Rearing of gnotobiotic rodents by feeding a commercially-prepared infant formula

A simple, inexpensive method for the rearing of germfree rats was developed. Germfree rats were fed from age 10 days to 40 weeks a diet consisting of commercially prepared Similac infant formula, water, and corn oil. Weight gains and gross appearances were comparable to littermate controls. Antibodies to bacterial teichoic acid were present in all controls while absent in rats fed the Similac diet.