Key Benefits
- Improved animal welfare — flexible polypropylene and polyurethane options reduce oesophageal trauma compared to rigid metal needles
- Comprehensive size range — tubes available for neonatal mice through to large rodents, with multiple gauge and length combinations
- Reusable and disposable options — stainless steel for repeated use or single-use plastic to eliminate cross-contamination risk
- Capsule dosing capability — dedicated capsule dosers enable solid oral dosing for formulation studies
Overview
Instech Laboratories manufactures a comprehensive range of oral gavage feeding tubes designed for accurate and humane dosing in preclinical research. Available for mice, rats, and large rodents, the range includes stainless steel (reusable), polypropylene (disposable, flexible), polyurethane (flexible alternative to metal), and capsule dosers.
Flexible plastic gavage tubes are offered as a refined alternative to rigid metal needles, reducing the risk of oesophageal trauma and improving animal welfare outcomes. Multiple tip profiles, gauges, and lengths are available to suit different species, animal sizes, and study protocols.
Key Features
- Stainless steel gavage needles: reusable, autoclavable, ball-tip design for safe insertion
- Polypropylene feeding tubes: disposable, flexible, reduced trauma risk
- Polyurethane feeding tubes: flexible alternative to metal with excellent biocompatibility
- Capsule dosers for solid oral dose administration
- Available for mice (20 ga and smaller), rats (16-18 ga typical), and large rodents
- Multiple tip profiles: ball tip, olive tip, and straight
- Luer hub connection compatible with standard syringes
- Individually packaged disposable options for GLP studies
- Length options from 25 mm (neonatal mouse) to 100 mm (large rat)
Typical Applications
- Oral gavage dosing in pharmacology and toxicology studies
- GLP and non-GLP preclinical drug administration
- Nutritional supplementation studies
- Capsule dosing for solid formulation research
- Neonatal and juvenile animal dosing
- Chronic and acute oral dosing protocols
Specifications
| Species | Mice, rats, large rodents |
|---|---|
| Materials | Stainless steel, polypropylene, polyurethane |
| Gauges | 16 ga to 24 ga (species-dependent) |
| Lengths | 25 mm to 100 mm |
| Connection | Luer hub (standard syringe compatible) |
| Sterilisation | Autoclavable (steel); single-use (plastic) |
| Packaging | Individually packaged (disposable) or bulk (reusable) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the advantage of flexible plastic gavage tubes over metal needles?
Flexible polypropylene and polyurethane tubes reduce the risk of oesophageal perforation and tissue trauma compared to rigid stainless steel needles. This improves animal welfare and reduces dosing-related complications in chronic studies.
Can stainless steel gavage needles be autoclaved?
Yes, Instech stainless steel gavage needles are fully autoclavable and designed for repeated use. Inspect tips before each use for burrs or damage that could injure the animal.
How do I select the correct tube size for my species?
Tube selection depends on species, animal weight, and dose volume. For mice, 20-22 ga needles are typical. For rats, 16-18 ga is standard. Contact Walker Scientific for specific sizing recommendations based on your study protocol.
Are disposable tubes suitable for GLP studies?
Yes, individually packaged single-use polypropylene tubes eliminate cross-contamination risk and are widely used in GLP-compliant preclinical studies.
What are capsule dosers used for?
Capsule dosers enable oral administration of solid formulations in rodents, which is useful for studies where the test compound cannot be dissolved or suspended in liquid form.