Refinement Measure Using NMR for Subcutaneous Fat Mass Determination in Rats

White adipose tissue (WAT) is categorized as either subcutaneous or visceral fat. One technique used to measure adipose tissue is nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which involves placing an animal in a tube for six minutes. This procedure is stressful for rats. Therefore, we evaluated whether determining the weight of subcutaneous WAT in sacrificed rats via NMR is a valid approach. Rats fed a standard diet showed similar WAT measurements when alive and after being sacrificed. Moreover, three groups of rats were fed different diets; one group was fed a cafeteria diet. The weight of WAT in the carcasses measured via NMR (mainly subcutaneous WAT) and the weight of the fat depots, measured after sacrifice (visceral WAT), presented similar percentages of subcutaneous and visceral WAT among the three groups (with different levels of adiposity). In conclusion, this research is a proof of concept regarding the determination of subcutaneous WAT weight via NMR, regardless of adiposity.