Portacaval shunt in the rat: An animal model for evaluation of uricase activity

End-to-side portacaval shunts were prepared in mature male rats and their uricemia was measured 7,14,21 and 30 days after the surgery. Due to hepatic uricase exclusion, a sustained increase in serum uric acid over preoperative levels was found between 7 and 21 days after operation. After that, uric acid levels slowly declined, probably as a consequence of the formation of adhesions between the portal circulation and the liver. The hyperuricemic portacaval-shunted rat is a suitable animal model for assaying exogenously administered uricase, and may help also in research studies in the area of hyperuricemic syndromes.