| First Author | Krarup A | Year | 1999 |
| Journal | Lab Anim Sci | Volume | 49 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 545-50 |
| PubMed ID | 10551457 | Mgi Jnum | J:58192 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1346924 | Citation | Krarup A, et al. (1999) Evaluation of surrogate markers of impending death in the galactosamine-sensitized murine model of bacterial endotoxemia. Lab Anim Sci 49(5):545-50 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: When evaluating vaccines for efficacy against gram-negative endotoxemia, the challenge has historically required death of a large percentage of test subjects. We attempted to identify surrogate markers of impending death to allow for early euthanasia without interfering with experimental data collection. METHODS: Galactosamine-sensitized mice (n = 140) were inoculated intraperitoneally with various dosages of endotoxin, and development of clinical signs of disease--body temperature, body weight, hunched posture, ruffled coat, inability to ambulate, and loss of consciousness--was evaluated. RESULTS: Wide fluctuations in body temperature (+/- 4 degrees C) were observed in survivors and nonsurvivors. Posture, coat, and body weight were not accurate predictors of death. Only inability to ambulate, with a positive predictive value of 100% (11 of 11), accurately predicted death in the experimental mice of this study. CONCLUSION: Using this surrogate marker, loss of ability to ambulate, 11 of 13 mice that developed this sign could have been euthanized early, preventing anywhere from 2 to 22 h of potential distress prior to death. |
