Advanced Metabolic Disorder Animal Model Service for Probiotic Efficacy Evaluation

Animal Models

• Diet-Induced Obesity (DIO) Models
  
  • High-Fat Diet (HFD) Induced Obesity: C57BL/6 mice or Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet to induce obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and often NAFLD. This is a widely used model due to its relevance to human dietary patterns.
  • High-Fat High-Sucrose/Fructose Diet Models: Variations that combine high fat with high sugar intake to mimic typical Western diets and induce more severe metabolic syndrome phenotypes.
• Genetic Models of Obesity/Diabetes
  
  • db/db mice: A spontaneous genetic model of severe obesity and type 2 diabetes caused by a mutation in the leptin receptor gene.
  • ob/ob mice: A genetic model of obesity caused by a deficiency of leptin.
  • Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats: A genetic model that develops obesity, insulin resistance, and overt type 2 diabetes.
• Chemically Induced Diabetes Models
  
  • Streptozotocin (STZ) Induced Diabetes: Used to induce type 1 or type 2 diabetes phenotypes, depending on the dose, targeting pancreatic beta cells.
• Customized Models: We can also develop or adapt models based on specific client requirements.

Comprehensive Endpoint Analysis

• Metabolic Parameters
  
  • Body Weight and Composition: Weekly body weight measurements, scans for body fat and lean mass.
  • Glucose Homeostasis: Fasting glucose, glucose tolerance tests (GTT), insulin tolerance tests (ITT), HbA1c.
  • Lipid Profile: Fasting triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C.
  • Insulin and Leptin Levels: Serum insulin and leptin, HOMA-IR for insulin sensitivity.
  • Energy Expenditure: Metabolic cage analysis (VO2, VCO2, RER, activity).
• Gut Microbiota Analysis
  
  • 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing: Comprehensive profiling of bacterial community structure and diversity (alpha and beta diversity).
  • Shotgun Metagenomics: Deeper insights into microbial functional potential, gene pathways, and strain-level resolution.
  • Short-Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) Analysis: Quantification of fecal and/or cecal SCFAs.
• Inflammation and Immune Markers
  
  • Systemic Inflammation: Serum cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP).
  • Adipose Tissue and Liver Inflammation: Gene expression of inflammatory markers (e.g., F4/80, CD68, MCP-1) by qPCR or western blot.
• Organ Histopathology
  
  • Liver: H&E staining for steatosis, inflammation, ballooning (NAFLD/NASH scoring); Masson's trichrome for fibrosis.
  • Adipose Tissue: Adipocyte size and morphology, inflammatory cell infiltration.
  • Pancreas: Islet morphology, beta-cell mass, insulin staining.
• Gut Barrier Integrity
  
  • Fecal Lipopolysaccharide (LPS): A marker of bacterial translocation.
  • Serum FITC-Dextran: In vivo permeability assay.
  • Tight Junction Protein Expression: Western blot or immunohistochemistry of proteins like ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin in intestinal tissue.
• Gene Expression Analysis
  Quantitative PCR (qPCR) or RNA sequencing from relevant tissues (liver, adipose tissue, intestine) to identify changes in metabolic pathways, inflammatory responses, and host-microbe interaction genes.
• Protein Expression Analysis
  Western blot or ELISA for key proteins involved in metabolic pathways, inflammation, or gut barrier function.

Sample Information & Submission

• Probiotic Samples: Clients are required to provide their probiotic strains or formulations. We recommend providing detailed information on the strain(s) identity (e.g., species, strain designation), viability (CFU/g or mL), storage conditions, and any specific handling instructions.
• Control Substances: Please specify any control substances (e.g., vehicle, placebo) required for your study.
• Quantity: A sufficient quantity of probiotic material must be provided to cover the entire study duration and potential unforeseen needs. Our team will advise on the exact quantity based on the study design.
• Shipping: Probiotic samples must be shipped under appropriate conditions (e.g., cold chain for live cultures) to maintain viability and integrity. Detailed shipping instructions will be provided.

Deliverables

A comprehensive, professionally written study report will be provided, including methods, results, statistical analysis, figures, and conclusions. Raw data files will also be available.

We ensure complete transparency and traceability of all data, from raw measurements to final reports.

Turnaround Time

The typical turnaround time for a comprehensive animal model study for probiotic efficacy evaluation generally ranges from 12 to 20 weeks, depending on the complexity of the experimental design, the duration of the in-life phase (e.g., how long animals are on an HFD), the number of groups, and the scope of analytical endpoints. Specific timelines will be detailed in your customized study proposal.