Applicability of solidified water (hydrogel) in laboratory animal care.

Hydrogel was used to provide water in a solid state to rats and mice under laboratory conditions. Hydrogel was easy to handle and readily consumed by the animals. In studies extending over 10 months, no adverse effects on the condition of the animals were observed. Consumption of hydrogel as the sole source of water for nearly 2 months had no effect on the concentration of selected fecal aerobic microorganisms. Histopathological changes were not observed in the tissues of rats and mice kept for periods up to 7 months on hydrogel as the sole source of fluids. The survival time of rats and mice kept on hydrogel after exposure to supralethal doses of total body irradiation did not differ significantly from that of control animals given drinking water in bottles.