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[Age-related changes and sex differences on the serum chemistry values in Sprague-Dawley rats--I. 6-30 weeks of age]
1Tsumura Central Laboratories, TSUMURA & Co., Ibaraki, Japan.
Insights
Serum chemistry in Sprague-Dawley rats shows age and sex-related changes. Key markers like glucose and cholesterol fluctuate, with distinct patterns observed between male and female rats during maturation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Animal Physiology
- Toxicology
Context:
- Understanding age-related physiological changes is crucial for interpreting toxicological studies.
- Sprague-Dawley rats are a common model organism for preclinical research.
Purpose:
- To investigate age-related changes in 27 serum chemistry parameters in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.
- To identify sex-specific differences in serum chemistry during growth and maturity.
Summary:
- Serum chemistry profiles in rats aged 6 to 30 weeks revealed significant age-related alterations in 12 parameters, including increases in total protein and glucose, and decreases in alkaline phosphatase and inorganic phosphorus.
- Distinct sex differences were observed, with males exhibiting higher alkaline phosphatase and females showing elevated cholinesterase and albumin levels.
- Parameters such as calcium, sodium, chloride, and total cholesterol remained stable across ages and sexes.
Impact:
- Provides normative data for Sprague-Dawley rat serum chemistry, essential for accurate toxicological assessments.
- Highlights the importance of considering both age and sex when evaluating biochemical markers in rat studies.
- Facilitates the identification of potential biomarkers for aging and sex-specific physiological states in rodent models.
Abstract:
Age-related changes of 27 items in serum chemistry were investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes from 6 to 30 weeks of age. The following 12 items were shown as an increase in those values during growth and maturity, i.e., total protein, albumin (female only), glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid (female only), beta-lipoprotein, cholinesterase (female only), asparate aminotransferase (female only), creatinine, direct-bilirubin and total-bilirubin. However, the following 4 items decreased with aging, i.e., asparate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase and inorganic phosphorus. No age-related changes were found in the values for calcium, sodium and chloride in both sexes and for alanine aminotransferase, cholinesterase and albumin in males. The sex differences were shown in the following 12 items: higher values in males were alkaline phosphatase, creatinephosphokinase, glucose and inorganic phosphorus, and higher values in females were cholinesterase, albumin, phospholipid, non-esterified fatty acid, urea nitrogen, direct-bilirubin, total-bilirubin and serum iron. No sex-related differences were found in the values for calcium, sodium, chloride and total cholesterol.