2008 Volume 12 Issue 3 Pages 214-222
【Purpose】The aim of this study was to establish an animal experimental model with tube feeding during the weaning period that achieves a level of growth and development equal to that of normal animal weaning. Therefore, a modified gastrostomoy method providing symptomatic relief and growth of rats reared through tube feeding was examined.
【Methods】Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats underwent gastrostomy at postnatal 7 days (P7), P9 and P11. Six rat pups were included in each group. The rat pups with operation were fed through the intragastric cannula exclusively, and then nursed until P21. Bodyweight of the rats was measured from P7 to P21, and length of body, maximum width of head and liver/body weight ratio were measured at P21 after euthanasia.
【Results】No significant difference was found in bodyweight, length of body and maximum width of head between the rat group with gastrostomy and the control. On the other hand, liver/bodyweight ratio of the operated rats in the P9 and P11 groups showed significantly larger values than the control rats. The operated rats were infused through a catheter early in the gastrostomy.
【Conclusion】These results suggested that the rats operated by the above method and nursed under this condition reached the same level of physical growth as rats weaned naturally. Consequently, this method might be useful for an experimental model of artificial tube feeding during the weaning period.
