Name: hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps in conscious, unrestrained mice
Uploaded: 2011-11-16T12:00:00
Duration: 11 min 10 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic Clamps in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice at JoVE.com

This work was supported by Grant 5-U24-DK059637-10 to the Vanderbilt Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center.

<ol>
	<li>Ayala, J. E., Bracy, D. P., McGuinness, O. P., Wasserman, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Considerations+in+the+design+of+hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic+clamps+in+the+conscious+mouse.">Considerations in the design of hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps in the conscious mouse.</a> Diabetes. 55, 390-397 (2006).</li><li>Berglund, E. D., Li, C. Y., Poffenberger, G., Ayala, J. E., Fueger, P. T., Willis, S. E., Jewell, M. M., Powers, A. C., Wasserman, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glucose+metabolism+in+vivo+in+four+commonly+used+inbred+mouse+strains.">Glucose metabolism in vivo in four commonly used inbred mouse strains.</a> Diabetes. 57, 1790-1799 (2008).</li><li>Niswender, K. D., Shiota, M., Postic, C., Cherrington, A. D., Magnuson, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+increased+glucokinase+gene+copy+number+on+glucose+homeostasis+and+hepatic+glucose+metabolism.">Effects of increased glucokinase gene copy number on glucose homeostasis and hepatic glucose metabolism.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 272, 22570-22575 (1997).</li><li>Kim, H. J., Higashimori, T., Park, S. Y., Choi, H., Dong, J., Kim, Y. J., Noh, H. L., Cho, Y. R., Cline, G., Kim, Y. B., Kim, J. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+effects+of+interleukin-6+and+-10+on+skeletal+muscle+and+liver+insulin+action+in+vivo.">Differential effects of interleukin-6 and -10 on skeletal muscle and liver insulin action in vivo.</a> Diabetes. 53, 1060-1067 (2004).</li><li>Kim, J. K., Fillmore, J. J., Chen, Y., Yu, C., Moore, I. K., Pypaert, M., Lutz, E. P., Kako, Y., Velez-Carrasco, W., Goldberg, I. J., Breslow, J. L., Shulman, G. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tissue-specific+overexpression+of+lipoprotein+lipase+causes+tissue-specific+insulin+resistance.">Tissue-specific overexpression of lipoprotein lipase causes tissue-specific insulin resistance.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 98, 7522-7527 (2001).</li><li>Kim, J. K., Fillmore, J. J., Gavrilova, O., Chao, L., Higashimori, T., Choi, H., Kim, H. J., Yu, C., Chen, Y., Qu, X., Haluzik, M., Reitman, M. L., Shulman, G. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+effects+of+rosiglitazone+on+skeletal+muscle+and+liver+insulin+resistance+in+A-ZIP/F-1+fatless+mice.">Differential effects of rosiglitazone on skeletal muscle and liver insulin resistance in A-ZIP/F-1 fatless mice.</a> Diabetes. 52, 1311-1318 (2003).</li><li>Kim, J. K., Fillmore, J. J., Sunshine, M. J., Albrecht, B., Higashimori, T., Kim, D. W., Liu, Z. X., Soos, T. J., Cline, G. W., O'Brien, W. R., Littman, D. R., Shulman, G. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PKC-theta+knockout+mice+are+protected+from+fat-induced+insulin+resistance.">PKC-theta knockout mice are protected from fat-induced insulin resistance.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 114, 823-827 (2004).</li><li>Kim, J. K., Gavrilova, O., Chen, Y., Reitman, M. L., Shulman, G. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanism+of+insulin+resistance+in+A-ZIP/F-1+fatless+mice.">Mechanism of insulin resistance in A-ZIP/F-1 fatless mice.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 275, 8456-8460 (2000).</li><li>Kim, J. K., Gimeno, R. E., Higashimori, T., Kim, H. J., Choi, H., Punreddy, S., Mozell, R. L., Tan, G., Stricker-Krongrad, A., Hirsch, . <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inactivation+of+fatty+acid+transport+protein+1+prevents+fat-induced+insulin+resistance+in+skeletal+muscle.">Inactivation of fatty acid transport protein 1 prevents fat-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 113, 756-763 (2004).</li><li>Kim, J. K., Kim, H. J., Park, S. Y., Cederberg, A., Westergren, R., Nilsson, D., Higashimori, T., Cho, Y. R., Liu, Z. X., Dong, J., Cline, G. W., Enerback, S., Shulman, G. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adipocyte-specific+overexpression+of+FOXC2+prevents+diet-induced+increases+in+intramuscular+fatty+acyl+CoA+and+insulin+resistance.">Adipocyte-specific overexpression of FOXC2 prevents diet-induced increases in intramuscular fatty acyl CoA and insulin resistance.</a> Diabetes. 54, 1657-1663 (2005).</li><li>Kim, J. K., Kim, Y. J., Fillmore, J. J., Chen, Y., Moore, I., Lee, J., Yuan, M., Li, Z. W., Karin, M., Perret, P., Shoelson, S. E., Shulman, G. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prevention+of+fat-induced+insulin+resistance+by+salicylate.">Prevention of fat-induced insulin resistance by salicylate.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 108, 437-446 (2001).</li><li>Kim, J. K., Michael, P. r. e. v. i. s., Peroni, S. F., Mauvais-Jarvis, O. D., Neschen, F., Kahn, S., Kahn, B. B., R, C., Shulman, G. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Redistribution+of+substrates+to+adipose+tissue+promotes+obesity+in+mice+with+selective+insulin+resistance+in+muscle.">Redistribution of substrates to adipose tissue promotes obesity in mice with selective insulin resistance in muscle.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 105, 1791-1797 (2000).</li><li>Kim, J. K., Zisman, A., Fillmore, J. J., Peroni, O. D., Kotani, K., Perret, P., Zong, H., Dong, J., Kahn, C. R., Kahn, B. B., Shulman, G. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glucose+toxicity+and+the+development+of+diabetes+in+mice+with+muscle-specific+inactivation+of+GLUT4.">Glucose toxicity and the development of diabetes in mice with muscle-specific inactivation of GLUT4.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 108, 153-160 (2001).</li><li>Haluzik, M., Gavrilova, O., LeRoith, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Peroxisome+proliferator-activated+receptor-alpha+deficiency+does+not+alter+insulin+sensitivity+in+mice+maintained+on+regular+or+high-fat+diet:+hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic+clamp+studies.">Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha deficiency does not alter insulin sensitivity in mice maintained on regular or high-fat diet: hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies.</a> Endocrinology. 145, 1662-1667 (2004).</li><li>Haluzik, M., Yakar, S., Gavrilova, O., Setser, J., Boisclair, Y., LeRoith, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Insulin+resistance+in+the+liver-specific+IGF-1+gene-deleted+mouse+is+abrogated+by+deletion+of+the+acid-labile+subunit+of+the+IGF-binding+protein-3+complex:+relative+roles+of+growth+hormone+and+IGF-1+in+insulin+resistance.">Insulin resistance in the liver-specific IGF-1 gene-deleted mouse is abrogated by deletion of the acid-labile subunit of the IGF-binding protein-3 complex: relative roles of growth hormone and IGF-1 in insulin resistance.</a> Diabetes. 52, 2483-2489 (2003).</li><li>Haluzik, M. M., Lacinova, Z., Dolinkova, M., Haluzikova, D., Housa, D., Horinek, A., Vernerova, Z., Kumstyrova, T., Haluzik, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improvement+of+insulin+sensitivity+after+peroxisome+proliferator-activated+receptor-alpha+agonist+treatment+is+accompanied+by+paradoxical+increase+of+circulating+resistin+levels.">Improvement of insulin sensitivity after peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha agonist treatment is accompanied by paradoxical increase of circulating resistin levels.</a> Endocrinology. 147, 4517-4524 (2006).</li><li>Kim, H., Haluzik, M., Asghar, Z., Yau, D., Joseph, J. W., Fernandez, A. M., Reitman, M. L., Yakar, S., Stannard, B., Heron-Milhavet, L., Wheeler, M. B., LeRoith, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Peroxisome+proliferator-activated+receptor-alpha+agonist+treatment+in+a+transgenic+model+of+type+2+diabetes+reverses+the+lipotoxic+state+and+improves+glucose+homeostasis.">Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha agonist treatment in a transgenic model of type 2 diabetes reverses the lipotoxic state and improves glucose homeostasis.</a> Diabetes. 52, 1770-1778 (2003).</li><li>Deibert, D. C., DeFronzo, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Epinephrine-induced+insulin+resistance+in+man.">Epinephrine-induced insulin resistance in man.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 65, 717-721 (1980).</li><li>Rizza, R. A., Cryer, P. E., Haymond, M. W., Gerich, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adrenergic+mechanisms+for+the+effects+of+epinephrine+on+glucose+production+and+clearance+in+man.">Adrenergic mechanisms for the effects of epinephrine on glucose production and clearance in man.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 65, 682-689 (1980).</li><li>Nunemaker, C. S., Wasserman, D. H., McGuinness, O. P., Sweet, I. R., Teague, J. C., Satin, L. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Insulin+secretion+in+the+conscious+mouse+is+biphasic+and+pulsatile.">Insulin secretion in the conscious mouse is biphasic and pulsatile.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 290, 523-529 (2006).</li><li>Nunemaker, C. S., Zhang, M., Wasserman, D. H., McGuinness, O. P., Powers, A. C., Bertram, R., Sherman, A., Satin, L. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Individual+mice+can+be+distinguished+by+the+period+of+their+islet+calcium+oscillations:+is+there+an+intrinsic+islet+period+that+is+imprinted+in+vivo.">Individual mice can be distinguished by the period of their islet calcium oscillations: is there an intrinsic islet period that is imprinted in vivo.</a> Diabetes. 54, 3517-3522 (2005).</li><li>Halter, J. B., Beard, J. C., Jr, P. o. r. t. e., D, . <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Islet+function+and+stress+hyperglycemia:+plasma+glucose+and+epinephrine+interaction.">Islet function and stress hyperglycemia: plasma glucose and epinephrine interaction.</a> Am. J. Physiol. 247, 47-52 (1984).</li><li>Jacobson, L., Ansari, T., McGuinness, O. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Counterregulatory+deficits+occur+within+24+h+of+a+single+hypoglycemic+episode+in+conscious,+unrestrained,+chronically+cannulated+mice.">Counterregulatory deficits occur within 24 h of a single hypoglycemic episode in conscious, unrestrained, chronically cannulated mice.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 290, 678-684 (2006).</li><li>Jacobson, L., Ansari, T., Potts, J., McGuinness, O. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glucocorticoid-deficient+corticotropin-releasing+hormone+knockout+mice+maintain+glucose+requirements+but+not+autonomic+responses+during+repeated+hypoglycemia.">Glucocorticoid-deficient corticotropin-releasing hormone knockout mice maintain glucose requirements but not autonomic responses during repeated hypoglycemia.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 291, 15-22 (2006).</li><li>Ayala, J. E., Bracy, D. P., James, F. D., Julien, B. M., Wasserman, D. H., Drucker, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+glucagon-like+peptide-1+receptor+regulates+endogenous+glucose+production+and+muscle+glucose+uptake+independent+of+its+incretin+action.">The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor regulates endogenous glucose production and muscle glucose uptake independent of its incretin action.</a> Endocrinology. 150, 1155-1164 (2009).</li><li>Fueger, P. T., Bracy, D. P., Malabanan, C. M., Pencek, R. R., Granner, D. K., Wasserman, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hexokinase+II+overexpression+improves+exercise-stimulated+but+not+insulin-stimulated+muscle+glucose+uptake+in+high-fat-fed+C57BL/6J+mice.">Hexokinase II overexpression improves exercise-stimulated but not insulin-stimulated muscle glucose uptake in high-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice.</a> Diabetes. 53, 306-314 (2004).</li><li>Fueger, P. T., Bracy, D. P., Malabanan, C. M., Pencek, R. R., Wasserman, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distributed+control+of+glucose+uptake+by+working+muscles+of+conscious+mice:+roles+of+transport+and+phosphorylation.">Distributed control of glucose uptake by working muscles of conscious mice: roles of transport and phosphorylation.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 286, 77-84 (2004).</li><li>Fueger, P. T., Heikkinen, S., Bracy, D. P., Malabanan, C. M., Pencek, R. R., Laakso, M., Wasserman, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hexokinase+II+partial+knockout+impairs+exercise-stimulated+glucose+uptake+in+oxidative+muscles+of+mice.">Hexokinase II partial knockout impairs exercise-stimulated glucose uptake in oxidative muscles of mice.</a> Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 285, 958-963 (2003).</li><li>Fueger, P. T., Hess, H. S., Posey, K. A., Bracy, D. P., Pencek, R. R., Charron, M. J., Wasserman, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Control+of+exercise-stimulated+muscle+glucose+uptake+by+GLUT4+is+dependent+on+glucose+phosphorylation+capacity+in+the+conscious+mouse.">Control of exercise-stimulated muscle glucose uptake by GLUT4 is dependent on glucose phosphorylation capacity in the conscious mouse.</a> J. Biol. Chem. , (2004).</li><li>Fueger, P. T., Li, C. Y., Ayala, J. E., Shearer, J., Bracy, D. P., Charron, M. J., Rottman, J. N., Wasserman, D. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glucose+kinetics+and+exercise+tolerance+in+mice+lacking+the+GLUT4+glucose+transporter.">Glucose kinetics and exercise tolerance in mice lacking the GLUT4 glucose transporter.</a> J. Physiol. 582, 801-812 (2007).</li><li>Shearer, J., Coenen, K. R., Pencek, R. R., Swift, L. L., Wasserman, D. H., Rottman, J. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long+chain+fatty+acid+uptake+in+vivo:+comparison+of+[125I]-BMIPP+and+[3H]-bromopalmitate.">Long chain fatty acid uptake in vivo: comparison of [125I]-BMIPP and [3H]-bromopalmitate.</a> Lipids. 43, 703-711 (2008).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, or insulin clamp, is widely considered the "gold standard" method for assessing insulin action in vivo. This technique has been applied to several species including humans, dogs, rats and mice. Given the growing number of transgenic mouse models for metabolic disorders, the miniaturization of the technique for use in the mouse has provided significant advances to metabolic research.
While the concepts behind the insulin clamp are straightforward, in practice there are different approaches for performing insulin clamp experiments. This is not a trivial point, since the manner in which the experiment is performed affects results obtained1. Here we present the protocol used by the Vanderbilt MMPC. The key distinction between our protocol and that of others is that we use an arterial catheter for obtaining blood samples. This is in contrast to the more widely used approach of obtaining blood samples by severing the tip of the tail4, 7, 11, 12, 14-17. The advantage of sampling from an arterial catheter is that the experiment is conducted in a conscious and unrestrained mouse. Sampling from the tail often requires restraint and increases indices of stress when large blood samples are acquired1. Stress hormones stimulate endogenous glucose production and impair glucose disposal18, 19, potentially giving the appearance of an insulin resistant phenotype. Sampling from the severed tail may require special Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approval because of its stressful nature. The arterial catheterization procedure was developed to avoid the stress to the mouse of severing the tail.
A key aspect of performing insulin clamps is the ability to maintain euglycemia. There are no algorithms that can correctly predict how the GIR should be adjusted based on blood glucose readings. Like the surgery, personnel conducting insulin clamp experiments will become proficient in maintaining reasonable euglycemia only through experience. It is important to note that because of their higher metabolic rate the data obtained from mouse studies will be inherently noisy. This makes the complete presentation of data, including time courses of glucose and GIR and absolute values for plasma insulin, endoRa, Rd and Rg crucial for the ability of any reader to interpret results. The high glucose flux rates in the mouse (approximately 5 times higher than the rate in humans) warrant a high frequency of glucose sampling. While the blood volume of the mouse is limited, a minimum sampling frequency of once every 10 minutes is necessary to be certain that an adequate clamp has been achieved.
As shown in Figure 4, clamp insulin levels can be different between groups. Factors such as diet interventions, transgenic manipulations or differences in background strains can affect fasting insulin levels, which can subsequently affect clamp insulin levels. Interpreting results when clamp insulin levels are different can be problematic. This can be experimentally addressed by performing pilot experiments to select insulin infusion rates that achieve equivalent clamp insulin levels between groups. Alternatively, somatostatin can be used to inhibit pancreatic hormone secretion, and insulin and glucagon can be replaced at experimentally controlled rates. This latter approach is more commonly done in insulin clamps on rats than mice. If these experimental approaches are not taken, the steady-state GIR can be normalized to the clamp insulin level, or an insulin sensitivity index (SI) can be derived from clamp data as SI=GIR/(G&bull;&Delta;I), where G is the steady-state glucose concentration and &Delta;I is the difference between fasting and clamp insulin concentrations. One assumption with either approach is that the clamp insulin level achieved is within the range where insulin sensitivity is linearly related to the insulin level according to the group being studied. This latter assumption may not apply when comparing insulin resistant and insulin sensitive groups. Ideally, an insulin dose response curve should be generated to select the appropriate insulin infusion. However, because of the requirement for additional experiments, this is rarely done.
The versatility provided by arterial catheterization extends to experimental approaches beyond euglycemic clamps. For example, hyperglycemic clamps, in which glucose is infused at a variable rate to maintain hyperglycemia relative to fasting glucose, can be used to assess endogenous pancreatic function in vivo2, 20, 21. The measurement of first phase insulin secretion during this test requires frequent acquisition of blood samples (i.e every 2-5 min), which is not feasible when obtaining samples from the tip of the tail. Furthermore, elevated catecholamines resulting from tail sampling can impair insulin secretion and enhance glucagon secretion22. The insulin clamp protocol can also be modified to allow for glucose levels to fall to relative hypoglycemia to assess counter-regulatory response2, 23, 24. Arterial catheterization can also be used to assess the dynamics of glucose metabolism during exercise25-30. This is significantly advantageous over conventional approaches conducted at single time points pre- and post-exercise or in isolated muscles ex vivo. The techniques presented here can also be used to assess not just glucose, but also fatty acid metabolism31.

hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps in conscious, unrestrained mice

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by a defect in insulin action. The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, or insulin clamp, is widely considered the "gold standard" method for assessing insulin action in vivo. During an insulin clamp, hyperinsulinemia is achieved by a constant insulin infusion. Euglycemia is maintained via a concomitant glucose infusion at a variable rate. This variable glucose infusion rate (GIR) is determined by measuring blood glucose at brief intervals throughout the experiment and adjusting the GIR accordingly. The GIR is indicative of whole-body insulin action, as mice with enhanced insulin action require a greater GIR. The insulin clamp can incorporate administration of isotopic 2[14C]deoxyglucose to assess tissue-specific glucose uptake and [3-3H]glucose to assess the ability of insulin to suppress the rate of endogenous glucose appearance (endoRa), a marker of hepatic glucose production, and to stimulate the rate of whole-body glucose disappearance (Rd).
The miniaturization of the insulin clamp for use in genetic mouse models of metabolic disease has led to significant advances in diabetes research. Methods for performing insulin clamps vary between laboratories. It is important to note that the manner in which an insulin clamp is performed can significantly affect the results obtained. We have published a comprehensive assessment of different approaches to performing insulin clamps in conscious mice1 as well as an evaluation of the metabolic response of four commonly used inbred mouse strains using various clamp techniques2. Here we present a protocol for performing insulin clamps on conscious, unrestrained mice developed by the Vanderbilt Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center (MMPC; URL: www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/mmpc). This includes a description of the method for implanting catheters used during the insulin clamp. The protocol employed by the Vanderbilt MMPC utilizes a unique two-catheter system3. One catheter is inserted into the jugular vein for infusions. A second catheter is inserted into the carotid artery, which allows for blood sampling without the need to restrain or handle the mouse. This technique provides a significant advantage to the most common method for obtaining blood samples during insulin clamps which is to sample from the severed tip of the tail. Unlike this latter method, sampling from an arterial catheter is not stressful to the mouse1. We also describe methods for using isotopic tracer infusions to assess tissue-specific insulin action. We also provide guidelines for the appropriate presentation of results obtained from insulin clamps.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic Clamps in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice at JoVE.com

Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic Clamps in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice

The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, or insulin clamp, is the gold standard for assessing insulin action in vivo. A method for performing insulin clamps in mice is described. This includes a method for arterial catheterization that permits experiments to be performed in conscious, unrestrained mice with minimal stress.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by a defect in insulin action. The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, or insulin clamp, is widely considered the "gold ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

Transthoracic Echocardiography in Mice

In recent years, murine models have become the primary avenue for studying the molecular mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction resulting from changes in gene ...

Hyperinsulinemic-Euglycemic Clamp in the Conscious Rat

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is rapidly rising in prevalence. Characterized by either inadequate insulin production or the inability to utilize insulin produced, ...

Femoral Arterial and Venous Catheterization for Blood Sampling, Drug Administration and Conscious Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Measurements

In multiple fields of study, access to the circulatory system in laboratory studies is necessary. Pharmacological studies in rats using chronically ...

Catheterization of the Carotid Artery and Jugular Vein to Perform Hemodynamic Measures, Infusions and Blood Sampling in a Conscious Rat Model

The success of a small animal model to study critical illness is, in part, dependent on the ability of the model to simulate the human condition. ...

Carotid Artery Infusions for Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Taxanes in Mice

When proposing the use of a drug, drug combination, or drug delivery into a novel system, one must assess the pharmacokinetics of the drug in the study ...

Transcutaneous Assessment of Renal Function in Conscious Rodents

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the gold standard to assess overall kidney function. However, traditional methods to evaluate GFR are cumbersome and ...

Novel Approach for Simultaneous Recording of Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Blood Pressure with Intravenous Infusion in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice.

Renal sympathetic nerves contribute significantly to both physiological and pathophysiological phenomena. Evaluating renal sympathetic nerve activity ...

Assessment of Respiratory Function in Conscious Mice by Double-chamber Plethysmography

Air volume changes created by a conscious subject breathing spontaneously within a body box are at the basis of plethysmography, a technique used to ...

Implantation of Combined Telemetric ECG and Blood Pressure Transmitters to Determine Spontaneous Baroreflex Sensitivity in Conscious Mice

Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) are both controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and are closely intertwined due to reflex mechanisms. ...

Multi-system Monitoring for Identification of Seizures, Arrhythmias and Apnea in Conscious Restrained Rabbits

Patients with ion channelopathies are at a high risk of developing seizures and fatal cardiac arrhythmias. There is a higher prevalence of heart disease ...