Relevance and elaboration of a base of experimental data of net blood nutrient fluxes across tissues and organs

In order to optimise the storage and handling of experimental data obtained on multicatheterised animals, a database was created with Microsoft Access using the MERISE method. An experiment carried out using 6 lambs catheterised at the portal drained viscera, liver and hindlimb levels was used for this construction. First, the available data were inventoried as manuscript documents or Microsoft Excel files: the timetable, feed composition and intake, animal growth, blood flow measurements, results of blood metabolite concentrations and rumen fluid characteristics. The number of Excel equivalent worksheets amounted to nearly 3 407 and the total disk volume to 42 Mega Bytes. Subsequently, a data model was established with 10 entities and 15 relationships. Twenty-one tables were created corresponding for most of them to entities or relationships of the data model. Finally, 10 procedures calling 133 queries were realised, to especially carry out the flux calculations on blood metabolites at the levels of the portal drained viscera, the liver, the splanchnic tissues and the hindlimb. As a conception method, Merise proved to be suitable to collect, model, and handle experimental data obtained on multicatheterised animals. Compared with Excel which is often used, the database presents several advantages. First, it facilitates information storing and retrieving by reducing the number of files and worksheets, and it decreases the risks of errors. Second, it proved to be an efficient tool to apply in accordance with Quality Insurance requirements as an aid for data validation and traceability. Third, it allows all required data handling. Fourth, the utilisation of the database is simple for users and the running time on modern micro-computers is short. Finally, this type of database can be generalised to other experimental data obtained on animals.