Mouse

Recommendations for measuring and standardizing light for laboratory mammals to improve welfare and reproducibility in animal research

Light enables vision and exerts widespread effects on physiology and behavior, including regulating circadian rhythms, sleep, hormone synthesis, affective state, and cognitive processes. Appropriate lighting in animal facilities may support welfare and ensure that animals enter experiments in an appropriate...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: All/General, Cat, Dog, Goat, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rat, Rodent, Sheep, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Lucas, R. J., Allen, A. E., Brainard, G. C. et al. 2024. Recommendations for measuring and standardizing light for laboratory mammals to improve welfare and reproducibility in animal research. PLOS Biology 22(3), e3002535.

Humane endpoints in Swiss Webster mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii RH strain

The highly virulent Toxoplasma gondii RH strain is maintained through successive passages in mice, but there is still a lack of studies that refine these procedures from a 3Rs perspective, where humanitarian ideals aim to minimize the stress, pain, or...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Humane EndpointAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Arruda, I. F., Amendoeira, M. R. R., Bonifácio, T. F. et al. 2024. Humane endpoints in Swiss Webster mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii RH strain. Animals 14(9), 1326.

Impact of enriched environment on motor performance and learning in mice

Neuroscience heavily relies on animal welfare in laboratory rodents as it can significantly affect brain development, cognitive function and memory formation. Unfortunately, laboratory animals are often raised in artificial environments devoid of physical and social stimuli, potentially leading to biased...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Dijkhuizen, S., Van Ginneken, L. M. C., IJpelaar, A. H. C. et al. 2024. Impact of enriched environment on motor performance and learning in mice. Scientific Reports 14(1), 5962.

Make training easier with a scruffing restraint device

If you conduct technical training with mice at your institution, a scruffing restraint device is a valuable addition to your training aid tool kit. A scruffing restraint device, such as the ScruffGuard offered by Research Devices, is a small, simple...

Year Published: 2024Topics: RestraintAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Benjamin, K. 2024. Make training easier with a scruffing restraint device. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(2) (March/April), 38-39.

Carprofen attenuates postoperative mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after plantar incision in immunodeficient NSG mice

Immunodeficient NSG mice are reported to be less responsive to buprenorphine analgesia. Here, we used NSG mice to compare the efficacy of the commonly used dose of carprofen (5 mg/kg) with 5 and 10 times that dose (25 and 50...

Year Published: 2024Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Alamaw, E. D., Casey, K. M., Tien, K. et al. 2024. Carprofen attenuates postoperative mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after plantar incision in immunodeficient NSG mice. Comparative Medicine 74(2), 105–114.

Differences in fluid, electrolyte, and energy balance in C57BL/6J mice (Mus musculus) in metabolic caging at thermoneutral or standard room temperatures

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends mice be pair or group housed and provided with nesting materials. These provisions support social interactions and are also critical for thermoregulatory behaviors such as huddling and burrowing. However,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Lawton, S. B., Grobe, C. C., Reho, J. J. et al. 2024. Differences in fluid, electrolyte, and energy balance in C57BL/6J mice (Mus musculus) in metabolic caging at thermoneutral or standard room temperatures. JAALAS 63(2), 190–200.

The hard-hitting tooth—Does a scheduled teeth check reduce the number of mice found dead with malocclusion?

Malocclusion is a common dental disorder for laboratory mice. Characterised with improper alignment of teeth, if the incisors of the mouse have become overgrown or are missing it can significantly impact animal welfare. Malocclusion is evident around the first 2-5...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ciupa, J. 2023. The hard-hitting tooth—Does a scheduled teeth check reduce the number of mice found dead with malocclusion? Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 240–241.

To wheel or not to wheel

Our study into the implementation of running wheels in overweight prone strains of mice and the potential integration of this practice into our mouse protocols.

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ives, P., Caygill, J. 2023. To wheel or not to wheel. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 246–247.

Tamoxifen exacerbates morbidity and mortality in male mice receiving medetomidine anaesthesia

Tamoxifen-induced CreER-LoxP recombination is often used to induce spatiotemporally controlled gene deletion in genetically modified mice. Prior work has shown that tamoxifen and tamoxifen-induced CreER activation can have off-target effects that should be controlled. However, it has not yet been...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Rashbrook, V. S., Denti, L., Ruhrberg, C. 2023. Tamoxifen exacerbates morbidity and mortality in male mice receiving medetomidine anaesthesia. Animal Welfare 32, e78.

Refining the welfare of immunocompromised mice receiving carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) to induce liver fibrosis

Our method provides evidence that we can alter CCI4 dosing and implement recovery techniques to enhance Animal Welfare, whilst maintaining sufficient levels of fibrosis in the liver.

Year Published: 2023Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Walczak-Gillies, Matthews, O., Fyfe, A. et al. 2023. Refining the welfare of immunocompromised mice receiving carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) to induce liver fibrosis. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 237–239.