Rodent

The effects of subcutaneous ketamine on postlaparotomy analgesia and behavior in female Sprague–Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Multimodal analgesia provides superior pain control compared with single-agent analgesic approaches. However, certain analgesic drug classes such as NSAIDs and opioids may be contraindicated in some studies due to their mechanisms of action, highlighting the need for alternative analgesic options....

Year Published: 2025Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Alionhart, R. E., Carlson, M. M., White, A. R. et al. 2025. The effects of subcutaneous ketamine on postlaparotomy analgesia and behavior in female Sprague–Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus). Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 64(3), 468–479.

Contactless monitoring of respiratory rate variability in rats under anesthesia with a compact 24GHz microwave radar sensor (2025)

Objective The objective of this study was to develop and validate a noncontact monitoring system for respiratory rate variability in rats under anesthesia using a 24GHz microwave radar sensor. This study aimed to address the need for stress-free monitoring techniques...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sun, G., Kurosawa, M., Ninomiya, Y. et al. 2025. Contactless monitoring of respiratory rate variability in rats under anesthesia with a compact 24GHz microwave radar sensor. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Tracking ‘tails’: Refining motor activity monitoring in rats and mice (2025)

Motor activity monitoring is used in specialist regulatory toxicology studies to investigate test item related neurobehavioral effects. Introduction of a new video tracking software system which detects the centre point, tail base and nose tip of rodents to individually track...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Behavioral & Cognitive Testing, Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Reading, R. 2025. Tracking “tails”: Refining motor activity monitoring in rats and mice. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(1), 53–56.

Risk factors for barbering in laboratory mice (2025)

Barbering is a common abnormal behavior in laboratory mice, where mice pluck their own fur and/or the fur or whiskers of their cage mates. Barbering mice are a concern for welfare and research quality, as well as serving as a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ratuski, A. S., Theil, J. H., Ahloy-Dallaire, J. et al. 2025. Risk factors for barbering in laboratory mice. Scientific Reports 15(1), 7456.

A guide for junior technicians: The importance of giving the correct amount of nesting in a mouse IVC and the benefits of an enriched cage (2025)

During our experience of working on the breeding floor of the University of Cambridge's Anne McLaren Building, we have recognised the importance of giving the correct amount of nesting and the benefits of additional enrichment.

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pitcher, L., Stringer, A. 2025. A guide for junior technicians: The importance of giving the correct amount of nesting in a mouse IVC and the benefits of an enriched cage. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(1), 65–66.

A surgical recovery matrix to evaluate post-surgical recovery in mice using sham and myocardial infarction models of cardiac surgery as prototypes (2025)

Examinations of biomarkers are useful in measuring overall health. Endpoints are critical to assess the threshold where the scientific aim of the study does not prevail over the wellbeing of experimental laboratory animal. However, parameters able to assess health and...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Surgery & Post-Op, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pal, E., Shokoples, B., Naik, S. et al. 2025. A surgical recovery matrix to evaluate post-surgical recovery in mice using sham and myocardial infarction models of cardiac surgery as prototypes. PLOS ONE 20(5), e0323317.

Refining intratracheal administration (2024)

Intratracheal administration is one of the primary methods for introducing substances into the lungs of experimental mice. In order for all lobes of the lungs to be targeted intubation under anesthesia is the ideal method. This procedure has been amended...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & IntubationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: O'Brien, J., Easter, H. 2024. Refining intratracheal administration. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(3), 222–224.

The development and use of a cage-topper to enhance rat welfare (2025)

The welfare of rats used in scientific research is an important concern. Recent studies show that larger, more complex housing improves rat welfare compared to standard conventional cages. However there are typically both practical and financial constraints to implementing this....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Neville, V., Phelon, L., Handley, C. et al. 2025. The development and use of a cage-topper to enhance rat welfare. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(1), 35–38.

Contactless body temperature assessment for signalling humane endpoints in a mouse model of sepsis

Minimising suffering is an ethical and legal requirement in animal research. This is particularly relevant for research on animal models of sepsis and septic shock, which show rapid progression towards severe stages and death. Specific and reliable criteria signalling non-recovery...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Humane EndpointAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Miranda, C., Oliveira, L., Carmo, A. M. et al. 2025. Contactless body temperature assessment for signalling humane endpoints in a mouse model of sepsis. Animal Welfare 34, e13.

Does the regular husbandry handling method affect response to a novel handler (2024)

Aims: Aim 1: Investigate the effects of tube vs tail handing on ease of handling of mice by future experimenters. Aim 2: Investigate the effects of tube vs tail handling on anxiety in mice. Aim 3: Investigate where there are...

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

Citation: McLaughlin, T., Langston, R., Dennison, N. 2024. Does the regular husbandry handling method affect response to a novel handler. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(3), 215–216.