Mouse

Ultrasound to ultrasee—The use of ultrasound to determine pregnancy in mice

Several MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) groups require early-stage mouse embryos for their scientific research programmes. Traditionally, Animal Technicians have relied on visual checks or palpation of the abdomen to determine pregnancy in mice. In 2017 an ultrasound machine...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Imaging & Electrophysiological Recording, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Karam, C., Kemp, K. 2024. Ultrasound to ultrasee—The use of ultrasound to determine pregnancy in mice. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 121–127.

Do we still need a canary in the coal mine for laboratory animal facilities? A systematic review of environmental health monitoring versus soiled bedding sentinels

Introduction Despite increasing evidence that Environmental Health Monitoring (EHM) is an effective method to perform rodent colony health surveillance, promotes the 3Rs as a Replacement, is comparable or reduces cost, and demonstrates labor benefits, many research institutions continue to use...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LaFollette, M. R., Clement, C. S., Luchins, K. R. et al. 2024. Do we still need a canary in the coal mine for laboratory animal facilities? A systematic review of environmental health monitoring versus soiled bedding sentinels. PLOS ONE 19(12), e0311840.

Social contagion of pain and fear results in opposite social behaviors in rodents: Meta- analysis of experimental studies

The study aimed to explore the key factors influencing emotional valence in rodents, focusing on the critical elements that distinguish the contagion processes of fear and pain.MethodsThrough a systematic review and meta-analysis, we examined behavioral outcomes of rodents exposed to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Du, R., Yu, Y., Wang, X.-L. et al. 2024. Social contagion of pain and fear results in opposite social behaviors in rodents: Meta- analysis of experimental studies. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 18.

A bespoke water T–maze apparatus and protocol: An optimized, reliable, and repeatable method for screening learning, memory, and executive functioning in laboratory mice

The Morris Water Maze (MWM) is the most commonly used assay for evaluating learning and memory in laboratory mice. Despite its widespread use, contemporary reviews have highlighted substantial methodological variation in experimental protocols and that the associated testing procedures are...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Behavioral & Cognitive TestingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Bailoo, J. D., Bergeson, S. E., Ponomarev, I. et al. 2024. A bespoke water T–maze apparatus and protocol: An optimized, reliable, and repeatable method for screening learning, memory, and executive functioning in laboratory mice. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 18.

Think beyond the room: Measuring relative humidity in the home cage and its impact on reproduction in laboratory mice, mus musculus

Relative humidity (RH) is measured in vivaria with a broad range to accommodate seasonal fluctuations. It is assumed that measurements in the room (macroenvironment) reflect those in the cage (microenvironment). However, there is limited data comparing RH in the macroenvironment...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Barabas, A. J., Conlon, R. A., Hodges, C. A. 2024. Think beyond the room: Measuring relative humidity in the home cage and its impact on reproduction in laboratory mice, mus musculus. Animals 14(22), 3164.

Report of the 2023 RSPCA/UFAW/IAT Rodent Welfare Group Meeting

This report summarises the meeting and covers discussions ranging from housing and husbandry to refinement in procedures, education, and learning from companion rate care. It includes some action points for readers to consider raising at their own establishments.

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Barnabe, M., Applebee, K., Hurst, J. et al. 2024. Report of the 2023 RSPCA/UFAW/IAT Rodent Welfare Group Meeting. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 81–90.

The 3Hs Initiative—Housing, handling, and habituation

We have looked at our housing, handling and habituation approaches to identify areas to make improvements. This is critical for our resaerch outputs and has the benefit of reducing the cumulative suffering the animals experience by reducing stress and negative...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Animal Training, Drug/Substance Administration, Handling, Housing, RestraintAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bartlett, J., Hinchcliffe, J., Jackson, M. et al. 2024. The 3Hs Initiative—Housing, handling, and habituation. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 91–99.

Comparison of two bedding types on the breeding fecundity of C57BL/6J mice

One of the favored options for generating complex transgenic laboratory mice is through in-house breeding and management strategies. One consideration in the management of these colonies is how the animals' environment may affect reproductive success. Several aspects of the microenvironment...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pinckard, J. L., Gibson, L. A., Williams, W. R. 2024. Comparison of two bedding types on the breeding fecundity of C57BL/6J mice. Laboratory Animals 58(6), 545–551.

Adaptive wheel exercise for mouse models of Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Physical exercise has been extensively studied for its therapeutic properties in neurological disease, particularly Parkinson's Disease (PD). However, the established techniques for exercise in mice are not well suited to motor-deficient disease-model animals, rely on spontaneous activity or force...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Skelton, H., Grogan, D., Kotlure, A. et al. 2025. Adaptive wheel exercise for mouse models of Parkinson's Disease. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 414, 110314.

An exploration of the postural, location- and social contact- related sub-characteristics of inactive but awake behaviour as a depression-like indicator in mice

Inactive behaviour is essential to life. However, specific forms of inactivity may be indicative of compromised welfare in certain captive conditions. Inactive but awake behaviour (IBA - spontaneous, motionless awake behaviour without interacting with the surroundings) has been documented in...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Trevarthen, A. C., Resasco, A., Finnegan, E. M. et al. 2024. An exploration of the postural, location- and social contact- related sub-characteristics of inactive but awake behaviour as a depression-like indicator in mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 281, 106431.