【Animal Modeling】-Application of lactose-free milk powder with deeply hydrolyzed protein in the cultivation of sterile rats

  Objective In the cultivation of germ-free rats, artificially formulated milk fed after birth is very important for the cultivation of germ-free rats. Lactose-free milk powder with deeply hydrolyzed protein is easy for infants to absorb, and reduces various indigestion and allergic reactions. So whether adding this milk powder to the milk used by sterile rats will have a positive effect on the cultivation of sterile rats , and detected the biochemical indicators of the successfully reared germ-free rats.

  Methods Clean-grade SD rats were used to determine the period of labor. After removal of the uterus, the rat pups were stripped in an isolator, and artificially breastfeeding until 22 days after weaning. The body weight and survival rate were recorded. In the formula milk used, the experimental group was added with deeply hydrolyzed protein lactose-free milk powder, and the control group was added with full-price formula milk powder. Blood biochemical indexes were detected in the successfully bred germ-free rats at the 8th week.

  Results In the first 14 days of artificial feeding, there was no difference in body weight and survival rate between the experimental group and the control group. From the 14th day, the body weight and survival rate of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group until the 22nd day. Compared with the control group, the rate was significantly increased (37.18% vs 17.78%), and the body weight on the 22nd day was also significantly higher than that of the control group (9.96±0.49) vs (13.36±0.59). The blood biochemical indexes of germ-free rats showed that AST (aspartate aminotransferase) decreased and GLU (glucose) increased.

  Conclusion In the process of cultivating germ-free rat pups, lactose-free milk powder with deeply hydrolyzed protein can be added as an important component of formula milk, which can effectively increase the body weight of pups and reduce mortality. The blood biochemical indexes of female germ-free rats changed greatly.