Contamination of rat urine with gut flora using all-glass metabolism cages for collection of urine and faeces.
In rat urine collected in all-glass metabolism cages, at least four strains of intestinal microflora were found: two types of E. coli, Enterobacter cloaceae and Proteus vulgaris. The number of bacteria of each strain increased with time. 2. The pH of the urine increased from 6-9 after 24 h to 8-95 after 120 h. The pH of the urine of neomycin-treated rats remained nearly constant over a period of two days. 3. Nitroreductase activity was present in the rat urine. Added p-nitrobenzoic acid was reduced within the first 24 h. Nitroreductase activity in the urine of neomycin-treated rats was significantly lower than in the urine of normal rats, during the second 24-h period only. 4. Collection of urine at -10 degrees prevented the consequences of contamination.
Contamination of rat urine with gut flora using all-glass metabolism cages for collection of urine and faeces. In rat urine collected in all-glass metabolism cages, at least four strains of intestinal microflora were found: two types of E. coli, Enterobacter cloaceae and Proteus vulgaris. The number of bacteria of each strain increased with time. 2. The pH of the urine increased from 6-9 after 24 h to 8-95 after 120 h. The pH of the urine of neomycin-treated rats remained nearly constant over a period of two days. 3. Nitroreductase activity was present in the rat urine. Added p-nitrobenzoic acid was reduced within the first 24 h. Nitroreductase activity in the urine of neomycin-treated rats was significantly lower than in the urine of normal rats, during the second 24-h period only. 4. Collection of urine at -10 degrees prevented the consequences of contamination.