title: Simplified preparation of a refined milk formula comparable to rat's milk: influence of the formula on development of the gut and brain in artificially reared rat pups.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Milk formulas for artificially reared (AR) rat pups are mostly based on complex cow's milk products, prepared by laborious and time-consuming processes. The aim of this study was to develop a simplified procedure for preparing a refined formula and to examine its influences on gut and brain development.
  
  
  METHODS
  The formula comprised a combination of purified cow's casein and whey proteins, five kinds of edible oil, minerals, and vitamins. Detailed analyses showed that the composition of macro- and micro-nutrients, osmolarity, and pH of the new formula closely resembled those of rat's milk. Rat pups, each with an intragastric cannula implanted at age 5 days, were artificially reared for the following 10-15 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The body weight gain of AR pups matched that of mother-reared (MR) pups. Histoplanimetrical analyses showed that the small intestine in AR pups was more developed in relation to area of a transverse section, number and length of villi, and thickness of tunica muscularis than that of MR pups. Fat components in the formula influenced the fatty acid composition and the cholesterol-to-phospholipid ratio in the small intestinal microvillus membrane (MVM) of AR pups, but not the MVM fluidity. Brain weight was not significantly different between the two groups at age 15-20 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This formula is useful for artificial rearing of rats and for identifying dietary components contributing to metabolic adaptation during the suckling period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Research, Nutrition Science Institute, Meiji Milk Products Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koyanagi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katoku
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yonekubo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yajima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D002364:Caseins / Q000032:analysis; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000032:analysis; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014815:Vitamins / Q000032:analysis; D000067816:Whey Proteins
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D008894:Milk Proteins; D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins; D000067816:Whey Proteins