Rodent

Paper towel shredding as a novel, affordable, noninvasive method for detecting arousals in hibernating rodents

Many research groups explore the regulation of hibernation or compare the physiology of heterothermic mammals between the torpid and aroused, euthermic states. Current methods for monitoring torpor (for example, infrared cameras, body temperature or heart-rate telemetry, and motion sensing) are...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Hutchinson, A. J., Duffy, B. M., Rego, L. H. et al. 2024. Paper towel shredding as a novel, affordable, noninvasive method for detecting arousals in hibernating rodents. Lab Animal 53(5), 117–120.

Differences in fluid, electrolyte, and energy balance in C57BL/6J mice (Mus musculus) in metabolic caging at thermoneutral or standard room temperatures

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends mice be pair or group housed and provided with nesting materials. These provisions support social interactions and are also critical for thermoregulatory behaviors such as huddling and burrowing. However,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Lawton, S. B., Grobe, C. C., Reho, J. J. et al. 2024. Differences in fluid, electrolyte, and energy balance in C57BL/6J mice (Mus musculus) in metabolic caging at thermoneutral or standard room temperatures. JAALAS 63(2), 190–200.

Disentangling developmental effects of play aspects in rat rough-and-tumble play

Animal play encompasses a variety of aspects, with kinematic and social aspects being particularly prevalent in mammalian play behaviour. While the developmental effects of play have been increasingly documented in recent decades, understanding the specific contributions of different play aspects...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Liu, Q., Radchenko, M., Špinka, M. 2024. Disentangling developmental effects of play aspects in rat rough-and-tumble play. Biology Letters 20(5), 20240037.

Make training easier with a scruffing restraint device

If you conduct technical training with mice at your institution, a scruffing restraint device is a valuable addition to your training aid tool kit. A scruffing restraint device, such as the ScruffGuard offered by Research Devices, is a small, simple...

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

Citation: Benjamin, K. 2024. Make training easier with a scruffing restraint device. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(2) (March/April), 38-39.

Carprofen attenuates postoperative mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after plantar incision in immunodeficient NSG mice

Immunodeficient NSG mice are reported to be less responsive to buprenorphine analgesia. Here, we used NSG mice to compare the efficacy of the commonly used dose of carprofen (5 mg/kg) with 5 and 10 times that dose (25 and 50...

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

Citation: Alamaw, E. D., Casey, K. M., Tien, K. et al. 2024. Carprofen attenuates postoperative mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after plantar incision in immunodeficient NSG mice. Comparative Medicine 74(2), 105–114.

Combining melatonin with dexmedetomidine improves anesthesia in rats

Melatonin (ML) and dexmedetomidine (DM) are used separately as anesthetic premedication or as an anesthetic in humans and laboratory animals. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anesthetic properties of both drugs combined. The anesthetic effects of several combinations...

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

Citation: Cogo Pagella, J., Rodríguez, M. F., Frisina, F. et al. 2024. Combining melatonin with dexmedetomidine improves anesthesia in rats. Laboratory Animals 58(3), 277–280.

Improving rat welfare through the development of a peribulbar anaesthesia technique for ophthalmic procedures: A preliminary study

Rats are a commonly used animal model for the study of the pathogenesis and novel treatments of glaucoma, which is induced experimentally using invasive, painful procedures. Peribulbar anaesthesia (PBA) is frequently used in people and domestic animals prior to ophthalmic...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Eliav, A., Ofri, R., Brust, K. et al. 2024. Improving rat welfare through the development of a peribulbar anaesthesia technique for ophthalmic procedures: A preliminary study. Laboratory Animals 58(2), 116–126.

An exploratory interview study of researchers’ and technicians’ perceptions of rat tickling

This paper highlights the main themes which emerged from a study carried out with Animal Technicians and researchers to better understand: - perceptions of rat tickling - potential drivers and barriers to the uptake of tickling in a laboratory environment

Year Published: 2023Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Beechener, S., Brown, S., Bombail, V. et al. 2023. An exploratory interview study of researchers' and technicians' perceptions of rat tickling. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 201–209.

The hard-hitting tooth—Does a scheduled teeth check reduce the number of mice found dead with malocclusion?

Malocclusion is a common dental disorder for laboratory mice. Characterised with improper alignment of teeth, if the incisors of the mouse have become overgrown or are missing it can significantly impact animal welfare. Malocclusion is evident around the first 2-5...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ciupa, J. 2023. The hard-hitting tooth—Does a scheduled teeth check reduce the number of mice found dead with malocclusion? Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 240–241.

An assessment of rat hammocks as enrichment

Research has shown there are numerous welfare and scientific benefits to housing rats in more enriched and environmentally complex housing opposed to conventional housing. With the aim of increasing environmental complexity, providing opportunities for climbing and exploring and providing additional...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hickman, M., Miller, L., MacDonald, R. 2023. An assessment of rat hammocks as enrichment. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 221–223.