Rat

3R measures in facilities for the production of genetically modified rodents

Sociocultural changes in the human–animal relationship have led to increasing demands for animal welfare in biomedical research. The 3R concept is the basis for bringing this demand into practice: Replace animal experiments with alternatives where possible, Reduce the number of...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Analgesia, Disease/Experimental Model, Husbandry & Management, Reproduction, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Zevnik, B., Jerchow, B., Buch, T. 2022. 3R measures in facilities for the production of genetically modified rodents. Lab Animal 51(6), 162-177.

Voluntary oral dosing for precise experimental compound delivery in adult rats

Preclinical drug studies routinely administer experimental compounds to animal models with the goal of minimizing potential adverse events from the procedure. In this study, we assessed the ability to train adult male Long Evans rats to accept daily voluntarily syringe...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Chesler, K. C., Motz, C. T., Bales, K. L. et al. 2022. Voluntary oral dosing for precise experimental compound delivery in adult rats. Laboratory Animals 56(2), 147-156.

Refining the rat sciatic nerve block: A novel ultrasound-guided technique

Murine translational models are an important tool to understand pain pathophysiology. One procedure used frequently in murine research is the sciatic nerve block. This study sought to demonstrate the use of ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve block in a cadaveric murine model....

Year Published: 2022Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hughey, S., Campbell, D., Rapp-Santos, K. et al. 2022. Refining the rat sciatic nerve block: A novel ultrasound-guided technique. Laboratory Animals 56(2), 191-195.

Burrowing behaviour of rats: Strain differences and applicability as well-being parameter after intracranial surgery

In mice, burrowing is considered a species-typical parameter for assessing well-being, while this is less clear in rats. This exploratory study evaluated burrowing behaviour in three rat strains during training and in the direct postoperative phase after complex intracranial surgery...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Natural Behavior, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Riedesel, A.-K., Bach-Hagemann, A., Abdulbaki, A. et al. 2022. Burrowing behaviour of rats: Strain differences and applicability as well-being parameter after intracranial surgery. Laboratory Animals 56(4), 356-369.

Bored at home?—A systematic review on the effect of environmental enrichment on the welfare of laboratory rats and mice

Boredom is an emotional state that occurs when an individual has nothing to do, is not interested in the surrounding, and feels dreary and in a monotony. While this condition is usually defined for humans, it may very well describe...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Mieske, P., Hobbiesiefken, U., Fischer-Tenhagen, C. et al. 2022. Bored at home?—A systematic review on the effect of environmental enrichment on the welfare of laboratory rats and mice. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 9, 899219.

Providing environmental enrichment without altering behavior in male and female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus)

In research using animal models, subjects are commonly maintained under standard housing conditions, mainly because of the idea that enhancing welfare conditions could alter experimental data. Another common practice in many laboratories relates to the preponderant use of males. Several...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Corredor, K., Marín, D. P., García, C. C. et al. 2022. Providing environmental enrichment without altering behavior in male and female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). JAALAS 61(3), 234-240.

Housing environment affects pubertal onset, anxiety-like behavior, and object interaction in male and female Long Evans rats

Rodents used for research can be humanely housed in a variety of ways. As such, a vast number of different housing environments are used, but are often not described in research publications. However, many elements of housing environments, including bedding,...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Vogt, M. E., Riesgo, V. R., Flanigan, K. A. S. et al. 2022. Housing environment affects pubertal onset, anxiety-like behavior, and object interaction in male and female Long Evans rats. JAALAS 61(3), 241-247.

Minimal exposure times for irreversible euthanasia with carbon dioxide in mice and rats

When using an anesthetic overdose to euthanize laboratory rodents, a secondary method of euthanasia is recommended to ensure that the apparent death is irreversible. This secondary method usually is accomplished through the collection of tissues that are required to complete...

Year Published: 2022Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hickman, D. L. 2022. Minimal exposure times for irreversible euthanasia with carbon dioxide in mice and rats. JAALAS 61(3), 283-286.

Using sterile flocked swabs as an alternative method for rodent health monitoring

Routine health monitoring is an integral part of managing SPF rodent colonies. In recent years, rack-level environmental sampling has been introduced as an adjunct method or replacement for exposure of sentinel rodents to soiled bedding. However, rack-level environmental monitoring is...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Varela, M. M. D., Bibay, J. I. A., Ogden, B. E. et al. 2022. Using sterile flocked swabs as an alternative method for rodent health monitoring. JAALAS 61(4), 370-380.

Refinement of handling and dosing methods for rats and mice

Modified Handling for Mice: Handling mice by gripping the base of the tail has been shown to negatively impact animal welfare by increasing anxiety and aversion to handling. We aimed to refi ne the dosing procedure by finding a handling...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bartlett, J., Davies, J., Purawijaya, D. et al. 2022. Refinement of handling and dosing methods for rats and mice. Animal Technology and Welfare 21(2), 120-124.