Rodent

Feel-good songs: Application of a novel playback paradigm to induce a positive affective state in juvenile male Wistar rats

Across animal welfare science there is a lack of validated models of positive affective states. Previous work has shown that presentation of contrastingly valenced ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs) to rats alters their behaviour. However, the potential of using playback of USVs...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, VocalizationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hammond, T. J., Brown, S. M., Meddle, S. L. et al. 2024. Feel-good songs: Application of a novel playback paradigm to induce a positive affective state in juvenile male Wistar rats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 275, 106296.

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.

Non-invasive acquisition of vital data in anesthetized rats using laser and radar application

The aim of this study was to verify the possibility of obtaining vital sign information using a laser and radar sensor in a manner that is non-invasive and painless for test animals. A dataset was obtained from respiratory movement of...

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

Citation: Kawabe, T., Kita, S., Ohmura, I. et al. 2024. Non-invasive acquisition of vital data in anesthetized rats using laser and radar application. Laboratory Animals 58(6), 591–601.

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.

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.

Comparison of sucrose and maltose as reinforcers in an operant choice paradigm

Two experiments compared the reinforcing effects of sucrose and maltose across a range of concentrations. The results were interpreted using the Multiplicative Hyperbolic Model of reinforcer value (MHM). In Experiment 1, rats were exposed to a discrete-trials schedule in which...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bradshaw, C. M. 2024. Comparison of sucrose and maltose as reinforcers in an operant choice paradigm. Behavioural Processes 220, 105075.

A new laboratory research model: The Damaraland mole-rat and its managed care

The Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis) is a subterranean, hypoxia-tolerant, long-lived rodent endemic to southern and central Africa that is increasingly being used in laboratory research. Its husbandry needs and characteristics differ from traditional rodent research models. Here, we provide a...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Buffenstein, R., Smith, M., Amoroso, V. G. et al. 2024. A new laboratory research model: The Damaraland mole-rat and its managed care. JAALAS 63(6), 683–693.

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.