Metabolic Clamps

Metabolic clamp studies permit measurements of insulin action (whole body and tissue-specific), substrate clearance, gluconeogenesis and insulin secretion, and are the gold standard for many measures of metabolic function.  The Columbia Diabetes Research Center offers clamp services for the studies in mice. 

Location

Metabolic Clamps are performed in two stages: The Russ Berrie Pavilion Mouse Surgical Procedure Suite (RBP 720) performs surgical preparation of mice with placement of intravenous catheters. After 4-7 days of recovery, mice are brought to the Phenotyping Core (RBP 243), where clamp studies are performed.

Procedures

All investigators who wish to have clamps performed on mice schedule a meeting with Drs. Emiliano to discuss experimental design and are provide details of protocol and procedures.  After an initial consultation and once a design is agreed upon, investigators are provided access to the online scheduling calendar.  Mice are then transferred from the investigator’s protocol to the DRC IACUC protocol and physically transferred by the Institute of Comparative Medicine staff to the RBP Mouse Barrie Facility.   Data collected during the clamp studies are provided to the investigators via LabArchive and are usually available within 48 hrs of completion of the clamp.  For investigators who do not have access to the Columbia supported LabArchive database, Dr. Xu provides pdf copies of the data.  Dr. Emiliano reviews the data with each investigator following completion of clamps.