Mouse

Rattling the cage: Behaviour and resource use of mice in laboratory and pet cages

Conventional housing for laboratory mice limits the expression of species-specific behaviours and restricts the control over their environment, thus failing to guarantee the animals' welfare. To better understand the behaviour and resource use of laboratory mice, we housed mice (n...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gygax, M., Fortes, M. S., Voelkl, B. et al. 2024. Rattling the cage: Behaviour and resource use of mice in laboratory and pet cages. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 278, 106381.

The implementation of tunnel handling in a mouse breeding facility revealed strain-specific behavioural responses

As a step towards implementing non-aversive handling techniques at a big mouse breeding facility in Germany, tunnel handling was introduced in a breeding unit comprising three inbred mouse strains. To assess whether tunnel handling would be feasible for the animal...

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

Citation: Hohlbaum, K., Merle, R., Warnke, R. et al. 2024. The implementation of tunnel handling in a mouse breeding facility revealed strain-specific behavioural responses. Laboratory Animals 58(6), 552–564.

Refining urine collection in mice: Development of an innovative urine collection device

Urine collection can be challenging in studies involving small rodents like mice, as the actual methods of collection are anxiogenic and constrain animal welfare while having high variability in the volume of urine collected. To improve the current methods and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Douté, M., Monzali, C., Nicoletti, A. et al. 2024. Refining urine collection in mice: Development of an innovative urine collection device. Laboratory Animals 58(6), 612–615.

Elevating the welfare of mouse dams: A pilot study on elevated tunnels for breeding mice

Mouse dams and their pups may benefit from more gradual weaning, but this is not possible in standard laboratory cages because dams cannot physically separate from their pups. Allowing mouse dams to control nursing may improve their welfare and encourage...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ratuski, A. S., Makowska, I. J., Weary, D. M., 2024. Elevating the welfare of mouse dams: A pilot study on elevated tunnels for breeding mice. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(5) (September/October), 52–55.

The extent and function of ‘food grinding’ in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus)

Many laboratory rodents grind their food into crumbs that are discarded at the bottom of the cage (sometimes called orts). This can have substantial impacts on measures of food intake and assimilation efficiency. We quantified food grinding in two laboratory...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Cameron, K. M., Speakman, J. R. 2010. The extent and function of ‘food grinding' in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus). Laboratory Animals 44(4), 298-304.

Effect of ground transportation on adrenocortical activity in prepuberal female mice from five different genetic backgrounds

Specific experimental protocols necessitate transportation, a potentially stressful event that could confound results. We determined adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs), as a stress marker, in prepuberal (three-week old) female C57BL/6J, C57BL/6NCrl, FVB/NCrl, Crl:CD1(ICR), and BALB/cAnCrl mice. On...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Rumpel, S., Scholl, C., Göbel, A. et al. 2019. Effect of ground transportation on adrenocortical activity in prepuberal female mice from five different genetic backgrounds. Animals 9(5), 239.

How much “enrichment” is enough for laboratory rodents? A systematic review and meta-analysis re-assessing the impact of well-resourced cages on morbidity and mortality

Laboratory rodent housing often fails to meet rodents' behavioral and physiological needs. We previously found that compared to well-resourced (often called 'enriched') housing, conventional cages increase mortality rates and the morbidity of stress-sensitive experimentally-induced diseases (anxiety, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression,...

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

Citation: Cait, J., Winder, C. B., Mason, G. J. 2024. How much “enrichment” is enough for laboratory rodents? A systematic review and meta-analysis re-assessing the impact of well-resourced cages on morbidity and mortality. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 278, 106361.

Murine model of minimally invasive nasal depot (MIND) technique for central nervous system delivery of blood–brain barrier-impermeant therapeutics

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) poses a substantial obstacle to the successful delivery of therapeutics to the central nervous system (CNS). The transnasal route has been extensively explored, but success rates have been modest due to challenges related to the precise...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Chua, A. J., Di Francesco, V., D'Souza, A. et al. 2024. Murine model of minimally invasive nasal depot (MIND) technique for central nervous system delivery of blood–brain barrier-impermeant therapeutics. Lab Animal 53(12), 363–375.

Evaluation of thermal support during anesthesia induction on body temperature in C57BL/6 and nude mice

Heat supplementation during surgery is a common practice; however, thermal support is not commonly used during anesthesia induction. Mice lose body temperature quickly, and air movement can exacerbate this, potentially putting mice at a thermal deficit before surgery. Whether the...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gaskill, B. N., Boykin, C., Zuniga, I. et al. 2024. Evaluation of thermal support during anesthesia induction on body temperature in C57BL/6 and nude mice. JAALAS 63(3), 294–302.

Comparison of novel and traditional bleeding techniques in neonatal and juvenile mice

Blood collection is frequently used for neonatal and juvenile mice in toxicology, developmental, and immunology studies and is often a terminal procedure. However, the use of nonterminal blood collection techniques, including the submandibular and the submental collection techniques described for...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Prentiss, R. L., Bollinger, B. L., Lamont, K. A. et al. 2024. Comparison of novel and traditional bleeding techniques in neonatal and juvenile mice. JAALAS 63(3), 333–342.