Rodent

Perinatal environmental enrichment changes anxiety-like behaviours in mice and produces similar intergenerational benefits in offspring

Environmental enrichment implemented in early life is able to induce long-term changes in gene expression, synaptic function and behavioural responses. In this study, we evaluated the adult behavioural effects of perinatal environment enrichment in male and female mice (PEE), as...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Silva-Almeida, C., Muniz, S. C. A., Jobim, C. M. N. et al. 2024. Perinatal environmental enrichment changes anxiety-like behaviours in mice and produces similar intergenerational benefits in offspring. Behavioural Brain Research 456, 114700.

Social environment enrichment alleviates anxiety-like behavior in mice: Involvement of the dopamine system

Rearing environment plays a vital role in maintaining physical and mental health of both animals and humans. Plenty of studies have proved that physical environment enrichment in adolescence has protective effects on emotion, social behavior, learning and memory deficits. However,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Wang, Q., Wang, Y., Tian, Y. et al. 2024. Social environment enrichment alleviates anxiety-like behavior in mice: Involvement of the dopamine system. Behavioural Brain Research 456, 114687.

A pharmacokinetic and analgesic efficacy study of carprofen in female CD1 mice

The minimization of pain in research animals is a scientific and ethical necessity. Carprofen is commonly used for pain management in mice; however, some data suggest that the standard dosage of 5 mg/kg may not provide adequate analgesia after surgery....

Year Published: 2023Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: McKenna, B. A., Weaver, H. L., Kim, J. et al. 2023. A pharmacokinetic and analgesic efficacy study of carprofen in female CD1 mice. JAALAS 62(6), 545–552.

Towards more translatable research: Exploring alternatives to gavage as the oral administration route of vaccines in rodents for improved animal welfare and human relevance

Oral vaccines are gaining attention for their ease of administration and ability to activate mucosal immune responses. However, preclinical studies using this route often require the use of gavage, which has limitations. In this comment, we briefly discuss the challenges...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Miguelena Chamorro, B., Swaminathan, G., Mundt, E. et al. 2023. Towards more translatable research: Exploring alternatives to gavage as the oral administration route of vaccines in rodents for improved animal welfare and human relevance. Lab Animal 52(9), 195–197.

Group size planning for breedings of gene-modified mice and other organisms following Mendelian inheritance

Colony management of gene-modified animals is time-consuming, costly and affected by random events related to Mendelian genetics, fertility and litter size. Careful planning is mandatory to ensure successful outcomes using the least number of animals, hence adhering to the 3R...

Year Published: 2023Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Milchevskaya, V., Bugnon, P., ten Buren, E. B. J. et al. 2023. Group size planning for breedings of gene-modified mice and other organisms following Mendelian inheritance. Lab Animal 52(8), 183–188.

Use of loss of righting reflex to assess susceptibility to carbon dioxide gas in three mouse strains

Exposure to CO2 gas is a common rodent euthanasia method. CO2 activates nociceptors in rats and is painful to humans at concentrations equal to or greater than 32.5% The concentration of CO2 at which rodents become unconsciousness is inadequately defined....

Year Published: 2023Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Munro, B. A., Merenick, D. R., Gee, J. M. et al. 2023. Use of loss of righting reflex to assess susceptibility to carbon dioxide gas in three mouse strains. JAALAS 62(6), 553–558.

A mapping review of refinements to laboratory rat housing and husbandry

Refining the housing and husbandry of laboratory rats is an important goal, both for ethical reasons and to allow better quality research. We conducted a mapping review of 1,017 studies investigating potential refinements of housing and husbandry of the laboratory...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Neville, V., Lind, J., Mendl, E. et al. 2023. A mapping review of refinements to laboratory rat housing and husbandry. Lab Animal 52(3), 63–74.

Implementation of an alternative training method for cardiac blood collection in mice

Training personnel to work with animals presents a variety of challenges, both logistically and with regard to animal welfare. These issues make training an ideal opportunity to evaluate practices and to implement the 3R principles (refinement, replacement, and reduction). Cardiac...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Animal Training, Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: George, A. J., O'Malley, C. I., Bulock, R. E. et al. 2023. Implementation of an alternative training method for cardiac blood collection in mice. JAALAS 62(6), 487–493.

Anxiety-like behaviors in artificially reared mice is reduced by contact with foster mothers

Experimental systems using animal models are important for nutritional and pharmacological research on newborns and infants. Accordingly, artificial nursing systems for rodents based exclusively on formula are critical to studying nutrient requirements, chemical safety, and immune system development in newborns...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Harauma, A., Murai, M., Nakamura, I. et al. 2023. Anxiety-like behaviors in artificially reared mice is reduced by contact with foster mothers. Physiology & Behavior 260, 114052.

Effects of refined handling on reproductive indices of BALB/cJ and CD-1 IGS mice

Current mouse handling methods during cage change procedures can cause stress and potentially compromise animal welfare. Our previous study of breeding C57BL/6J mice found modest increases in pup production and a significant reduction in preweaning litter losses when mice were...

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

Citation: Hull, M. A., Nunamaker, E. A., Reynolds, P. S. 2024. Effects of refined handling on reproductive indices of BALB/cJ and CD-1 IGS mice. JAALAS 63(1), 3–9.