Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2025
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Real-Time Void Spot Assay
Published on: February 10, 2023
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Void spot assay visualization optimization for use of Void Whizzard in rats (Rattus norvegicus)
Hannah Ruetten1,2, Jadyn Bothe1, Shannon Lankford1
1Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Physiological Reports
|May 5, 2025
Summary
Ninhydrin spray visualization offers an optimized method for the void spot assay (VSA), improving urine detection in rodent models for bladder function assessment.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Animal Models
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- The void spot assay (VSA) is a noninvasive method to evaluate urination.
- Optimizing VSA techniques is crucial for accurate bladder function assessment in research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare and optimize visualization techniques for the void spot assay (VSA).
- To establish a standardized VSA protocol for rodent models.
Main Methods:
- Compared bright field light (BF), ultraviolet light (UV), and ninhydrin spray (N) visualization.
- Analyzed urine spot characteristics (count, area) using Void Whizzard software.
- Utilized male rats housed in filter paper-lined cages for urine collection.
Main Results:
- Ninhydrin spray (N) provided superior urine highlighting and digital imaging compared to BF and UV.
- Significant differences were observed in spot count and area across all three visualization methods.
- Human fingerprints interfered with small spot analysis, but larger spot detection and distribution were unaffected.
Conclusions:
- Ninhydrin spray is recommended for VSA to enhance urine visualization and standardization.
- Further refinement of VSA protocols can improve the assessment of bladder function in rodent studies.
