Rodent

Effects of cage change and nest transfer on artificial intelligence-measured behaviors in male C57BL/6 mice

Cage changes can be a stressful period in a mouse’s life due to the rapid change of environment. It is essential to study the behavioral effects of a cage change on mice, including drinking, eating, aggression, and sleep, as these...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kizielewicz, N., Molk, D., Camacho, J. et al. 2026. Effects of cage change and nest transfer on artificial intelligence-measured behaviors in male C57BL/6 mice. JAALAS 65(2), 311–323.

Environmental enrichment enhances inter-individual variability in nest-building behavior in male mice

Environmental enrichment (EE) affects brain function and behavior in laboratory animals. In this study, we investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of short-term EE exposure on male C57BL/6J mice. Juvenile mice were housed for 2 weeks under either EE or...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Iwasaki, M., Kurokawa, S., Suzuki, H. et al. 2026. Environmental enrichment enhances inter-individual variability in nest-building behavior in male mice. Physiology & Behavior 308, 115265.

A software based, minimally invasive validated image processing approach for the visualization of blood flow dynamics in mice

Background The blood flow changes due to various physiological or pathological causes represent the response of the CNS for the maintenance of metabolic and functional requirements of the brain and related structures. Visualization of blood dynamics can enable the monitoring...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Imaging & Electrophysiological RecordingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: İnan, T., Doğru, M. T., Sara, M. Y. et al. 2026. A software based, minimally invasive validated image processing approach for the visualization of blood flow dynamics in mice. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 431, 110747.

Cuprizone in peanut butter: An alternative method of cuprizone administration to model demyelination of the central nervous system

Modeling disease in rodents is essential for preclinical research, particularly in the development of drugs and therapies. Traditional disease modeling approaches often rely on invasive and stressful procedures such as repeated injections and/or surgical approaches. These methods raise welfare concerns...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hawker, B., Chiddicks, E., Flanagan, J. et al. 2026. Cuprizone in peanut butter: An alternative method of cuprizone administration to model demyelination of the central nervous system. JAALAS 65(2), 270–278.

Exploration of refined humane endpoints for melioidosis in BALB/c mice

The development of humane endpoints is critical for refining scientific studies involving animals. Body weight and clinical signs of disease data collected in four recent studies assessing medical countermeasures for utility against the disease melioidosis in mice were further analyzed....

Year Published: 2026Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Humane EndpointAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Harris, M. P., Barnes, K. B., Laws, T. R. et al. 2026. Exploration of refined humane endpoints for melioidosis in BALB/c mice. Lab Animal 55(2), 40–47.

Sex differences in the enjoyment of enrichment: Affective bias testing confirms female rats prefer more playful and less vigorous tickling

There is increasing interest in positive animal welfare which emphasizes that animals should experience predominantly positive mental states. Positive animal welfare raises challenging biological questions, including how we assess positive experiences. Rat tickling mimics rough and tumble play; it is...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gonzalez, C., Lawrence, A. B., Mendl, M. et al. 2026. Sex differences in the enjoyment of enrichment: Affective bias testing confirms female rats prefer more playful and less vigorous tickling. Biology Letters 22(4), 20260075.

The analgesic effect of two different extended-release meloxicam formulations for attenuation of hypersensitivity in rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) frequently administered every 24 hours to control mild to moderate pain in rodents. Extended-release meloxicam offers a refinement of less frequent dosing and an extended therapeutic window compared with the standard daily-dosed meloxicam...

Year Published: 2026Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Ge, Y., Alamaw, E. D., Jampachaisri, K. et al. 2026. The analgesic effect of two different extended-release meloxicam formulations for attenuation of hypersensitivity in rats (Rattus norvegicus). JAALAS 65(1), 58–64.

Affective and behavioural interactions between human handlers and laboratory rats

In laboratory settings, human–rat interactions are necessary and frequent, yet the impact of different handlers on the behaviour of the animal is underexplored. This study examined how human behavioural responses - confidence, experience, and physiological arousal - relate to affective...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Feddo, C. C., Robinson, E. S. J., Hinchcliffe, J. K. 2026. Affective and behavioural interactions between human handlers and laboratory rats. Behavioural Brain Research 505, 116115.

AnaesthesiaSkills in Veterinary Medicine: Perioperative Management in Small, Companion and Domestic Animals

This book is designed as a practice-orientated text covering monitoring and equipment, established protocols, pain management, complications and underlying disease. The strength of the book is the inclusion of a relatively wide spectrum of species – dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Analgesia, Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Cat, Cattle, Dog, Equine, Ferret, Gerbil, Goat, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Eberspächer-Schweda, E. 2024. AnaesthesiaSkills in Veterinary Medicine: Perioperative Management in Small, Companion and Domestic Animals. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc, 512 pp.

Social housing of postoperative animals to support animal welfare

Single housing of animals, or social isolation, is a known stressor for many species. Generally, laboratory animals are housed in social groups as a default to support their behavioral welfare. In some research protocols, investigators may request exemptions from social...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Regulations & Ethical Review, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: All/General, Cat, Dog, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Darbyshire, A., Beninson, J., Dyson, M. C. et al. 2026. Social housing of postoperative animals to support animal welfare. JAALAS 65(1), 11–18.