Spatial transcriptomic sequencing of pancreatic tissues in KC mice with and without chronic pancreatitis

To model the initiation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), LSL-KrasG12D/+ mice were crossed with Pdx1-Cre mice to generate LSL-KrasG12D/+;Pdx1-Cre (KC) mice. Chronic pancreatitis (CP) was induced in six-month-old KC mice via intraperitoneal administration of caerulein. Caerulein injections were given six times daily for two consecutive days per week over six weeks. Control animals received PBS injections. Fresh pancreatic tissues from 8-month-old KC-Ctr and KC-CP mice were surgically collected, embedded in OCT, flash-frozen, and cryosectioned. Sections underwent methanol fixation, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, image scanning, and decolorization per the 10x Genomics protocol (CG000614). Probe hybridization was performed using the Visium CytAssist Spatial Gene Expression for FFPE kit (#PN-1000521) following 10x Genomics protocol (CG000495). Probe release and transfer to Visium CytAssist slides were completed using the CytAssist instrument, followed by library preparation for sequencing.