Neutropenia Models

Neutropenia, the depression of neutrophil counts in blood, is a common side effect of cancer chemotherapy. This same depression of neutrophil counts or depression of blood cell levels in general, can also occur in patients with leukemia. Perry Scientific is a leader in the evaluation of new cancer agents using neutropenia models. Our scientists have developed a series of animal models which can be used to evaluate the efficacy of new compounds used to treat neutropenia. This evaluation of new cancer agents in mice exhibiting chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is quite difficult, but we have optimized the technique.

Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia Models

In Perry Scientific’s chemotherapy-induced neutropenia model, neutropenia is induced in mice by the administration of a chemotherapy agent on Day 0. We have optimized this dose to give maximum reduction in neutrophils on day 8, without permanently damaging the mouse’s ability to recover. Depending on the drug we are testing, the mice are doses on any of days 1, 2,3,4,5 and 6. On day 8 the mice are sacrificed by terminal bleed. A complete blood count, including absolute neutrophils counts, is then run on the blood samples. Below is a typical graph showing how the absolute neutrophil counts vary with time in a typical control group of mice.

Radiation-Induced Neutropenia Models

In Perry Scientific’s radiation-induced neutropenia model, neutropenia is induced in mice by exposing them to a carefully controlled dose of radiation from a cesium source. Depending on the dose, this method can be used to temporarily or permanently suppress neutrophil counts.

Combination Radiation and
Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia Models

This model uses a combination of lower levels of radiation and minimum chemotherapy to induce neutropenia in mice.