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THE INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE COMMITTEE (IACUC)

IACUC / LARC STANDARD PROCEDURES

GLUCOSE MONITORING OF URINE IN DIABETIC RATS AND MICE (Posted May 2008)

Description of procedure:

Urine glucose range will be monitored by using urine test strips.

  1. Hold rodent in hand and gently press on the abdomen until the animal urinates.
  2. Collect one drop of urine on the test strip. The color change indicates the glucose concentration range.

Retesting with urine strips will require the same procedure. Evaluate rodents weekly for general appearance, ability to move normally around cage and reach food and water, ability to eat and drink, grooming habits, skin color, lethargy, aggression (animals will be housed individually if aggressive behavior is shown). Evaluate rodents by body weight (rats) or the Body Condition scoring index (mice). Mice with Body Condition score < 2 will be euthanized. (If mice that develop diabetes are needed for further study, they will be implanted with an insulin pellet to control blood glucose - see SOP for implantation of insulin pellets.) Diabetic animals will require more frequent bedding changes, so arrangements with husbandry staff must be made.

Literature search words required:

Literature search was performed for refinement of this Standard Procedure on April 9, 2007

Key Words Search Site Years Covered
Urine glucose testing Pubmed 1971- May 2008

Agents:

All agents administered to animals should be listed in the "Agents" section of RIO.

Adverse Effects:

Procedure, Agent or Phenotype Potential Adverse Effects Management
Urine glucose testing Rupture bladder Euthanasia

Monitoring Parameters:

Monitoring Parameters Frequency PI/Lab will Document
General appearance/activity level Weekly No
Urine glucose testing Weekly No
Body condition scoring Weekly - 3x's/week for animals that require closer observation Yes
Describe the conditions, complications, and criteria (e.g. uncontrolled infection, loss of more than 15% body weight, etc.) that would lead to removal of an animal from the study, and describe how this will be accomplished (e.g. stopping treatment, euthanasia).
Animals with a body condition score of < 2 will be euthanized.
For all investigators housing animals with tumor formation, skin lesions, neurological deficits, or that are in Category E, list the expected characteristics/clinical presentations and endpoints of the animal model and the criteria for euthanasia. Note: The IACUC also requires such lists to be posted in the respective animal rooms and monitored by the IACUC compliance staff and LARC, to assure PI adherence to the endpoints listed.
N/A.