Growth and longevity of rats fed an agar-bound diet.
A conventional diet fed to rats in an agar-gel base reduced mature bodyweight by about 25% and increased longevity when compared to the same diet in pelleted form. Dry matter intake was not affected, but food utilization was considerably poorer. The use of a diet in agar gel may, therefore, provide an improved toxicological assay, especially when used in combination with flushing racks housing 2 animals per cage, where exposure of the animal technician to dust was reduced.
D000362:Agar; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D004391:Dust; D000362:Agar