Reagents for oral administration

There are various routes of administration of compounds in experimental animals (especially mice and rats), including intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, and oral administration. Among them, oral administration is the most common route of administration of drugs and is useful for studying safety and toxicity to the body. It is necessary, however, to consider the pharmacokinetics of the administered compounds as they undergo digestion, absorption, and metabolism in the body.

In general, oral administration is performed by force, using a syringe fitted with a gavage needle or a similar device. A test compound can be administered orally by mixing it into the feed or dissolving it in the drinking water. However, this method can be problematic, because the dosage of the compound can vary depending on the amount ingested, and it is difficult to estimate the exact dosage.

Administration of a test compound is straightforward if it is soluble in water. In contrast, a compound insoluble in water needs to be suspended in methylcellulose or a similar material prior to administration. Methylcellulose is not easily dissolved in water, and it is time- consuming to prepare a solution. Fujifilm Wako offers pre-made methylcellulose solutions, eliminating the need for dissolving.