Serum chemical components in mice determined by the use of ultramicro techniques.

Abstract

The mean and SD for amounts of serum constituents determined in 1,164 mice in groups of 30-120 animals were as follows: total proteins 6.2 [plus or minus] 0.6 g/100 ml; phosphorus 9.2 [plus or minus] 0.6, crea-tinine 1.1 [plus or minus] 0.2, bilirubin (total) 0.43 [plus or minus] 0.5, bilirubin (direct) 0.14 [plus or minus] 0.10, and glucose 70 [plus or minus] 15.8 mg/100 ml; alkaline phosphatase 4.4 [plus or minus] 1.2, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase 23 [plus or minus] 8.6, and serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase 73 [plus or minus] 0.5, globulins [alpha]1, 0.5 [plus or minus] 0.2, [alpha]2, 0.8[plus or minus]0.2, [beta] 1.5 [plus or minus] 0.3, and [gamma], 0.4 [plus or minus] 0.1 g/100 ml; Bromsulphalein retention 0.0-16.5%; sodium 149.8 [plus or minus] 2.8, chloride 112.1 [plus or minus] 4.9, potassium 5.4 [plus or minus] 0.5, and carbon dioxide 21.9 [plus or minus] 3.4 mEq/liter; and cephalin flocculation 24 and 48 hr negative. These techniques were also successfully employed in the determination of intravenous glucose tolerance tests in mice. Significant differences were observed in different strains. These studies provide data necessary for a better utilization of the mouse as a test animal for physiological, biochemical, and microbiological investigations.