A mouse model for sleeve gastrectomy: applications for diabetes research

Discovery of enhanced glucose tolerance following bariatric surgery has sparked renewed interest in the investigation of unchartered underlying pathways of glucose homeostasis. Delineation of this pathway may ultimately be the first step in the creation of a novel therapy for type II diabetes. Nevertheless, the technical complexity and formidable nature of these surgeries coupled with the fragile nature of small rodents has made the creation of a mouse model to study these effects incredibly challenging. We have created a simplified sleeve gastrectomy mouse model to study the effects of bariatric surgery on glucose tolerance and beta cell proliferation.

Nineteen mice were randomized to undergo either sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (9) or sham operation (SH) (10). Weight and serum glucose were measured three times weekly and serum insulin measurements and pancreatic harvest were performed at the time of sacrifice. Five mice from each group were sacrificed after one week and the remainder sacrificed after one month.

Survival of mice was 100% for both groups. The SG group demonstrated an initial drop in weight and serum glucose as compared to SH, which normalized by one month following surgery. Serum insulin levels and rate of beta cell proliferation were similar in both groups after one week and one month.

The simplified sleeve gastrectomy is a technically straightforward, low-mortality technique for creating a bariatric mouse model which most faithfully replicates bariatric surgery performed in humans. This model can be a valuable tool to investigate the glucose tolerance and beta cell effects of bariatric surgery.