Frequently asked questions
What does STZ stand for?
STZ stands for streptozotocin, an alkylating agent that induces pancreatic islet damage and subsequent diabetes in mice (Science 193:415-417, 1976).
How soon after injection can the mice be shipped?
Counting the first day of injection as day 1, we prefer to hold the mice and ship no earlier than day 18. This time delay allows for confirmation that mice have become diabetic and for the mice to be acclimated with the water transit kits used in shipping containers. However, we can technically ship as early as day 8. We cannot guarantee the health of mice shipped without acclimation to the water transit kits.
Why do you use an injection dose of 50 mg/kg STZ?
Our experimental protocol is designed for maximum effectiveness at multiple, low doses of STZ administered to male C57BL/6J mice. Strains differ in their susceptibility to STZ injection. C57BL/6J (000664) males are moderately susceptible; males of strains FVB/NJ (001800), BALB/cJ (000651), and A/J (000646) are resistant; and males of strains NOD/ShiLtJ (001976) and CBA/J (000656) are highly susceptible (Leiter et al. 1999).
Can you perform injections on females or strains other than C57BL/6J?
As mentioned above, strain variations affect overall health and survival of the injections, as well as shipment survival. We will consider requests for injections on other strains or on females, but those projects will be considered pilot experiments.
Can you use my protocol for STZ injection, rather than your standard protocol?
We will evaluate alternative protocols on a case-by-case basis. Use of alternative protocols requires the approval of our ACUC committee and will be considered pilot experiments.
Can you age the mice and ship them at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after initial injection?
We can age mice for up to 2 months after the date of the initial injection. We cannot ship mice aged beyond that date because of concerns about their shipment survival.
How do you define success of the injections?
For C57BL/6J male mice, successful injections are evidenced by a blood glucose level greater than 300 mg/dl on day 17 (the day prior to shipment).
How is blood glucose determined?
Blood glucose is measured using the Ultra One-Touch monitor.
Can you send me data that includes blood glucose and body weight measurements for the mice in my experiment?
All mice will be individually identified and weighed on the first day of injection. A data file that includes initial weights, final weights and blood glucose values for each mouse will be provided at the time of project completion (mouse shipment).
Can injected mice be shipped overseas?
At this time, we cannot ship STZ injected mice overseas, due to concerns that they will not tolerate long shipments well. However, we can perform the STZ injections and then collect and fix tissues, which may then be shipped internationally.
How will I be billed?
Mice and shipments will be billed at the regular rate. Additionally, you will be invoiced $70 for each mouse in the study, whether injected with STZ or with the control buffer. That fee covers the cost of all project initiation and management, all supplies and chemicals, as well as the water transit kits in the shipping containers.
How soon after I sign the quote can you begin injections?
We require one week lead-time to order STZ for your experiment before injections can begin and cannot order STZ until we have a PO in hand. All injection protocols will be started on Mondays.
References
Leiter EL 1999. In McNeill JH ed. Experimental models of diabetes. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Fla. 418pp.
