Artificial Feeding of Infant Rats by Continuous Gastric Infusion

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Abstract
A technique for the artificial feeding of infant rats by continuous gastric infusion is described. Using an infusion pump, a milk diet is continuously conveyed to the stomach of the animal via a gastric cannula which has been surgically implanted by gastrostomy shortly after birth. The method is designed to raise eight rats from birth to the age of weaning. Normal growth rates can be approximated. Because the technique is semiautomatic it has the advantage over other methods of artificial feeding in that it avoids the danger of trauma that accompanies repeated passage of oral-gastric feeding tubes. In addition, it eliminates the need for attendance during the night and can be readily handled by a single investigator.