The Prevalence of Reported Gavage Incidents in Repeated Dose Toxicity Studies Involving Rats Conducted Between
Katy Taylor1, Laura Rego Alvarez1, Emma Grange1
1Cruelty Free International Trust, London, UK.
Alternatives to Laboratory Animals : ATLA
|April 23, 2025
Summary
Oral gavage in animal toxicity studies causes incidents in 21% of cases. Gavage-related reflux (GRR) also leads to adverse effects, suggesting a need to review this common animal testing method.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Animal testing methods
- Regulatory science
Background:
- Oral gavage is a primary method for administering compounds in animal toxicology studies.
- The procedure is recognized as stressful for animals and carries risks of accidents and gavage-related reflux (GRR).
- GRR can cause respiratory distress and potentially death in test animals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of incidents, including deaths and clinical signs, attributed to the oral gavage procedure in repeated dose toxicity studies.
- To identify factors associated with gavage-related incidents in animal testing.
- To assess the need for a review of the oral gavage technique.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 300 repeated dose toxicity test reports from the ECHA CHEM database (REACH-registered chemicals) from the past 20 years.
- Review of study reports for deaths or clinical signs attributed to the gavage procedure.
- Examination of reports for clinical signs associated with gavage-related reflux (GRR) without explicit attribution.
Main Results:
- 21% of reviewed studies reported deaths or clinical signs attributed to the gavage procedure in rats.
- An additional 16% of studies noted clinical signs linked to GRR, though not directly attributed to gavage.
- Incidents were more frequent in 90-day studies compared to 28-day studies, and with viscous substances or test substances versus controls.
Conclusions:
- Incidents related to oral gavage in animal toxicology studies appear more common than previously assumed.
- Gavage-related reflux (GRR) is a notable concern, even when not explicitly attributed to the procedure.
- A comprehensive review of the oral gavage procedure is warranted to improve animal welfare and data reliability.
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