrit and the nutrient composition of human milk.</a> J. Perinatol. 19 (5), 343-346 (1999).</li><li>Rodgers, C. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Practical+aspects+of+milk+collection+in+the+rat.">Practical aspects of milk collection in the rat.</a> Lab. Anim. 29 (4), 450-455 (1995).</li><li>Godbole, V. Y., Grundleger, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Composition+of+rat+milk+from+day+5+to+20+of+lactation+and+milk+intake+of+lean+and+preobese+zucker+pups.">Composition of rat milk from day 5 to 20 of lactation and milk intake of lean and preobese zucker pups.</a> J. Nutr. 111 (3), 480-487 (1981).</li><li>Del Prado, M., Delgado, G., Villalpando, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Maternal+lipid+intake+during+pregnancy+and+lactation+alters+milk+composition+and+production+and+litter+growth+in+rats.">Maternal lipid intake during pregnancy and lactation alters milk composition and production and litter growth in rats.</a> J. Nutr. 127 (3), 458-462 (1997).</li><li>Nicholas, K. R., Hartmann, P. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Milk+secretion+in+the+rat:+progressive+changes+in+milk+composition+during+lactation+and+weaning+and+the+effect+of+diet.">Milk secretion in the rat: progressive changes in milk composition during lactation and weaning and the effect of diet.</a> Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A. Comp. Physiol. 98 (3-4), 533-542 (1991).</li><li>Azara, C. R. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ethanol+intake+during+lactation+alters+milk+nutrient+composition+and+growth+and+mineral+status+of+rat+pups.">Ethanol intake during lactation alters milk nutrient composition and growth and mineral status of rat pups.</a> Biol. Res. 41 (3), 317-330 (2008).</li><li>Keen, C. L., L&#246;nnerdal, B., Sloan, M. V., Hurley, L. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+milking+procedure+on+rat+milk+composition.">Effects of milking procedure on rat milk composition.</a> Physiol. Behav. 24 (3), 613-615 (1980).</li><li>Romeu-Nadal, M., Castellote, A. I., L&#242;pez-Sabater, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+cold+storage+on+vitamins+C+and+E+and+fatty+acids+in+human+milk.">Effect of cold storage on vitamins C and E and fatty acids in human milk.</a> Food Chem. 106 (1), 65-70 (2008).</li><li>Lucas, A., Gibbs, J. A., Lyster, R. L., Baum, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Creamatocrit:+simple+clinical+technique+for+estimating+fat+concentration+and+energy+value+of+human+milk.">Creamatocrit: simple clinical technique for estimating fat concentration and energy value of human milk.</a> Br. Med. J. 1 (6119), 1018-1020 (1978).</li><li>Furtado, K., Andrade, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+the+beneficial+and+adverse+effects+of+inhalable+and+injectable+anaesthetics+in+animal+models:+a+mini-review.">Comparison of the beneficial and adverse effects of inhalable and injectable anaesthetics in animal models: a mini-review.</a> OA Anaesthetics. 1 (2), 20 (2013).</li><li>Hausman Kedem, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effect+of+advanced+maternal+age+upon+human+milk+fat+content.">The effect of advanced maternal age upon human milk fat content.</a> Breastfeed. Med. 8 (1), 116-119 (2013).</li><li>Mandel, D., Lubetzky, R., Dollberg, S., Barak, S., Mimouni, F. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fat+and+energy+contents+of+expressed+human+breast+milk+in+prolonged+lactation.">Fat and energy contents of expressed human breast milk in prolonged lactation.</a> Pediatrics. 116 (3), e432-e435 (2005).</li></ol>

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with CCAC approved protocols.

Investigations into maternal milk components have increased as interest in early life development research rises. As the sole source of nutrition during the neonatal period, the bioactive compounds in milk are essential for ideal growth and development, especially in the context of intestinal and immune health3. The method presented here is a simple, non-invasive method of collecting milk from the lactating rat in amounts sufficient for downstream analysis, such as oligosaccharide profiling6. The method requires no specialized vacuum equipment and can be performed by a single person. 
While this protocol is intended for use at a single time point during lactation, others have performed serial milk collections throughout their studies12,15. However, as serial milking may affect milk composition17, it is advised that researchers determine the frequency and number of milk collections that best suit their study, based on the outcome of interest. Additionally, while others have used injectable anesthetics during milking procedures in the rat14,17, this protocol involves anesthetization of the rat using isoflurane. Isoflurane is an inhalable anesthetic, and its advantages include rapid induction and recovery rates20 and the ability to easily adjust the time the animal is anesthetized. However, in mice, isoflurane may result in decreased milk yield in comparison to injectable anesthetics10, although this does not seem to have been tested in rats. Furthermore, protocols involving vacuum suction may not require anesthetic, and may result in higher milk yield depending on the efficiency of the suction apparatus12. However, if proper suction does not occur, milk yield will decrease. 
It is possible for the researcher to encounter difficulty in manual expression of milk, which can prolong time under anesthesia or decrease the milk yield. If difficulty in milking is encountered, some possibilities are: 1) sufficient time has not passed for the oxytocin to take effect; 2) improper or inexperienced milking technique; 3) physical differences in the nipple; 4) incorrect intraperitoneal injection of the oxytocin. The researcher may therefore wait a few more minutes prior to attempting to milk again; if this does not result in increased milk yield, the researcher may choose to move to a different milking site. Using a vacuum, each set of teats (upper thoracic, lower thoracic, upper abdominal, and lower abdominal) was equally successful in expelling milk when the milker is proficient, and approximately 0.5 ml can be obtained from each teat12. Therefore, if one milking site is proving difficult, moving to another site may help. The authors are not aware of differences in milk composition between milking sites. Finally, a second dose of oxytocin may be administered to further stimulate milk letdown. Diluting the oxytocin to a standard dose volume/kg body weight can also be attempted, for example 1 ml/kg body weight12, however be aware of maximum intraperitoneal injection volumes. 
It is also possible that other factors, including but not limited to, rodent strain, health status, parity, litter number, level of stress, diet, time of day, and food intake may affect the outcome of the milk collection. While the discussion of all these variables is beyond the scope of this protocol, it is encouraged that the investigators consider the multitude of factors that may influence the efficiency of milk collection in their experiments.
Finally, a simple method of measuring the proportion of cream in the milk, the creamatocrit, which is an accurate estimation of the amount of lipid in the samples11, is described herein. The creamatocrit can then be used to estimate the fat concentration and energy value of the milk. Though there were no differences in creamatocrit, fat concentration, energy value, or protein concentrations between the maternal dietary groups in the results presented above, others have found differences in creamatocrit values based on maternal characteristics such as gestational age21 and duration of lactation22. Differences in oligosaccharide content in maternal milk has also been demonstrated with maternal dietary manipulation6. 
In summary, milk contains a plethora of bioactive compounds whose specific roles in early life development of offspring, and their subsequent effect on disease susceptibility throughout life, remain to be clarified. The protocol reported here allows milk to be collected from lactating rats by a single individual, requires no specialized vacuum apparatus, and provides sufficient milk for subsequent analysis. Mastering this technique will provide the researcher with the opportunity to contribute significant insight into the processes involved in early-life development and establishment of health.

Milk is the sole source of nutrition for newborn mammals, providing energy and nutrients for infant growth and development1,2. While milk mainly consists of cells, lipids, and protein1, it also contains a plethora of bioactive compounds that modulate early life development of offspring including enzymes, carbohydrates, hormones, antibodies, growth factors, cytokines, exosomes, microvesicles, and small RNAs such as microRNA1,2. The fundamental role of maternal milk in the establishment of offspring immune and intestinal health3, coupled with evidence that breastfed infants are less susceptible to disease2, highlights the importance of identifying the milk constituents associated with disease processes in early life and the molecular mechanisms involved in their actions. The developing rat is a popular model for investigating the effect of various nutritional, physiological, and chemical interventions on early-life development4. The analysis of rat milk may therefore provide novel insight into maternal and offspring health.
Current scientific advances now provide increasing opportunities for in-depth investigations of the effects of specific milk constituents on health and disease. For example, sequencing of milk bacterial profiles has elucidated their role in early intestinal colonization of the infant gut5, mass spectrometry analysis of milk oligosaccharides have provided insight into the alteration of milk oligosaccharide profiles via maternal diet6, and deep sequencing of microRNA secreted in the fat globules of breast milk highlights possible roles in gene transcription, metabolism, and immune function7.
Rat models represent one of the most popular model organisms used in maternal studies8,9. One advantage is their short gestation and lactation periods, lasting only approximately 21 days each; therefore the total time from the start of pregnancy to lactation represents a short period of time in which valuable data can be generated. The larger size of rats compared to mice, in the context of milk collection, may provide a significant advantage with respect to volume of milk and ease of milk collection; milk production in the mouse, for example, seems to be dependent on total body weight with heavier mice producing more milk10.
Here, a general description for the manual collection of milk from lactating rats is provided. This protocol requires minimal equipment, is non-invasive, inexpensive, and can be used to collect adequate volumes of milk for further downstream analyses. In brief, the dam is anesthetized with isoflurane, milk letdown is stimulated by oxytocin, and milk is collected into capillary tubes via manual expression of the milk. Finally, as two major components of milk are fat and proteins, a brief description of estimating milk fat content using creamatocrit measurements11 and quantification of total protein concentration using a standard protein assay is presented.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="829">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:353px;">Equipment - Milking</td>
			<td style="width:191px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">1 ml syringes</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">BD-Canada</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">309602</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">25 G needles</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">BD-Canada</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">305122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">18 G needles</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">BD-Canada</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">305196</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">50 ul Microdispenser Capillary Tubes</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">21-169D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Oxytocin (20 USP Units/ml)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Bimeda-MTC</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1OXY015</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:353px;">PPC Vet Isoflurane Inhalation Anesthetic, 250 ml</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Fresenius Kabi</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M60302</td>
			<td>Used on the order of a veterinarian</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sterile Alcohol Prep Pad</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Dukal</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">853</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Absorbent Bench Underpad</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">82020-845</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Maxi-Therm Hyper/Hypothermia Blanket</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Cincinnati Sub-Zero</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">274</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;">Rodent Anesthesia Machine with Vaporizer</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Benson Medical Industries Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Subject to individual laboratory needs</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:353px;">Animal Masks</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Benson Medical Industries Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">50100/50102</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Microcentrifuge Tubes</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Axygen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">MCT-060-C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ChroMini Professional Trimmer</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Wahl</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">-</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:353px;">Equipment - Creamatocrit</td>
			<td style="width:191px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">StatSpin SafeCrit Plastic Microhematocrit Tubes (Untreated)</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">22-274-914</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Critoseal Capillary Tube Sealant Tray</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">470161-478</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">StatSpin CritSpin Microhematocrit Centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:191px;">Beckman Coulter, Inc</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">X00-004999-001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

milk collection in the rat using capillary tubes and estimation of milk fat content by creamatocrit

Milk, as the sole source of nutrition for the newborn mammal, provides the necessary nutrients and energy for offspring growth and development. It also contains a vast number of bioactive compounds that greatly affect the development of the neonate. The analysis of milk components will help elucidate key factors that link maternal metabolism and health with offspring growth and development. The laboratory rat represents a popular model organism for maternal studies, and rat milk can be used to examine the effect of various maternal physiological, nutritional, and pharmacological interventions on milk components, which may then impact offspring health. Here a simple method of manually collecting milk from the lactating rat that can be performed by a single investigator, does not require specialized vacuum or suction equipment, and provides sufficient milk for subsequent downstream analysis is described. A method for estimating the fat content of milk by measuring the percentage of cream within the milk sample, known as the creamatocrit, is also presented. These methods can ultimately be used to increase insight into maternal-child health and to elucidate maternal factors that are involved in proper growth and development of offspring.

Milk was collected as described at weaning from Wistar dams (approximately 22 weeks old, weighing 350 to 400 g) that consumed a control (AIN-93G, n = 5), high protein (40% casein wt/wt, n = 5), or high prebiotic fibre (21.6% wt/wt, 1:1 ratio of oligofructose and inulin, n = 4) diet throughout pregnancy and lactation. The oxytocin dose was 2 IU. Milk was collected using capillary tubes, and one tube was spun using a hematocrit spinner to determine creamatocrit (Figure 1A), which was then used to estimate fat concentration and energy value according to: Fat concentration (g/L) = (creamatocrit (%)-0.59)/0.146 (Figure 1B); Energy value (kcal/L) = 290 + (66.8*creamatocrit (%) (Figure 1C)19. Milk protein concentration was determined using the Bio-Rad DC protein assay (Figure 2). There were no differences in creamatocrit (p = 0.674), fat concentration (p = 0.674), energy value (p = 0.674), or protein concentration (p = 0.127) based on maternal diet (one-way ANOVA).
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/53476/53476fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1. Milk creamatocrit, fat concentration, and energy value. Milk samples were collected at weaning from Wistar dams on Control (n = 5), High Protein (n = 5), or High Prebiotic Fibre (n = 4) diets throughout pregnancy and lactation. Creamatocrit measurements (A) were used to calculate milk fat concentration (B) and energy value (C). <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/53476/53476fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/53476/53476fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2. Total milk protein concentration. Milk samples were collected at weaning from Wistar dams on Control (n = 5), High Protein (n = 5), or High Prebiotic Fibre (n = 4) diets throughout pregnancy and lactation. Total protein concentration was determined using the Bio-Rad DC protein assay. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/53476/53476fig2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Milk Collection in the Rat Using Capillary Tubes and Estimation of Milk Fat Content by Creamatocrit at JoVE.com

Milk Collection in the Rat Using Capillary Tubes and Estimation of Milk Fat Content by Creamatocrit

Milk is a primary source of nutrition for the neonate. Analysis of milk components may provide insight into maternal factors that affect offspring health. This protocol describes a manual method of collecting milk samples from the lactating rat, which can then be used for further downstream analysis.

Milk, as the sole source of nutrition for the newborn mammal, provides the necessary nutrients and energy for offspring growth and development. It also ...

milk-collection-rat-using-capillary-tubes-estimation-milk-fat-content

Nanyang Technological University

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

12.3K Views.  University of Calgary. Milk is a primary source of nutrition for the neonate. Analysis of milk components may provide insight into maternal factors that affect offspring health. This protocol describes a manual method of collecting milk samples from the lactating rat, which can then be used for further downstream analysis.

Video: Milk Collection in the Rat Using Capillary Tubes and Estimation of Milk Fat Content by Creamatocrit

A Neuronal and Astrocyte Co-Culture Assay for High Content Analysis of Neurotoxicity

High Content Analysis (HCA) assays combine cells and detection reagents with automated imaging and powerful image analysis algorithms, allowing measurement of multiple cellular phenotypes within a single assay. In this study, we utilized HCA to develop a novel assay for neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicity assessment represents an important part of drug safety evaluation, as well as being a significant focus of environmental protection efforts. Additionally, neurotoxicity is also a well-accepted in vitro marker of the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Recently, the application of HCA to neuronal screening has been reported. By labeling neuronal cells with &beta;III-tubulin, HCA assays can provide high-throughput, non-subjective, quantitative measurements of parameters such as neuronal number, neurite count and neurite length, all of which can indicate neurotoxic effects. However, the role of astrocytes remains unexplored in these models. Astrocytes have an integral role in the maintenance of central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis, and are associated with both neuroprotection and neurodegradation when they are activated in response to toxic substances or disease states. GFAP is an intermediate filament protein expressed predominantly in the astrocytes of the CNS. Astrocytic activation (gliosis) leads to the upregulation of GFAP, commonly accompanied by astrocyte proliferation and hypertrophy. This process of reactive gliosis has been proposed as an early marker of damage to the nervous system. The traditional method for GFAP quantitation is by immunoassay. This approach is limited by an inability to provide information on cellular localization, morphology and cell number. We determined that HCA could be used to overcome these limitations and to simultaneously measure multiple features associated with gliosis - changes in GFAP expression, astrocyte hypertrophy, and astrocyte proliferation - within a single assay. In co-culture studies, astrocytes have been shown to protect neurons against several types of toxic insult and to critically influence neuronal survival. Recent studies have suggested that the use of astrocytes in an in vitro neurotoxicity test system may prove more relevant to human CNS structure and function than neuronal cells alone. Accordingly, we have developed an HCA assay for co-culture of neurons and astrocytes, comprised of protocols and validated, target-specific detection reagents for profiling &beta;III-tubulin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). This assay enables simultaneous analysis of neurotoxicity, neurite outgrowth, gliosis, neuronal and astrocytic morphology and neuronal and astrocytic development in a wide variety of cellular models, representing a novel, non-subjective, high-throughput assay for neurotoxicity assessment. The assay holds great potential for enhanced detection of neurotoxicity and improved productivity in neuroscience research and drug discovery.

This article describes a novel protocol and reagent set designed for sensitive measurement of neurotoxic effects of compounds and treatments on co-cultures of neurons and astrocytes using high content analysis. Results demonstrate that high content analysis represents an exciting novel technology for neurotoxicity assessment.

High Content Analysis (HCA) assays combine cells and detection reagents with automated imaging and powerful image analysis algorithms, allowing ...

Imaging of Estrogen Receptor-&alpha; in Rat Pial Arterioles using a Digital Immunofluorescent Microscope

Many of estrogen's effects on vascular reactivity are mediated through interaction with estrogen receptors 1, 2, 3. Although two sub-types exist (estrogen receptor -&alpha; and &beta;),estrogen receptor-&alpha; has been identified in both the smooth muscle and in endothelial cells of pial arterial segments using fluorescent staining combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy 4. Furthermore, ER-&alpha; is located in the nuclei and in the cytoplasm of rat basilar arteries 5. The receptors are abundant and fluoresce brightly, but clear visualization of discrete groups of receptors is difficult likely due to the numbers located in many cell layers of pial vessel segments. Additionally, many reports using immunohistochemical techniques paired with confocal microscopy poorly detail the requirements critical for reproduction of experiments 6. Our purpose for this article is to describe a simple technique to optimize the staining and visualization of ER-&alpha; using cross-sectional slices of pial arterioles obtain from female rat brains. We first perfuse rats with Evans blue dye to easily identify surface pial arteries which we isolate under a dissecting microscope. Use of a cryostat to slice 8 &mu;m cross sections of the arteries allows us to obtain thin vessel sections so that different vessel planes are more clearly visualized. Cutting across the vessel rather than use of a small vessel segment has the advantage of easier viewing of the endothelial and smooth muscle layers. In addition, use of a digital immunofluorescent microscope with extended depth software produces clear images of ten to twelve different vessel planes and is less costly than use of a confocal laser scanning microscope.

Imaging of Estrogen Receptor-&#945; in Rat Pial Arterioles using a Digital Immunofluorescent Microscope

The goal of this article is to demonstrate a method to optimize immunofluorescent detection of estrogen receptor-&#945; (ER&#945;) in rat pial arterial slices using a digital immunofluorescent microscope.

Many of estrogen's effects on vascular reactivity are mediated through interaction with estrogen receptors 1, 2, 3. Although two sub-types exist (estrogen ...

Isolation of Rat Portal Fibroblasts by In situ Liver Perfusion

Liver fibrosis is defined by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix by activated myofibroblasts. There are multiple precursors of hepatic myofibroblasts, including hepatic stellate cells, portal fibroblasts and bone marrow derived fibroblasts 1. Hepatic stellate cells have been the best studied, but portal fibroblasts are increasingly recognized as important contributors to the myofibroblast pool, particularly in biliary fibrosis 2. Portal fibroblasts undergo proliferation in response to biliary epithelial injury, potentially playing a key role in the early stages of biliary scarring 3-5. A method of isolating portal fibroblasts would allow in vitro study of this cell population and lead to greater understanding of the role portal fibroblasts play in biliary fibrosis.
Portal fibroblasts have been isolated using various techniques including outgrowth 6, 7 and liver perfusion with enzymatic digestion followed by size selection 8. The advantage of the digestion and size selection technique compared to the outgrowth technique is that cells can be studied without the necessity of passage in culture. Here, we describe a modified version of the original technique described by Kruglov and Dranoff 8 for isolation of portal fibroblasts from rat liver that results in a relatively pure population of primary cells.

Isolation of Rat Portal Fibroblasts by In situ Liver Perfusion

A technique for isolating portal fibroblasts from rat liver is described. Livers are perfused and digested in situ with collagenase, followed by ex vivo digestion of the liver slurry and size selection of cells. This method provides a pure population of portal fibroblasts without the need for passage in culture.

Liver fibrosis is defined  by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix by activated  myofibroblasts. There are multiple precursors of hepatic ...

Functional Imaging of Brown Fat in Mice with 18F-FDG micro-PET/CT

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) differs from white adipose tissue (WAT) by its discrete location and a brown-red color due to rich vascularization and high density of mitochondria. BAT plays a major role in energy expenditure and non-shivering thermogenesis in newborn mammals as well as the adults 1. BAT-mediated thermogenesis is highly regulated by the sympathetic nervous system, predominantly via &beta; adrenergic receptor 2, 3. Recent studies have shown that BAT activities in human adults are negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI) and other diabetic parameters 4-6. BAT has thus been proposed as a potential target for anti-obesity/anti-diabetes therapy focusing on modulation of energy balance 6-8. While several cold challenge-based positron emission tomography (PET) methods are established for detecting human BAT 9-13, there is essentially no standardized protocol for imaging and quantification of BAT in small animal models such as mice. Here we describe a robust PET/CT imaging method for functional assessment of BAT in mice. Briefly, adult C57BL/6J mice were cold treated under fasting conditions for a duration of 4 hours before they received one dose of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). The mice were remained in the cold for one additional hour post FDG injection, and then scanned with a small animal-dedicated micro-PET/CT system. The acquired PET images were co-registered with the CT images for anatomical references and analyzed for FDG uptake in the interscapular BAT area to present BAT activity. This standardized cold-treatment and imaging protocol has been validated through testing BAT activities during pharmacological interventions, for example, the suppressed BAT activation by the treatment of &beta;-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol 14, 15, or the enhanced BAT activation by &beta;3 agonist BRL37344 16. The method described here can be applied to screen for drugs/compounds that modulate BAT activity, or to identify genes/pathways that are involved in BAT development and regulation in various preclinical and basic studies.

Functional Imaging of Brown Fat in Mice with 18F-FDG micro-PET/CT

A method of functional imaging of mouse brown adipose tissue (BAT) is described in which cold-stimulated uptake of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in BAT is non-invasively assessed with a standardized micro-PET/CT protocol. This method is robust and sensitive to detect differences in BAT activities in mouse models.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) differs from white adipose  tissue (WAT) by its discrete location and a brown-red color due to rich  vascularization and high ...

Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are aquatic microorganisms that were first notably described in 19751 from sediment samples collected in salt marshes of Massachusetts (USA). Since then MTB have been discovered in stratified water- and sediment-columns from all over the world2. One feature common to all MTB is that they contain magnetosomes, which are intracellular, membrane-bound magnetic nanocrystals of magnetite (Fe3O4) and/or greigite (Fe3S4) or both3, 4. In the Northern hemisphere, MTB are typically attracted to the south end of a bar magnet, while in the Southern hemisphere they are usually attracted to the north end of a magnet3,5. This property can be exploited when trying to isolate MTB from environmental samples.
One of the most common ways to enrich MTB is to use a clear plastic container to collect sediment and water from a natural source, such as a freshwater pond. In the Northern hemisphere, the south end of a bar magnet is placed against the outside of the container just above the sediment at the sediment-water interface. After some time, the bacteria can be removed from the inside of the container near the magnet with a pipette and then enriched further by using a capillary racetrack6 and a magnet. Once enriched, the bacteria can be placed on a microscope slide using a hanging drop method and observed in a light microscope or deposited onto a copper grid and observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Using this method, isolated MTB may be studied microscopically to determine characteristics such as swimming behavior, type and number of flagella, cell morphology of the cells, shape of the magnetic crystals, number of magnetosomes, number of magnetosome chains in each cell, composition of the nanomineral crystals, and presence of intracellular vacuoles.

We demonstrate a method to collect magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) that can be applied to natural waters. MTB can be isolated and enriched from sediment samples using a relatively simple setup that takes advantage of the bacteria's natural magnetism. Isolated MTB can then be examined in detail using both light and electron microscopy.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are aquatic microorganisms that were first notably described in 19751 from sediment samples collected in salt marshes of ...

Milk Collection Methods for Mice and Reeves' Muntjac Deer

Animal models are commonly used throughout research laboratories to accomplish what would normally be considered impractical in a pathogen&#8217;s native host. Milk collection from animals allows scientists the opportunity to study many aspects of reproduction including vertical transmission, passive immunity, mammary gland biology, and lactation. Obtaining adequate volumes of milk for these studies is a challenging task, especially from small animal models. Here we illustrate an inexpensive and facile method for milk collection in mice and Reeves&#8217; muntjac deer that does not require specialized equipment or extensive training. This particular method requires two researchers: one to express the milk and to stabilize the animal, and one to collect the milk in an appropriate container from either a Muntjac or mouse model. The mouse model also requires the use of a P-200 pipetman and corresponding pipette tips. While this method is low cost and relatively easy to perform, researchers should be advised that anesthetizing the animal is required for optimal milk collection.

Milk collection from animal models facilitates various research avenues: understanding passive immunity, identifying pathogens responsible for vertical transmission and, through the use of transgenic mice, even commercial production of proteins found in human breast milk. Here we illustrate a simple method for milk collection in mice and Reeves&#8217; muntjac deer.

Animal models are commonly used throughout research laboratories to accomplish what would normally be considered impractical in a pathogen&#8217;s native ...

Collection and Analysis of Arabidopsis Phloem Exudates Using the EDTA-facilitated Method

The plant phloem is essential for the long-distance transport of (photo-) assimilates as well as of signals conveying biotic or abiotic stress. It contains sugars, amino acids, proteins, RNA, lipids and other metabolites. While there is a large interest in understanding the composition and function of the phloem, the role of many of these molecules and thus, their importance in plant development and stress response has yet to be determined. One barrier to phloem analysis lies in the fact that the phloem seals itself upon wounding. As a result, the number of plants from which phloem sap can be obtained is limited. One method that allows collection of phloem exudates from several plant species without added equipment is the EDTA-facilitated phloem exudate collection described here. While it is easy to use, it does lead to the wounding of cells and care has to be taken to remove contents of damaged cells. In addition, several controls to prove purity of the exudate are necessary. Because it is an exudation rather than a direct collection of the phloem sap (not possible in many species) only relative quantification of its contents can occur. The advantage of this method over others is that it can be used in many herbaceous or woody plant species (Perilla, Arabidopsis, poplar, etc.) and requires minimal equipment and training. It leads to reasonably large amounts of exudates that can be used for subsequent analysis of proteins, sugars, lipids, RNA, viruses and metabolites. It is simple enough that it can be used in both a research as well as in a teaching laboratory.

Collection and Analysis of Arabidopsis Phloem Exudates Using the EDTA-facilitated Method

Knowledge of the composition of the phloem sap as well as the mechanism of its loading and long-distance transport is essential for the understanding of long-distance signaling in plant development and stress/pathogen response and of assimilate transport. This manuscript describes the collection of phloem exudates using the EDTA-facilitated method.

The plant phloem is essential for the long-distance transport of (photo-) assimilates as well as of signals conveying biotic or abiotic stress. It ...

In Vivo 4-Dimensional Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Adult Mouse Calvarial Bone Marrow

Through a delicate balance between quiescence and proliferation, self renewal and production of differentiated progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain the turnover of all mature blood cell lineages. The coordination of the complex signals leading to specific HSC fates relies upon the interaction between HSCs and the intricate bone marrow microenvironment, which is still poorly understood[1-2].
We describe how by combining a newly developed specimen holder for stable animal positioning with multi-step confocal and two-photon in vivo imaging techniques, it is possible to obtain high-resolution 3D stacks containing HSPCs and their surrounding niches and to monitor them over time through multi-point time-lapse imaging. High definition imaging allows detecting ex vivo labeled hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) residing within the bone marrow. Moreover, multi-point time-lapse 3D imaging, obtained with faster acquisition settings, provides accurate information about HSPC movement and the reciprocal interactions between HSPCs and stroma cells.
Tracking of HSPCs in relation to GFP positive osteoblastic cells is shown as an exemplary application of this method. This technique can be utilized to track any appropriately labeled hematopoietic or stromal cell of interest within the mouse calvarium bone marrow space.

In Vivo 4-Dimensional Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Adult Mouse Calvarial Bone Marrow

The nature of the interactions between hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and bone marrow niches is poorly understood. Custom hardware modifications and a multi-step acquisition protocol allow the use of two-photon and confocal microscopy to image ex vivo labeled HSPCs homed within bone marrow areas, tracking interactions and movement.

Through a delicate balance between quiescence and proliferation, self renewal and production of differentiated progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) ...

Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids

Adrenal activity can be assessed in the equine species by analysis of feces for corticosterone metabolites. During a potentially aversive situation, corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) is released from the hypothalamus in the brain. This stimulates the release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary gland, which in turn stimulates release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal gland. In horses the glucocorticoid corticosterone is responsible for several adaptations needed to support equine flight behaviour and subsequent removal from the aversive situation. Corticosterone metabolites can be detected in the feces of horses and assessment offers a non-invasive option to evaluate long term patterns of adrenal activity. Fecal assessment offers advantages over other techniques that monitor adrenal activity including blood plasma and saliva analysis. The non-invasive nature of the method avoids sampling stress which can confound results. It also allows the opportunity for repeated sampling over time and is ideal for studies in free ranging horses. This protocol describes the enzyme linked immunoassay (EIA) used to assess feces for corticosterone, in addition to the associated biochemical validation.

Adrenal activity can be assessed in the equine species by analysis of feces for corticosterone metabolites. The method offers a non-invasive option to assess long term patterns in both domestic and free ranging horses. This protocol describes the enzyme linked immunoassay involved and the associated biochemical validation.

Adrenal activity can be assessed in the equine species by analysis of feces for corticosterone metabolites. During a potentially aversive situation, ...

Avian Semen Collection by Cloacal Massage and Isolation of DNA from Sperm

Collection of semen may be useful for a wide range of applications including studies involving sperm quality, sperm telomere dynamics, and epigenetics. Birds are widely used subjects in biological research and are ideal for studies involving repeated sperm samples. However, few resources are currently available for those wishing to learn how to collect and extract DNA from avian sperm. Here we describe cloacal massage, a gentle, non-invasive manual technique for collecting avian sperm. Although this technique is established in the literature, it can be difficult to learn from the available descriptions. We also provide information for extracting DNA from avian semen using a commercial extraction kit with modifications. Cloacal massage can be easily used on any small- to medium-sized male bird in reproductive condition. Following collection, the semen can be used immediately for motility assays, or frozen for DNA extraction following the protocol described herein. This extraction protocol was refined for avian sperm and has been successfully used on samples collected from several passerine species (Passer domesticus, Spizella passerina, Haemorhous mexicanus, and Turdus migratorius) and one columbid (Columba livia).

This protocol describes cloacal massage, a non-invasive manual technique for collecting semen from birds, and DNA extraction from avian sperm using a commercial extraction kit with modifications.

Collection of semen may be useful for a wide range of applications including studies involving sperm quality, sperm telomere dynamics, and epigenetics. ...