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Updated: Nov 16, 2025
A High-throughput Method for Measurement of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Conscious Mice
Published on: May 10, 2013
Iohexol plasma clearance simplified by Dried Blood Spot (DBS) sampling to measure renal function in conscious mice
Ana Elena Rodríguez-Rodríguez1,2, Sergio Luis-Lima3, Javier Donate-Correa1
1Research Unit, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
Abstract:
There is no simple method to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in mice, which limits the use of mice in models of renal diseases. We aimed at simplifying the plasma clearance of iohexol in mice, using dried blood spot (DBS) sampling in order to reduce the amount of blood taken for analysis. GFR was measured simultaneously by a reference method in total blood-as described before-and tested method using DBS in fifteen male and six female C57BL/6J mice. Total blood extraction was 50 μL for the reference methods and 25μL for the tested methods, distributed in 5 samples. The agreement of GFR values between both methods was analyzed with the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), total deviation index (TDI) and coverage probability (CP). The agreement between both methods was excellent, showing a TDI = 8.1%, which indicates that 90% of the GFR values obtained with DBS showed an error ranging from - 8 to + 8% of the reference method; a CCC of 0.996 (CI: 0.992), reflecting high precision and accuracy and a CP of 94 (CI: 83), indicating that 6% of the GFR values obtained with DBS had an error greater than 10% of the method in blood. So, both methods are interchangeable. DBS represent a major simplification of GFR measurement in mice. Also, DBS improves animal welfare by reducing the total blood required and refining the procedure.
Insights
Measuring kidney function in mice is simplified using dried blood spot (DBS) sampling for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) analysis. This method reduces blood volume, improving animal welfare and research efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Animal models
- Biomedical research
Background:
- Accurate measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in mice is crucial for renal disease research.
- Current methods for GFR assessment in mice are complex and require significant blood volumes.
- Limited GFR measurement techniques hinder the utility of mouse models in studying kidney diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simplify plasma clearance of iohexol for GFR measurement in mice.
- To validate the use of dried blood spot (DBS) sampling for reduced blood volume analysis.
- To improve animal welfare by minimizing blood collection during GFR assessment.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous GFR measurement using a reference method in total blood and a tested method with DBS.
- Analysis of iohexol plasma clearance in fifteen male and six female C57BL/6J mice.
- Statistical analysis of method agreement using concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), total deviation index (TDI), and coverage probability (CP).
Main Results:
- Excellent agreement between DBS and reference methods for GFR measurement (TDI = 8.1%, CCC = 0.996).
- DBS method demonstrated high precision and accuracy, with 90% of values within ±8% of the reference method.
- Coverage probability (CP) of 94 indicates minimal deviation, with only 6% of DBS values exceeding a 10% error margin.
Conclusions:
- Dried blood spot sampling offers a major simplification for GFR measurement in mice.
- The DBS method is interchangeable with the reference method, providing reliable GFR values.
- This refined procedure significantly improves animal welfare by reducing blood volume requirements.
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