Rat

Review of intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital as a method of euthanasia in laboratory rodents

Euthanasia is one of the most commonly performed procedures in biomedical research, involving tens of millions of animals in North America and Europe every year. The use of sodium pentobarbital, injected intraperitoneally, for killing rodents is described as an acceptable...

Year Published: 2020Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Laferriere, C. A., Pang, D. S. 2020. Review of intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital as a method of euthanasia in laboratory rodents. JAALAS 59(3), 254–263.

Review of rodent euthanasia methods

The optimal choice of euthanasia method for laboratory rodents depends on a number of factors, including the scientific goals of the study, the need to minimize animal pain and/or distress, applicable guidelines and laws, the training and proficiency of personnel,...

Year Published: 2020Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Shomer, N. H., Allen-Worthington, K. H., Hickman, D. L. et al. 2020. Review of rodent euthanasia methods. JAALAS 59(3), 242–253.

Severity assessment using three common behavioral or locomotor tests after laparotomy in rats: A pilot study

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether behavioral or locomotor tests (Open Field (OF), rotarod (RR), and CatWalk (CW)) can help assess the severity of laparotomy in rats. The new EU Directive (2010/63/EU) mandates severity assessment in...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Zieglowski, L., Kümmecke, A., Ernst, L. et al. 2020. Severity assessment using three common behavioral or locomotor tests after laparotomy in rats: A pilot study. Laboratory Animals 54(6), 525-535.

Tactile stimulation of adult rats modulates hormonal responses, depression-like behaviors, and memory impairment induced by chronic mild stress: Role of angiotensin II

Physical touch can help to decrease the effects of stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of tactile stimulation on the hormonal and behavioral responses of young adult rats submitted to chronic mild unpredictable stress (CMS),...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Costa, R., Leite Tamascia, M., Sanches, A. et al. 2020. Tactile stimulation of adult rats modulates hormonal responses, depression-like behaviors, and memory impairment induced by chronic mild stress: Role of angiotensin II. Behavioural Brain Research 379, 112250.

The adjuvant-induced rat model of monoarthritis: Welfare implications and possible refinement strategies

This study investigated welfare, mechanical hyperalgesia and model specific parameters (mobility, stance, joint stiffness and ambulation impairment) during a three-week period in a rat model of monoarthritis. The objective was to identify possible targets for refinement of the model and...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Berke, M. S., Abelson, K. S. P. 2020. The adjuvant-induced rat model of monoarthritis: Welfare implications and possible refinement strategies. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 46(1), 39-50.

The cotton rat – a new challenge

This poster describes how the Animal Technologists at Envigo adapted their current practices and procedures for a new species at their laboratory: the cotton rat. The paper describes cotton rat biology and behaviour; housing; environmental enrichment; health; dosing and blood...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Drug/Substance Administration, Environmental Enrichment, Euthanasia, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Ballantine, A., Rodgers, D., Watts, C. et al. 2020. The cotton rat – a new challenge. Animal Technology and Welfare 19(1), 92-95.

The power of a positive human–animal relationship for animal welfare

Domestic animals often seek and enjoy interacting with humans. Positive human–animal relationships can elicit positive emotions and other positive welfare outcomes. Nevertheless, our understanding of the underlying processes that govern the positive perception of humans by animals is incomplete. We...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General, Bird, Cat, Cattle, Chicken, Dog, Goat, Parrot, Pig, Rat, Rodent, Sheep

Citation: Rault, J.-L., Waiblinger, S., Boivin, X. et al. 2020. The power of a positive human–animal relationship for animal welfare. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 590867.

Report of the 2019 RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare meeting

The RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare Group has held a one-day meeting every autumn for the last 26 years, so that its members can discuss current welfare research, exchange views on welfare issues, and share experiences of the implementation of the 3Rs...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Stevens, C., Finnegan, E., Clarkson, J. et al. 2020. Report of the 2019 RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare meeting. Animal Technology and Welfare 19(2), 101-111.

Combination of ketamine and xylazine with opioids and acepromazine in rats: Physiological changes and their analgesic effect analysed by ultrasonic vocalization

In this study, the effect of four anaesthetic protocols that included the combination of xylazine (X) and ketamine (K) with acepromazine (A) and opioids (methadone (Me), morphine (Mo) or tramadol (T)) was evaluated in laboratory rats of both sexes. Ultrasonic...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Analgesia, Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Alemán-Laporte, J., Bandini, L. A., Garcia-Gomes, M. S. et al. 2020. Combination of ketamine and xylazine with opioids and acepromazine in rats: Physiological changes and their analgesic effect analysed by ultrasonic vocalization. Laboratory Animals 54(2), 171–182.

Defining body-weight reduction as a humane endpoint: A critical appraisal

In many animal experiments scientists and local authorities define a body-weight reduction of 20% or more as severe suffering and thereby as a potential parameter for humane endpoint decisions. In this study, we evaluated distinct animal experiments in multiple research...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Humane Endpoint, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Talbot, S. R., Biernot, S., Bleich, A. et al. 2020. Defining body-weight reduction as a humane endpoint: A critical appraisal. Laboratory Animals 54(1), 99–110.