Rodent

The role of line-of-sight in operant experiments using food reinforcers in guinea pigs

The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is a species utilized as a model in laboratory science and is a popular companion animal. The study aimed to assess the role of line-of-sight with a food reinforcer in the ramp climbing behaviour of...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Behavioral & Cognitive TestingAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Cameron, K. E., Hoult, C., Walker, T. W. 2025. The role of line-of-sight in operant experiments using food reinforcers in guinea pigs. Behavioural Processes 228, 105189.

Optimization of ketamine/xylazine anesthesia in geriatric mice

Aged mice are becoming increasingly important models for human senescence. Many studies require anesthesia. Standard rodent ketamine/xylazine injectable regimens have been associated with increased incidences of death, unreliable surgical planes, and prolonged recoveries in geriatric mice. We hypothesized that the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Beecy, S., Meuse, D., Kizielewicz, N. et al. 2025. Optimization of ketamine/xylazine anesthesia in geriatric mice. JAALAS 64(4), 778–787.

Differential long-term effects of physical, social, and psychological stressors in male mice: Down-regulation of inflammatory markers and unresponsiveness of the antioxidant system

The long-term molecular consequences associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are poorly understood. Our study examined the long-term (up to five months) metabolic consequences of acute and chronic traumatic factors, including physical (2-hour restraint), psychological (predator sound), and social (social...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Restraint, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Balatskyi, V., Gospodaryov, D., Abrat, O. et al. 2025. Differential long-term effects of physical, social, and psychological stressors in male mice: Down-regulation of inflammatory markers and unresponsiveness of the antioxidant system. Physiology & Behavior 301, 115065.

Behavioral assessment of tramadol and meloxicam effects on postoperative pain in a rat craniotomy model

Stereotaxic surgery is a common procedure in neuroscience, yet effective analgesic protocols require further study and refinement to optimize the analgesia used in invasive procedures and to improve animal welfare. This study evaluated the effects of tramadol and meloxicam, alone...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Analgesia, Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Alemán-Laporte, J., Alvarado, G., Pellagio, N. B. et al. 2025. Behavioral assessment of tramadol and meloxicam effects on postoperative pain in a rat craniotomy model. JAALAS 64(4), 716–725.

Germinating a novel idea to rodent heat support

An external heat source is frequently used to help rodents maintain optimal body temperature. The current gold standard for providing heat support to laboratory rodents is circulating warm water blankets. However, these come with certain drawbacks, including cost, the need...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & Management, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Glaspell, S., Welch Jernigan, R. 2025. Germinating a novel idea to rodent heat support. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 13(3) (May/June), 23-24.

Effects of enclosure size on the preferences of juvenile chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)

This study investigated the cage size preferences of juvenile chinchillas using enclosures that allowed free choice between different dimensions. Three comparisons were tested: (1) small floor area (0.15 m2) vs. double floor area (0.30 m2) at constant height; (2) low...

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

Citation: Szendrő, Z., Łapiński, S., Matics, Z. et al. 2025. Effects of enclosure size on the preferences of juvenile chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). Animals 15(17), 2483.

Maintenance of the Brugia Malayi life cycle in Mongolian gerbils

The Mongolian gerbil or jird (Meriones unguiculatus) is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. They are commonly used as models for a variety of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis E virus and Giardia lamblia. At the LSTM/University of Liverpool...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & Intubation, Disease/Experimental Model, Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Gerbil, Rodent

Citation: Steven, A. 2025. Maintenance of the Brugia Malayi life cycle in Mongolian gerbils. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 155–156.

Automated facial feature evaluation system to prevent stress of head fixed mice

Head fixation of rodents is a widely utilized and important technique that enables laboratories to measure brain activity during behavior, but head fixation can increase stress which affects both behavior and underlying brain activity, as well as animal welfare. It...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Nasr, A., Rettinger, G., Mansvelder, H. D. et al. 2025. Automated facial feature evaluation system to prevent stress of head fixed mice. PLOS ONE 20(6), e0322530.

Enrichment for stud males in MRC Ares

Sometimes within the laboratory environment mice may be housed on their own for example when being used as studs for cryopreservation. As these animals do not have a companion for enrichment it is important that these mice are provided with...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: McCool, J. 2025. Enrichment for stud males in MRC Ares. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 149–150.

Body condition scoring and weighing—Going combo!

Evaluating an animal’s nutritional status and overall fitness ensures its welfare. While weight is often used as a single proxy for overall fitness, it may not capture changes in muscle or fat mass on its own. This is why body...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: McClenaghan, M., Galichet, C., Murphy, S. et al. 2025. Body condition scoring and weighing—Going combo! Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 138–140.