Premium
Housing experimental rats in solid‐based cages with digestible bedding may confound outcomes of nutritional studies
Author(s) -
Le Leu Richard K,
Conlon Michael A,
Bird Anthony R,
Clarke Julie M
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.6919
Subject(s) - bedding , corncob , feces , ingestion , zoology , fermentation , litter , biology , food science , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , botany , raw material
BACKGROUND Rats used in nutritional studies are often kept in wire‐based cages to prevent ingestion of bedding and minimise ingestion of faeces. However, wire‐based cages are criticised because of potential negative animal welfare implications. This study investigated the effects of wire and solid‐based cages with corncob bedding on large bowel fermentation and microbiota. Rats were group housed in wire or solid‐based cages and fed either a low‐fibre ( LF ) diet or a high‐fibre ( HF ) diet composed of resistant starch for 4 weeks. RESULTS Bedding material was observed in faeces of rats housed in solid‐based cages. Caging type and diet altered large bowel fermentation variables and bacterial populations. Caecal digesta weight was lower in rats fed HF diet and maintained on bedding than in HF ‐fed rats maintained on wire. Bacteria abundance associated with fibre fermentation was higher in LF ‐diet fed rats maintained on bedding compared with LF ‐fed rats housed on wire. CONCLUSION Maintaining rats in solid‐based cages with corncob bedding alters large bowel fermentation and bacterial communities owing to ingestion of bedding. These changes may confound outcomes of nutritional studies, particularly those investigating the health effects of fibres. The use of wire‐based caging may be justified in research of this type. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry