Rodent

Voluntary oral dosing for precise experimental compound delivery in adult rats

Preclinical drug studies routinely administer experimental compounds to animal models with the goal of minimizing potential adverse events from the procedure. In this study, we assessed the ability to train adult male Long Evans rats to accept daily voluntarily syringe...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Chesler, K. C., Motz, C. T., Bales, K. L. et al. 2022. Voluntary oral dosing for precise experimental compound delivery in adult rats. Laboratory Animals 56(2), 147-156.

A quick and low-intensity method for oral administration to large numbers of mice: A possible alternative to oral gavage

Oral administration of medication to experimental animals is a cause of significant stress. When coupled to animals who are already under strenuous circumstances due to the disease being modelled, there is a significant risk for increased morbidity and mortality, thus...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Neto, T., Faustino-Rocha, A. I., Gil da Costa, R. M. et al. 2022. A quick and low-intensity method for oral administration to large numbers of mice: A possible alternative to oral gavage. Laboratory Animals 56(2), 185-190.

Refining the rat sciatic nerve block: A novel ultrasound-guided technique

Murine translational models are an important tool to understand pain pathophysiology. One procedure used frequently in murine research is the sciatic nerve block. This study sought to demonstrate the use of ultrasound-guided sciatic nerve block in a cadaveric murine model....

Year Published: 2022Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hughey, S., Campbell, D., Rapp-Santos, K. et al. 2022. Refining the rat sciatic nerve block: A novel ultrasound-guided technique. Laboratory Animals 56(2), 191-195.

Early-life mice housed in standard stocking density reduce the spontaneous physical activity and increase visceral fat deposition before reaching adulthood

Laboratory rodents spend the entire day housed in standard cages that provide a restricted area for movements and might, therefore, limit physical activity. However, it has not been tested in immature rodents of ages ranging from weaning to adulthood (adolescence...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Scariot, P. P., Gobatto, C. A., Polisel, E. E. et al. 2022. Early-life mice housed in standard stocking density reduce the spontaneous physical activity and increase visceral fat deposition before reaching adulthood. Laboratory Animals 56(4), 344-355.

Burrowing behaviour of rats: Strain differences and applicability as well-being parameter after intracranial surgery

In mice, burrowing is considered a species-typical parameter for assessing well-being, while this is less clear in rats. This exploratory study evaluated burrowing behaviour in three rat strains during training and in the direct postoperative phase after complex intracranial surgery...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Natural Behavior, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Riedesel, A.-K., Bach-Hagemann, A., Abdulbaki, A. et al. 2022. Burrowing behaviour of rats: Strain differences and applicability as well-being parameter after intracranial surgery. Laboratory Animals 56(4), 356-369.

Effect of environmental enrichment on aggression and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor transcript variants in group-housed male mice

Social and environmental factors influence behavior via modulation of brain physiological functions. Environmental enrichment (EE) is an animal housing technique that provides complex sensory, motor, and social stimulation, leading to modifications in the innate aggressiveness in group-housed laboratory mice. Brain-derived...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Aldhshan, M. S., Mizuno, T. M. 2022. Effect of environmental enrichment on aggression and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor transcript variants in group-housed male mice. Behavioural Brain Research 433, 113986.

Assessing spatial learning and memory in mice: Classic radial maze versus a new animal-friendly automated radial maze allowing free access and not requiring food deprivation

The radial arm maze (RAM) is a common behavioral test to quantify spatial learning and memory in rodents. Prior attempts to refine the standard experimental setup have been insufficient. Previously, we demonstrated the feasibility of a fully automated, voluntary, and...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Behavioral & Cognitive TestingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kohler, J., Mei, J., Banneke, S. et al. 2022. Assessing spatial learning and memory in mice: Classic radial maze versus a new animal-friendly automated radial maze allowing free access and not requiring food deprivation. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 16, 1013624.

Bored at home?—A systematic review on the effect of environmental enrichment on the welfare of laboratory rats and mice

Boredom is an emotional state that occurs when an individual has nothing to do, is not interested in the surrounding, and feels dreary and in a monotony. While this condition is usually defined for humans, it may very well describe...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Mieske, P., Hobbiesiefken, U., Fischer-Tenhagen, C. et al. 2022. Bored at home?—A systematic review on the effect of environmental enrichment on the welfare of laboratory rats and mice. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 9, 899219.

Providing environmental enrichment without altering behavior in male and female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus)

In research using animal models, subjects are commonly maintained under standard housing conditions, mainly because of the idea that enhancing welfare conditions could alter experimental data. Another common practice in many laboratories relates to the preponderant use of males. Several...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Corredor, K., Marín, D. P., García, C. C. et al. 2022. Providing environmental enrichment without altering behavior in male and female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). JAALAS 61(3), 234-240.

Housing environment affects pubertal onset, anxiety-like behavior, and object interaction in male and female Long Evans rats

Rodents used for research can be humanely housed in a variety of ways. As such, a vast number of different housing environments are used, but are often not described in research publications. However, many elements of housing environments, including bedding,...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Vogt, M. E., Riesgo, V. R., Flanigan, K. A. S. et al. 2022. Housing environment affects pubertal onset, anxiety-like behavior, and object interaction in male and female Long Evans rats. JAALAS 61(3), 241-247.