Effects of Sex and Weight on Fasting Blood Glucose in Mice Mus musculus, and Rats Rattus norvegicus

Fasting blood glucose is used to measure metabolic status and is important in the diagnosis and management of diabetes. Its study has continued to generate attention due to the increase in diabetes globally. Most of the reported studies have been on humans. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of sex and weights on fasting glucose levels in mice and rats. Forty-eight male and female albino rats weighing between 50-200g and twenty mice weighing between 16-28g were used for the study. The animals were acclimatized for two weeks. They were fasted overnight, and blood sample was collected from each animal for estimation of blood glucose. Their weights were measured, and blood glucose was determined by modified glucose oxidase method. The results of this study showed that male mice and rats have significantly heavier body weights and higher levels of fasting blood glucose compared with female rats and mice. The study shows that sex and weight affect fasting blood glucose levels in mice and rats. In conclusion, the finding of this study suggests that sex and weight should be considered for accurate assessment of metabolic status in mice and rats. This observation may also be relevant to the assessment of glucose metabolism in humans.