Characterization of a mouse hemostatic tail lymphatic injury model. (A) Anatomy of the blood and lymphatic vessels in the mouse tail. (B) Schematic of the hemostatic tail lymphatic injury model (top). Images of the injury model at each step are shown in the bottom panels. Collecting lymphatic vessels in the tail are first labeled by EBD injection. A 1-mm section of skin is then removed without damaging the underlying vessels, and the exposed section of lymphatic collecting vessel is resected. Blood from disrupted blood capillaries fills the injury site and forms a blood clot. (C) Lymphangiogenesis is assessed postinjury by lymphangiography with fluorescent dextran. Before restoration of collecting lymphatic vessel function (3-7 days), fluorescent dextran is taken up and drained by surface lymphatic capillaries. After restoration of collecting lymphatic vessel function (9-12 days), fluorescent dextran drainage across the injury site via the collecting lymphatic vessels is observed (yellow arrow). (D) Healing curve showing percentage of animals with restored flow in collecting lymphatic vessels over time in wild-type animals (n = 10). LV = lymphatic vessel. Scale bars = 500 µm.