Modified method for the performance of glucose insulin clamp studies in conscious rats

A modified method for performance of insulin-glucose clamp studies in rats was developed via catheterization of the tail vessels, after preconditioning of animals to limited restraint. The procedure is performed in conscious animals under local anesthesia and employs a specially designed foam rubber jacket which allows the animal mobility of the limbs and forward vision. In addition, a table utilizing a belt system allows easy positioning of the animal in the left and right lateral and supine positions during surgery. After initial development of the procedure, its use in 123 animals is reported. Line placement was successfully achieved in all cases with insignificant blood loss or morbidity and zero mortality. We note that 11% of animals did not complete the subsequent insulin-glucose clamp study due to either one of the vascular cannulae leaving the vessel (one animal), venous rupture (12 animals), or cannula blockage unrelated to surgical technique (one animal). Studies on Wistar Kyoto, Spontaneously Hypertensive, and Sprague-Dawley rats showed a fall in catecholamines after animals were replaced in cages, with stabilization within 30 min. In comparison to traditional techniques, this method is, therefore, proposed as a less traumatic and rapid way of performing infusion studies in conscious rats with a high success rate and minimization of loss of animal life due to procedural problems.