A procedure for pulmonary lavage in mice.

A method for the pulmonary lavage of mice is described. The procedure includes exsanguination of anesthetized mice by severting the renal artery, inserting a tracheal catheter in situ, and repeatedly injecting and aspirating 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Protein was recovered from the cell-free lavage fluid even after a given mouse was lavaged several times. The major part of the protein, however, was obtained with 1-ml washes repeated 3 times. Approximately 0.563 mg of protein was recovered by the procedure from a 29-g mouse. Four lavages per mouse yielded approximately 2.9 x 106 free cells.