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Diet-induced Animal Model Development Service
Introduction
BioVenic is capable of developing diet-induced animal models across various species, including rats, mice, rabbits, dogs, and hamsters. We can select the appropriate animal strain and feed formula based on client needs, and also support the development of customized feed formulations to facilitate the diet-induced model development. BioVenic's one-stop service platform allows us to conduct: model establishment and evaluation for diet-induced animal models; non-GLP preclinical animal studies for drug efficacy screening using these models; and the collection and analysis of required samples.
BioVenic Diet-induced Animal Model Development Services
Diet Provision and Development for Diet-Induced Animal Models
BioVenic integrates a diverse range of animal model diet resources, allowing us to offer a variety of readily available model-inducing diets. For specific animal strains or model objectives, we are capable of providing customized animal model diets based on the client's formulation requirements or undertaking the development of entirely new animal model diets and feed component analysis. By setting precise nutritional targets, maintaining strict raw material quality control, and aligning with actual experimental needs, BioVenic's model diets help clients significantly enhance the reproducibility and translational value of their models.
Modeling and Validation of Diet-Induced Animal Models
BioVenic's animal experimentation platform offers various animal species and strains, along with model diets targeting multiple diseases. We can use the client's specified feed to induce special models and validate the effect of custom diets. Depending on the required model, BioVenic is able to evaluate the modeling efficacy by assessing animal phenotypes (body weight, BMI, food intake), biochemical indicators, and histopathological changes after a defined feeding period.
Sample Collection and Analysis for Diet-Induced Animal Models
Based on client needs, BioVenic can perform sample collection and analysis both during the modeling process and on the completed animal models. Sample analysis is the sole objective standard for determining the successful establishment of an animal model. BioVenic is capable of collecting biological samples (such as blood, urine, and tissues) and using multiple methodologies (e.g., ELISA, PCR, etc.) to measure key indicators, thereby quantifying the extent of improvement of disease progression by a drug or intervention.
Research Services Conducted on Diet-Induced Animal Models
Diet-induced animal models can be used to simulate diseases across multiple systems, including metabolic, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, skeletal, and oncological systems. For our clients' preclinical drug and intervention development projects conducted on diet-induced animal models, BioVenic's one-stop service platform helps meet the needs of various R&D stages, whether short-term or long-term, through the judicious selection of feed formulation, animal strain, and induction duration. Our research and analysis services include:
- Animal Behavioral Analysis
- Animal Histopathology Service
- Preclinical Animal Pharmacodynamics (PD) Study
- Preclinical Animal Pharmacokinetics (PK) Study
- Animal Cell Biology Service
- Animal lmaging Service
We also provide other animal model development services, including:
- Genome-edited Animal Model Development
- Chemically-induced Animal Model Development
- Surgically-induced Animal Model Development
- Biologically-induced Animal Model Development
Typical Development Workflow for a Diet-induced Animal Model
Common Applications of Diet-induced Animal Models
Diet-induced animal models can be primarily categorized into obesity and metabolic syndrome models, specific nutritional deficiency/excess models, and others. BioVenic help develop diet-induced animal models across multiple species to simulate a range of diseases, providing essential tools for related research.
Table. 1 Applications of Diet-induced Animal Models
| Application Field | Primary Research Content | Typical Model/Diet Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome | Inducing weight gain, fat accumulation, and energy metabolism imbalance through High-Fat Diet (HFD), High-Sugar Diet (HSD), or High-Fat High-Sugar Diet (HFHSD). | Long-term high-fat/high-sugar feeding of mice (C57BL/6J, DB/ob) or rats. |
| Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and Insulin Resistance | Observing changes in blood glucose, insulin levels, glucose tolerance, and pancreatic β-cell function. | High-fat diet (45–60% fat) +/- high-sugar beverages; commonly using C57BL/6J mice. |
| Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD/NASH) | Mechanisms and interventions for hepatic fat deposition, inflammation, and fibrosis progression. | High-fat + high-sugar + high-cholesterol diet; also, low methionine/choline diet or adding fructose. |
| Diabetic Complications (Neuropathy, Retinopathy, Nephropathy) | Assessing pathological changes such as peripheral nerve function, retinal structure, and glomerular damage. | Long-term HFD-induced diabetic mouse models. |
| Cardiovascular Diseases (Atherosclerosis, Hypertension) | Research on arterial plaque formation, dyslipidemia, and blood pressure changes. | High-fat + high-cholesterol diet in mouse/rat models. |
| Bone Health and Metabolic Bone Disease | Changes in bone density and bone metabolic markers in the context of obesity/diabetes. | HFD-induced obese mouse models. |
| Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Interactions | The effect of diet on gut microbial structure and its role in insulin resistance. | High-fat diet mouse models, combined with metagenomic sequencing. |
| Behavior and Neurological Function | Regulation of learning and memory, emotion, and feeding behavior by diet. | High-fat/high-sugar fed rodents; also, smaller models like zebrafish and fruit flies. |
| Cancer Metabolism Research | The effect of high-calorie diets on tumor occurrence, progression, and metabolic reprogramming. | HFD-induced obese mice and specific cancer models (e.g., breast cancer, liver cancer). |
| Exercise Intervention and Metabolic Interaction | Evaluating metabolic improvement effects under the combined action of exercise and diet. | HFD-induced obese mice + running wheel or forced treadmill training. |
| Fracture Healing and Metabolic Diseases | Research on the negative effects of diabetes/obesity on fracture repair. | Application of HFD-induced diabetic mice in fracture models. |
Advantages of BioVenic Diet-induced Animal Model Development Service
Careful Pre-experiment Assessment
Before starting any work, BioVenic scientists carefully go over your research goals, project scope, and available resources. This careful evaluation before the experiment finds possible problems, improves the experimental designs, and makes sure that the chosen methods and animal models are scientifically sound, which increases the chances of a successful outcome.
One-stop Service Platform
BioVenic's all-in-one platform handles every part of your research, from developing models and running experiments to analyzing and reporting on all of your data. This makes the workflow easier, gets rid of the need to coordinate with multiple vendors, makes logistics less complicated, and speeds up your project timeline from start to finish by a lot.
Customized Service Content
Service protocols are not set in stone; they are made to fit the needs of your study. BioVenic lets you choose from a wide range of animal species, feeding schedules, phenotypic readouts, and analytical methods. This makes sure that the service answers your specific scientific questions and gives you highly relevant and tailored results that help you reach your research goals.
Case Study: Long-Term Metabolic Syndrome Model
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a complex set of conditions that significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, experiencing a stroke, or acquiring type 2 diabetes. For pharmaceutical developers concentrating on metabolic disorders, a reliable and persistent animal model that faithfully represents disease progression is essential. Researchers successfully developed a robust mouse model of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in a long-term study by administering a High-Fat, High-Fructose (HF/HF) Purified Diet (60% kcal from fat) for a duration of up to 32 weeks (8 months). Their results showed that this particular nutritional intervention effectively replicates the "Western Diet" profile, leading to chronic obesity, substantial insulin resistance (confirmed via OGTT and ITT), and hepatic steatosis, while clearly identifying the threshold for minimal renal injury—a vital phase for investigating early-stage metabolic complications. Utilizing the scientific principle of related animal studies, BioVenic provides complete preclinical services to expedite your drug discovery process. These services include personalized management of your purified diet studies, as well as complete metabolic phenotyping, including glucose challenges and serum biomarker studies, and high-end histopathology scoring for NAFPD, NASH, and early stages of renal disease. Let our experts assist you in everything, ranging from your own personalized purified diet plans to high-resolution histopathology, to ensure your studies reflect the true complexity of disease progression.
Fig. 1 Fat Accumulation in the Liver of HFFD Fed Mice1
FAQs
Do you provide live model animals?
Currently, we do not provide live animals directly. However, we specialize in the development of diet-induced animal models using the selected animal strains you provide or recommend.
Which animal strain is most appropriate for diet-induced animal models?
The most appropriate strain depends entirely on the specific model type you need to develop. Please contact us to submit your requirements. We will then evaluate your needs and discuss a feasible experimental plan based on your request and our existing animal resources.
What are the key endpoint assessments provided?
It may vary depending on your need. Our standard assessments include:
Metabolic: Body weight, blood glucose, insulin, and blood lipids (TG, TC).
Histology: H&E, Oil-Red O, and Sirius Red staining to assess steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis.
Molecular: ELISA/qPCR/Western blot for biomarkers.
For some studies, optional non-invasive imaging (Ultrasound/MRI) is available for liver fat quantification.
Can I provide my own materials?
Yes. You may supply your proprietary diet formulas (e.g., drug additives). After evaluation, we can add your sample to the experimental diet. This may only be an exploratory study. We coordinate logistics for material handling and technical support.
Contact Us
BioVenic team is capable of developing and validating diet-induced animal models using laboratory animals such as mice and rats, as well as other common species. Furthermore, we can utilize our one-stop research platform to conduct preclinical pharmacological efficacy studies, biochemical analysis, and other research projects. If you have a need for the development of a diet-induced animal model, or require research utilizing such models, please contact us and let us know your requirements. We will carefully evaluate your needs and are committed to assisting you.
References
- Dissard, Romain, et al. "Long term metabolic syndrome induced by a high fat high fructose diet leads to minimal renal injury in C57BL/6 mice." PloS one 8.10 (2013): e76703. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0076703. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0. The original title was changed to "Fat Accumulation in the Liver of HFFD Fed Mice".