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Metabolism in the Artificially Reared Rat Pup: Effect of an Atypical Rat Milk Substitute1

Nancy Sonnenberg, James D. Bergstrom, Young H. Ha and John Edmond2

The Department of Biological Chemistry and Mental Retardation Research Center, School of Medicine, The University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024

A substitute for rat milk [Messer et al., 1969 (1)] has been evaluated as a nutrient source to artificially feed rat pups from 4 days after birth. The rat milk substitute has a normal fat concentration, suboptimal protein concentration and a high carbohydrate concentration when compared to natural rat milk. Rat pups artificially reared on the milk substitute by intermittent infusion via miniaturized intragastric cannulae have: 1) atypical ketone body metabolism: lower than normal concentration and turnover of D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate in blood and less than normal amounts of D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate used for respiration, 2) atypical carbohydrate metabolism: higher than normal insulin and galactose concentrations in blood and a greater than normal amount of glucose used for respiration, and 3) atypical amino acid levels: the concentrations of several amino acids in blood were 60% or less than normal, and the concentration of taurine in plasma was negligible. We observed frequent head tremors, hyperreactivity to handling and about a 20% incidence of cataracts in rat pups reared on the milk substitute. We conclude this rat milk substitute is not suitable as a nutrient source for the developing rat pup.

KEY WORDS: • artificially reared rat • rat milk substitute • metabolism during development • ketone bodies • carbohydrate

1 Supported in part by U.S. Public Health Service grants HD 11496, HD 12473 and HD 06576.

2 To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Manuscript received 14 December 1981.




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