were fed ad libitum a Western-type diet (Teklad TD.88137, Envigo, Indianapolis,
Indiana, USA) custom modified (TestDiet, St. Louis, Missouri, USA) to contain 2%
potassium oxonate (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Missouri, USA), or a
calorie-matched and nutrient-matched control diet (with KCl used to match for
the K+ content of potassium oxonate) for 6–18 weeks. Dietary
manipulation with 2% potassium oxonate, in the absence of dietary uric acid or
purine supplements, has been previously shown to cause mild hyperuricemia (serum
uric acid increased 1.5- fold to 2-fold vs normal levels), with no overt renal
disease or intrarenal urate crystal deposition.19 (link) In addition, the xanthine oxidase
inhibitor febuxostat (Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Deerfield, Illinois, USA)
was administered in the drinking water at a calculated dose of 6 mg/kg/day as
previously described20 to
lower uric acid levels in subgroups of rats, as detailed in the
achieve a greater contrast in serum uric acid levels, rats were fed a diet
supplemented with 2% potassium oxonate and 2% uric acid, or a control diet
calorie-matched and nutrient-matched as above. All diets were custom
modifications of the TestDiet Western Diet 5342 (Test Diet, Richmond, Indiana,
USA).