A Convenient Neonatal Model for Developmental Studies Requiring Artificial Diets

Abstract

Making use of several advantages of the neonatal rabbit over other species, we have established and evaluated a mammalian model for studying environmental and dietary influences on developmental phenomena under carefully defined conditions. In the model, neonates can be maintained for 7–10 days by once-daily tube feedings of an artificial diet of controlled composition. Weight gain is below that of nursing littermates, but organ development and the development of cellular respiration is comparable in both groups. The model is technically convenient and particularly well-suited to studies of developing biochemical pathways.

Dietary Lipid and Postnatal Development. II. Palmityl Coenzyme A Oxidation in Heart and Liver

“…Whole homogenates of heart and liver of individual animals were We found no evidence to support the suggestion that the ability to prepared as noted previously (2). oxidize long chain fatty acids is influenced by the amount of lipid in the postnatal diet.…”

“…chrome oxidase were measured in homogenates by the polarographic technique described elsewhere (2). Maximum rates of fatty acid oxidation were also measured polarographically (18) with the Neonatal life places large and urgent demands ' POn following additions to the assay medium: homogenate (1-3 mg energy metabolism.…”

Effect of postnatal malnutrition on hyperoxia-induced newborn lung development

“…As the pups of the present study were unable to suck, a 30% reduction of the nutrients of the control diet was chosen, as also done in other studies (19,20,35,36). This diet is similar to that used in other premature rabbit models (8,13). Based on previous studies with preterm rabbits (8,13), we decided to use a diet volume corresponding to 20% of body weight between the 3rd and 7th days of life based on earlier studies with preterm rabbits (8,13).…”

“…A lacteal formula with a composition similar to that of rabbit milk (22,23) and to that described in the literature (8,13,24) was developed because the pups were unable to suck. The control diet consisted of a mixture of 5 g AL110 Formula (Nestlé ® , Brazil), 5 g casein (Support ® , Brazil), 15 mL triglyceride CMAGE (Support ® ), 1 drop Vitanove ® (USP, Brazil), and distilled water (100 mL qsp), which supplied 5.3 g protein, 16.2 g fat, 2.8 g dextrin-maltase, and 155 kcal per 100 mL.…”

The Preterm Rabbit: A Model for the Study of Acute and Chronic Effects of Premature Birth

“…However, the inability to prolong survival beyond the first few hours of life has in most instances precluded the use of these animals in chronic studies of prematuritv. The Door survival of the Dremature animal generallv has beenattribited to difficulties in establishing respiratory function immediatelv after birth and to the inabilitv to vrovide effective nurturing *ostnatally (4,21,23). A notable kxception is the nonhuman primate whose ability to survive independently outside the uterus when delivered before term is well documented (15,26).…”