Sterilization of Laboratory Animal Diets by Gamma Radiation II. Reproduction and Generation Tests on Barrier-sustained Rats Fed with Irradiated Diets

Abstract

The reproduction and generation tests on barrier-sustained rats maintained on pellets exposed to 3 and 6 Mrad for sterilization were carried out. The rats fed the irradiated diets showed a reasonable reproduction rate through three successive generation, and all the animals grew well. The growth rate and diet comsumption were greater in young animals fed irradiated diets than in those fed autoclaved diets. In both 3 and 6 Mrad groups, no abnormality was observed in hematological, clinicobiochemical and pathological examinations made at the tenth weeks after birth.