What is Enroxil used for in rats? - briefly
Enroxil is administered to laboratory rats as a broad‑spectrum antibiotic for treating bacterial infections, particularly respiratory and systemic diseases. It is delivered by injection or oral dosing according to established experimental protocols.
What is Enroxil used for in rats? - in detail
Enroxil is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic formulated for laboratory rodents. It is administered orally or by intraperitoneal injection to control bacterial infections that commonly affect rats, including respiratory pathogens (e.g., Pasteurella spp., Klebsiella spp.), urinary tract infections, and gastrointestinal sepsis caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. The drug penetrates tissues rapidly, achieving therapeutic concentrations in plasma, lung, and bladder within one hour of dosing.
Typical experimental protocols employ a dosage of 10–20 mg kg⁻¹ body weight once daily for 3–7 days, depending on the severity of the infection and the organism’s susceptibility profile. For prophylactic use in breeding colonies, a lower dose (5 mg kg⁻¹) given every 48 hours reduces the risk of subclinical colonization without disrupting the gut microbiota excessively.
Pharmacodynamic data show concentration‑dependent killing with a post‑antibiotic effect lasting 2–4 hours. Enroxil’s spectrum includes Gram‑negative bacilli, some Gram‑positive cocci, and atypical organisms such as Mycoplasma spp. Resistance monitoring is recommended because fluoroquinolone‑resistant strains have emerged in rodent facilities.
In toxicology studies, the compound exhibits a high safety margin. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) exceeds 2000 mg kg⁻¹ in rats, and repeated dosing up to 50 mg kg⁻¹ does not produce overt clinical signs. Minor adverse effects may include transient gastrointestinal irritation and mild hepatic enzyme elevation; these resolve after cessation of treatment.
Researchers also employ Enroxil as a tool to modulate the microbiome. Selective suppression of susceptible bacterial populations allows investigation of host‑microbe interactions, immune response modulation, and the impact of dysbiosis on disease models such as colitis and neurodegeneration.
Key practical points:
- Administration routes: oral gavage, drinking water, intraperitoneal injection.
- Effective dose range: 5–20 mg kg⁻¹, adjusted for infection type and study design.
- Treatment duration: 3–7 days for acute infections; up to 14 days for chronic conditions.
- Monitoring: clinical observation, bacterial culture, serum drug levels if pharmacokinetic profiling is required.
- Safety: high LD₅₀, low incidence of severe toxicity, but routine blood chemistry is advisable during prolonged therapy.
Enroxil therefore serves both therapeutic and experimental purposes in rat models, providing reliable bacterial control while maintaining a favorable safety profile.