Endoscopic Procedure in Mini-Pigs

A total of six mini-pigs (Sus scrofa; Medi Kinetics Co. Ltd., Pyeongtaek, Korea) were used for the in vivo experimental study (Supplementary Figure 1). The mean age of the mini-pigs were 14 months and each subject weighed approximately 30 kg. All animals were quarantined and acclimated in a vivarium for one week before the experiments. They were kept in specific pathogen-free facilities with complete substrate feeding. All animals fasted overnight and were given only water for 24 hours before the endoscopic procedure. Pre-anesthesia sedation consisted of an intramuscular injection of tiletamine/zolazepam (5mg/kg), xylazine hydrochloride (2mg/kg), and atropine sulfate (0.04 mg/kg). The animals were subsequently intubated, and general anesthesia was achieved with 1.5% isoflurane (Foran^®; JW Pharmaceutical Corp., South Korea). During the procedure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation were monitored continuously. The pigs resumed their usual diet (1000 kcal/day) on the day after the procedure.