A histological study of the use of agar as a delivery vehicle for alcohol or iron to rats.

The supply of ethanol and other substances to the rat has necessitated the development of quite complex dietary preparation and feeding techniques. This study reports the use of ethanol/water solutions in conjunction with normal rat chow diet to provide up to 30 g/kg/day ethanol to study animals. By additionally supplying agar gels containing ethanol, voluntary intake of ethanol was raised to a possible maximum of 48 g/kg/day. Hepatic steatosis was produced in 7/18 rats supplied ethanol in this fashion. Agar gels were also used to provide carbonyl iron to rats and it produced grade 3 to 4 hepatocyte iron loading in all study animals. The study demonstrates a practical method for administering ethanol and iron to rats without altering normal dietary intake. Ethanol supplied in this way does produce hepatic injury in the rat.