Korean J Radiol.  2013 Feb;14(1):45-50. 10.3348/kjr.2013.14.1.45.

Establishment of a Protocol for Determining Gastrointestinal Transit Time in Mice Using Barium and Radiopaque Markers

• Myagmarjalbuu B
• Moon MJ
• Heo SH
• Jeong SI
• Park JS
• Jun JY
• Jeong YY
• Kang HK

• KMID: 1430043
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2013.14.1.45

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to establish a minimally invasive and reproducible protocol for estimating the gastrointestinal (GI) transit time in mice using barium and radiopaque markers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty 5- to 6-week-old Balb/C female mice weighing 19-21 g were used. The animals were divided into three groups: two groups that received loperamide and a control group. The control group (n = 10) animals were administered physiological saline (1.5 mL/kg) orally. The loperamide group I (n = 10) and group II (n = 10) animals were administered 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg loperamide orally, respectively. Thirty minutes after receiving the saline or loperamide, the mice was administered 80 microL of barium solution and six iron balls (0.5 mm) via the mouth and the upper esophagus by gavage, respectively. Afterwards, the mice were continuously monitored with fluoroscopic imaging in order to evaluate the swallowing of the barium solution and markers. Serial fluoroscopic images were obtained at 5- or 10-min intervals until all markers had been excreted from the anal canal. For analysis, the GI transit times were subdivided into intestinal transit times (ITTs) and colon transit times (CTTs).
RESULTS
The mean ITT was significantly longer in the loperamide groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). The mean ITT in loperamide group II (174.5 +/- 32.3) was significantly longer than in loperamide group I (133.2 +/- 24.2 minute) (p < 0.05). The mean CTT was significantly longer in loperamide group II than in the control group (p < 0.05). Also, no animal succumbed to death after the experimental procedure.
CONCLUSION
The protocol for our study using radiopaque markers and barium is reproducible and minimally invasive in determining the GI transit time of the mouse model.

Keyword

Gastrointestinal; Motility disorder; Experimental study; Loperamide; Fluoroscopy

MeSH Terms

Analysis of Variance
Animals
Barium Sulfate/pharmacology
Contrast Media/administration & dosage
Female
Fluoroscopy
Gastrointestinal Transit/*physiology
Iron
Loperamide/administration & dosage
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Prostheses and Implants
Reproducibility of Results
Sodium Chloride/administration & dosage
Surface Properties

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Scanning electron microscope images showing surface of iron ball. A. Iron ball before coating reveals black lines and irregular surface. B. Iron ball after surface was coated has changed uniformly.

• 

  Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of mouse gastrointestinal anatomy. E = esophagus, S = stomach, SI = small intestine, Ce = cecum, Co = colon

• 

  Fig. 3 Fluoroscopic images showing gastrointestinal (GI) transit of barium sulfate and radiopaque iron balls. Fluoroscopic images demonstrate: A. Six iron balls (long arrows) in stomach. B. Three markers in proximal small intestine (short arrows). C. Six markers (short arrows) in small intestine. D. Three markers in cecum (long arrows) (other three remained in small intestine [short arrows]). E. All markers in cecum (long arrows). F. All markers in colon (short arrows). G. Three markers eliminated from GI tract (other three are in colon [short arrows]). H. Clearance of all markers via anal canal.

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