ABSTRACT
Objective: To develop a new rat model for studies of enteral nutrition support.Methods: After acute pancreatitis models induced by laparotomy,32 SPF rats were put a catheter always used for epidural anesthesia, through pylorus to 5 cm of jejunum below Treitz ligament, and sutured and fixed apart at the entrance, stomach, peritoneum, neck, and the tail, which then connected to an one-time infusion tube. By regulating the infusion tube on the pulley, the enteral nutrition input was kept uniform.Results: The routes All rats were successfully built in all rats for TEN, with an average input time of 7days in which rats well tolerated without diarrhea. All rats got positive nitrogen balance after TEN for 3-4 days. No extrusion, bending, or leakage of the infusion tubes happened.Conclusion: This rat model of enteral feeding had advantages of simplicity, firmness, reliability and cheapness, which could be used in large-scale and fulfill the need of experimental EN study in small animals like rats.