Protocol for nutritional intervention in neonatal rats using the "pup-in-a-cup" artificial rearing system.

Authors :: Wang W
Choudhary A
Mu C
Scantlebury MH
Shearer J
Reimer RA
Source :: STAR protocols [STAR Protoc] 2024 Mar 15; Vol. 5 (1), pp. 102919. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Feb 29.
Publication Year :: 2024
Abstract: Early-life nutrition fundamentally influences newborn development and health. Here, we present a protocol for nutritional intervention in neonatal rats using the "pup-in-a-cup" artificial rearing system. We describe steps for rat milk substitute preparation, cheek cannulation and maintenance, and nutritional manipulation during the suckling period. This protocol enables investigation into the role of nutritional factors in newborns by artificially rearing rats away from the mother with experimental diets starting at postnatal day 4 for up to 18 days. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Wang et al., <superscript>1</superscript> Choudhary et al., <superscript>2</superscript> and Mu et al. <superscript>3</superscript> <superscript>,</superscript> <superscript>4</superscript> .<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests.<br /> (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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