A method of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for collection of thymic biopsies in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

To support an infectious disease study, we developed a surgical procedure t o collect serial thymic biopsies in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), In man y instances in which thymic tissue is required from living animals, open su rgical approaches (thoracotomies) are used, which result in greater postope rative pain and longer recovery periods than those associated with thoracos copic procedures. Our intent was to develop a surgical procedure that allow ed serial biopsy of the thymus with minimal surgical morbidity. We modified a previously published experimental method of thoracoscopic total thymecto my in the dog to collect thymic biopsies in M. mulatta, Of the 15 animals e valuated, 8 underwent two biopsy procedures separated by a 5- to 6-week int eroperative interval. The other seven animals underwent a single biopsy pro cedure, Thymic tissue was collected successfully during all procedures, wit h an average surgical time of 15 min. No significant intra- or postoperativ e complications were noted, and the animals' recoveries from the surgical p rocedures were uneventful. Minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgical techni ques can be used successfully to collect thymic tissue from adult and juven ile rhesus monkeys with minimal surgical morbidity.