Sprague Dawley rats are a hybrid of a hooded male with unknown origin, and a female Wistar.

They are a good general model for the study of reproduction, for product safety tests, aging,

surgical models, human toxicology, pharmacology, and behavioral research. These animals are

generally used since they offer genetic uniformity, ease in handling, rapid sexual maturation (65

days), year long breeding periods, short gestation periods (22 days) and relatively large litter size

(12 pups) (Maria et. al, 2015).

In a study by Calderon et. al (2016), induction of 200 mg/kg BW potassium bromate (KBrO3)

(Sigma-Aldrich, Singapore) dissolved in distilled water through oral administration via force

feeding (gavage) is effective in the elevation of uric acid levels due to KBrO3-induced oxidative

stress. Serum uric acid levels were found to be elevated about 6-fold after ingestion of KBrO3 of

the animal models in a study done by Watanabe et. al, (2004). Hyperuricemia and oxidative stress

were observed 3 hours after induction of KBrO3. Reduced catalase activity, rapid ATP degradation

and increased xanthine oxidase (XO) activity were believed to be the direct cause of elevated blood

uric acid levels. XO is an enzyme widely associated with hyperuricemia and gout. It catalyzes the

oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine, xanthine to uric acid from purines. ATP degradation is also

associated with production of hypoxanthine and eventually uric acid, making it a possible cause

of hyperuricemia.

P.E. Calderon et al, 2016

http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/conferences/dlsu_research_congress/2016/proceedings/FNH/002FNH_C
alderon_PE.pdf

Maria S., Kamath V.V., Krishnanand P.S., Komali R. (2015). Sprague-Dawley rats are a
sustainable and reproducible animal model for induction and study of oral submucous fibrosis. J
Orofac Sci 2015;7:11-8.
Watanabe S., Tajima, Y., Yamaguchi, T., and Fukui, T. (2004). Potassium Bromate-Induced
Hyperuricemia Stimulates Acute Kidney Damage and Oxidative Stress. Journal of Health Science.
50(6) 647-653.