title: High-moisture diet for laboratory rats: complete blood counts, serum biochemical values, and intestinal enzyme activity.
abstract: Rats were fed an irradiated high-moisture diet (KSC-25) with or without access to a water bottle. Physiologic values were compared between these two groups and a group of rats fed a purified diet. Hematologic and serum biochemical values, urine specific gravity, and intestinal enzyme activities were determined from samples collected from the three groups of rats. Sprague Dawley rats (n = 32) fed the irradiated high-moisture diet with or without a water bottle were the test animals. Rats (n = 16) fed an irradiated purified diet and water provided via a water bottle were the control group. The purified diet formulation modified AIN-76A, is a commonly used purified diet for laboratory rodents. All rats remained alert and healthy throughout the study. A comparison of the physiologic values of rats in this study with reported normal values indicated that all of the rats in the study were in good health. Significant differences (P less than 0.05) of the physiologic values from each rat group are reported.
authors.affiliation: NASA, Biomedical Operations and Research Office, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Battles
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Knapka
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gruendel
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D004032:Diet; D005526:Food, Formulated; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013046:Specific Gravity; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014867:Water