Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): Measuring Glucose Metabolism in Mice

Prepare for the test by fasting the mice for 6 hours. Then, weigh each mouse to determine its body mass, which will be used to calculate the dose of glucose to be used. To measure the baseline blood glucose for each mouse, we'll use a glucometer and glucose chip, commonly known as a test strip.

Collect blood by cutting off 1 to 2 millimeters of the tail tip. Place a drop of this blood on the glucose chip and record the measurement. Next, feed glucose to the mouse by gavage and immediately record the time. Repeat the blood glucose measurements over 2 hours.

This test will monitor how much the blood glucose increases as oral glucose is taken up by the body and how quickly it returns to normal as peripheral tissues take up the glucose to be used or stored.