A Comparative Study on the Effect of Euthanasia Methods and Sample Storage Conditions on RNA Yield and Quality in
Bimal Chakkingal Bhaskaran1, Roel Meyermans1, Wim Gorssen1
1Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Box 2472, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
Animals used in research often have to be euthanised, especially when tissue sampling is essential. Recently, a euthanasia method, utilizing an inhalant anaesthetic 'nitrogen gas in foam' in an anoxia box (ANOXIATM), has gained considerable interest as it claimed to be more animal-friendly. However, it is not clear whether the use of this euthanasia method has an influence on RNA measurements. Moreover, there are no studies on the interaction effect of different euthanasia methods on the tissue sample storage conditions. The current study compared RNA measurements from two euthanasia methods (ANOXIATM vs. T-61® injection) and two storage conditions (RNAlater™ vs. snap freezing) in 12 male piglets. The nitrogen anoxia method had a significantly higher RNA yield (p < 0.01) compared to the T-61® method. However, no effect of the euthanasia methods on the A260/230 ratio and RIN value was observed. Tissues stored in RNAlater™ had significantly higher RIN values (p < 0.001) compared to snap frozen samples. The present study could not find a significant difference between the two euthanasia methods in piglets, with regard to RNA quality measurements. Hence, the nitrogen anoxia technique (ANOXIATM) might be considered as a suitable alternative to T-61® for euthanasia of piglets used in research.
More Related Videos
05:07Sampling Strategies and Processing of Biobank Tissue Samples from Porcine Biomedical Models
Published on: March 6, 2018
09:04A Stainless Protocol for High Quality RNA Isolation from Laser Capture Microdissected Purkinje Cells in the Human Post-Mortem Cerebellum
Published on: January 17, 2019