Improved protocols for the study of urinary electrolyte excretion and blood pressure in rodents: use of gel food and stepwise changes in diet composition

Jonathan M Nizar; Nadine Bouby; Lise Bankir; Vivek Bhalla

doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00474.2017

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Improved protocols for the study of urinary electrolyte excretion and blood pressure in rodents: use of gel food and stepwise changes in diet composition

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Improved protocols for the study of urinary electrolyte excretion and blood pressure in rodents: use of gel food and stepwise changes in diet composition

Jonathan M Nizar, Nadine Bouby, Lise Bankir and Vivek Bhalla

American journal of physiology. Renal physiology, Vol.314(6), pp.F1129-F1137

06/01/2018

DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00474.2017

PMCID: PMC6032076

PMID: 29357416

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Abstract

Many experimental protocols in rodents require the comparison of groups that are fed different diets. Changes in dietary electrolyte and/or fat content can influence food intake, which can potentially introduce bias or confound the results. Unpalatable diets slow growth or cause weight loss, which is exacerbated by housing the animals in individual metabolic cages or by surgery. For balance studies in mice, small changes in body weight and food intake and low urinary flow can amplify these challenges. Powder food can be administered as gel with the addition of a desired amount of water, electrolytes, drugs (if any), and a small amount of agar. We describe here how the use of gel food to vary water, Na, K, and fat content can reduce weight loss and improve reproducibility of intake, urinary excretion, and blood pressure in rodents. In addition, mild food restriction reduces the interindividual variability and intergroup differences in food intake and associated variables, thus improving the statistical power of an experiment. Finally, we also demonstrate the advantages of using gel food for weight-based drug dosing. These protocols can improve the accuracy and reproducibility of experimental data where dietary manipulations are needed and are especially advisable in rodent studies related to water balance, obesity, and blood pressure.

Animal Feed

Animal Husbandry - methods

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

Animals

Biomarkers - urine

Blood Pressure

Caloric Restriction

Diet

Eating

Electrolytes - urine

Gels

Kidney Concentrating Ability

Male

Mice, Inbred C57BL

Nutritional Status

Nutritive Value

Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Renal Elimination

Water-Electrolyte Balance

Weight Loss

Details

Title: Subtitle: Improved protocols for the study of urinary electrolyte excretion and blood pressure in rodents: use of gel food and stepwise changes in diet composition
Creators: Jonathan M Nizar - Stanford University
Nadine Bouby - Sorbonne Université
Lise Bankir - Sorbonne Université
Vivek Bhalla - Stanford University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of physiology. Renal physiology, Vol.314(6), pp.F1129-F1137
DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00474.2017
PMID: 29357416
PMCID: PMC6032076
ISSN: 0363-6127
eISSN: 1522-1466
Grant note: T32 DK007357 / NIDDK NIH HHS UL1 TR001085 / NCATS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 06/01/2018
Academic Unit: Nephrology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984359682102771

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