Frequent Tail-tip Blood Sampling in Mice for the Assessment of Pulsatile Luteinizing Hormone Secretion

Summary

Here we present a tail-tip blood sampling protocol for frequent sample collection in unrestrained mice. This method is useful for assessing patterns of pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion and could be adapted for analysis of other circulating factors.

Abstract

In many endocrine systems, circulating factors or hormones are not released continuously, but are secreted as a discrete pulse in response to a releasing factor. Single-point sampling measures are inadequate to fully understand the biological significance of the secretory pattern of pulsatile hormones either under normal physiologic conditions or during conditions of dysregulation. Luteinizing hormone (LH) is synthesized by the anterior pituitary gonadotrope cells and secreted in a pulsatile pattern which requires frequent collection of blood samples for pulse assessment. This has not been possible in mice until recently, due to the development of a high-sensitivity LH assay and advancement in a technique for frequent low-volume sample collection, initially described by Steyn and colleagues.¹ Here we describe a protocol for the frequent peripheral blood sample collection from mice with sufficient handling acclimatization to detect pulsatile secretion of LH. The current protocol details an expanded acclimatization period that allows assessment of robust and continuous pulses of LH over multiple hours. In this protocol, the tip of the tail is clipped and blood is collected from the tail using a hand-held pipette. For assessment of pulsatile LH in gonadectomized mice, serial samples are collected every 5-6 min for 90-180 min. Importantly, the collection of blood and measurement of robust pulses of LH can be accomplished in awake, freely behaving mice, given adequate handling acclimatization and effort to minimize environmental stressors. Sufficient acclimatization can be achieved within 4-5 weeks prior to blood collection. This protocol highlights advances in the methodology to ensure collection of whole blood samples for assessment of pulsatile LH secretion patterns over multiple hours in the mouse, a powerful animal model for neuroendocrine research.

Introduction

Gonad function in mammals is dependent upon gonadotropin secretion, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone, from the pituitary gland. The gonadotropins are secreted in either a pulsatile or surge pattern in response to hypothalamic secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The synthesis and secretion of both LH and FSH are regulated via endocrine, paracrine and autocrine action from a variety of molecules including hypothalamic GnRH, gonadal steroid hormones, and the activin-inhibin-follistatin system, as well as a myriad of physiological conditions including stress and energy balance.²

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Protocol

The method described here is in agreement with the National Institutes of Health Animal Care and Use Guidelines and have been authorized by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the University of California, San Diego.

1. Acclimatization to Handling

1. Handling procedure
   1. Place mouse cages in the biosafety cabinet. Remove the first mouse from the cage and place on a suitable surface (e.g. a clean cage lid) within the biosafety cabinet.
   2. Gently restrain the mouse on the work surface by holding the base of the tail with the forefinger and thumb of one hand. Then, firmly stroke the ventral su....

Results

Representative LH pulse patterns from 4 mice are shown in Figure 1 (data reprinted from Yang et al., 2017). LH was measured in frequent blood samples to determine the response to an acute psychosocial stress challenge. Adult female C57/Bl6 mice were ovariectomized and handled as detailed in this protocol for frequent blood collection. Blood samples were collected for the first 90 min in all animals to establish a pre-treatment baseline of LH pulsatil.......

Discussion

Here we describe a protocol for frequent blood collection of whole blood tail-tip samples for assessment of pulsatile LH secretion in mice. This protocol enables the collection of samples for detection of acute changes in pulsatile LH secretion following exposure to psychosocial stress and is well-suited for assessment of LH pulses under other acute or chronic manipulations.

A critical component of this protocol for achieving reliable and robust profiles of LH pulses is the handling acclimatiz.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Biosaftey cabinet	Lab Products Inc	L/F-B
Bovine serum albumin	Sigma	A5403
Tween-20	Sigma	P2287
KCl	Sigma	P9333
NaCl	Sigma	S7653
Na2HPO4 (anhydrous)	Sigma	S7907
KH2PO4	Sigma	P5655
Ultrapure water	Millipore		Purified and filtered water
Broome Rodent Restraint Device	Harvard Apparatus	52-0460	Not necessary for blood collection, but were used in the collection of representative data.
DynPeak	n/a	n/a	http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039001