Metabolism Services

EchoMRI (NMR based body composition)

EchoMRI 100

• NMR based analysis for body composition
  • Fat Content
  • Lean Content
  • Water Content

Indirect Calorimetry

Columbus Instruments OxyFast

• Indirect Calorimetry 
  • VO2
  • VCO2
  • RER
  • Heat (kcal)
• High frequency monitoring (up to one sample per minute from up to eight mice at a time)
• Chambers can be used for short sessions or up to 24 hour recordings if mice have access to food and water
• System can be connected to treadmills to monitor animals during an exercise challenge 
   

Glucose and Insulin Tolerance Testing

Glucose Tolerance Test (Oral or IP) with insulin: 

• Test Description: After 6 hours or overnight fast animals are given 50% glucose via oral gavage or IP injection at 1~2.0g/kg. Blood samples are collected prior to and after the gavage/injection at time 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes via tail vein bleeding using lancet.  Blood levels of glucose are measured based on glucose hexokinase assay and plasma levels of insulin are determined using Millipore rat/mouse insulin ELISA kit. Animals are restrained repeatedly for less than a minute each time while blood samples are collected.

Glucose Tolerance Test (Oral or IP) with blood collect but w/o insulin: 

Glucose Tolerance Test (Oral or IP) without blood collection:

Insulin Tolerance Test:

• Test Description: After 4 hours of fasting, define dose of insulin (0.75 to 1.5 U/Kg body weight; Humulin R) is injected IP to mice. Blood glucose is measured at 0 (before) and after 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes of insulin injection using a glucometer (Life Scan).

Pyruvate Tolerance Test (Gluconeogenesis): 

• Test Description: We perform pyruvate challenge as a measure of gluconeogenesis. Mice are fasted overnight to deplete the liver of glycogen. Freshly prepared sterile pyruvate solution (20%) in saline [2g/kg or 1g/kg body weight] is injected IP. Blood glucose is measured at time 0, 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes by using a glucometer.

Fat Tolerance Test, (Oral gavage, olive or corn oil)

• Test Description: After 5 hours fast, animals are given olive oil via oral gavage at 5~10 μl/g. BW. Blood samples are collected prior to and after the gavage at time = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 hours via tail vein bleeding. Blood levels of NEFA and TG are measured enzymatically. 

Hepatic TG Secretion (Poloxamer 407 or Triton WR-1339)

• Test Description: After 5 hours fast to minimize the contribution of postprandial lipid to the plasma TG concentrations, animals are given lipoprotein lipase inhibitor, poloxamer 407 (1000 mg/kg) or Triton WR-1339 (500 mg/kg) by tail injection. Blood samples are collected prior to and after the injection at time = 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours via tail vein bleeding. Blood levels of TG are measured using an enzymatic assay. 

Body Temperature Measurement

Rectal thermometer and implanted telemetry options available

• Monitor body temperature (rectal thermometer, implanted telemetry options also available for monitoring core body temperature)

Routine Blood Parameter Screening

Blood plasma/serum analysis (from as little as 5ul of sample per assay): 

• Glucose, Cholesterol, TG, FFA, Glycerol, HDL, LDL, Insulin, Leptin, Adiponectin, BUN, Creatinine, Albumin, AST, ALT, ALP, Total bilirubin

Home Cage Monitoring

Photobeam activity monitoring of home cage activity

• Assess locomotor activity
• Look for circadian variation in activity