Practical considerations for reducing mortality rates in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits

Chemically-induced diabetic animal models have been employed in many areas of diabetes mellitus (DM) research, but managing post-induction animal survival rates remains one of the main downsides.
The aim of the present study was to propose a reliable approach to animal management and monitoring after DM induction in a rabbit model in order to reduce animal mortality rates.
DM was induced by injecting alloxan in 12 New Zealand White rabbits. A preventive subcutaneous glucose administration to counteract a potentially lethal hypoglycemic phase following alloxan injection was performed on individual bases. Blood glucose level (BGL) was checked hourly for the first 36 hours, then every 2 hours until the hyperglycemic state was confirmed.
All 12 rabbits survived a 48-hour post-induction phase. The critical hypoglycemic phase’s start points and duration differed significantly among the rabbits, lasting from 6.7 to 37 hours (19.75 ± 8.44). The rabbits entered the final hyperglycemic phase 18 hours at the earliest and 42 hours at the latest after induction (26.63 ± 7.07). The average daily BGLs throughout the study period ranged from 268 to 512 (413.73 ± 76.69). Eleven rabbits survived until the end of the experiment.
The variability of rabbits’ responses to alloxan injection emphasizes the importance of monitoring rabbit behavior and thoroughly checking BGLs, followed by a preventive glucose administration based on rabbits’ individual needs for up to 36 hours after alloxan injection. The proposed approach seems to reduce animal mortality.