Rodent

Continuous and non-invasive thermography of mouse skin accurately describes core body temperature patterns, but not absolute core temperature

Body temperature is an important physiological parameter in many studies of laboratory mice. Continuous assessment of body temperature has traditionally required surgical implantation of a telemeter, but this invasive procedure adversely impacts animal welfare. Near-infrared thermography provides a non-invasive alternative...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: van der Vinne, V., Pothecary, C. A., Wilcox, S. L. et al. 2020. Continuous and non-invasive thermography of mouse skin accurately describes core body temperature patterns, but not absolute core temperature. Scientific Reports 10(1), 20680.

Current welfare state of pet guinea pigs in the UK

Little research has been carried out into how guinea pigs are cared for in the UK, and information regarding potential welfare issues is sparse. This study was designed to examine the five welfare needs, collecting data on the extent to...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Harrup, A. J., Rooney, N. 2020. Current welfare state of pet guinea pigs in the UK. Veterinary Record 186(9), 282.

Defining body-weight reduction as a humane endpoint: A critical appraisal

In many animal experiments scientists and local authorities define a body-weight reduction of 20% or more as severe suffering and thereby as a potential parameter for humane endpoint decisions. In this study, we evaluated distinct animal experiments in multiple research...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Humane Endpoint, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Talbot, S. R., Biernot, S., Bleich, A. et al. 2020. Defining body-weight reduction as a humane endpoint: A critical appraisal. Laboratory Animals 54(1), 99–110.

Design of composite measure schemes for comparative severity assessment in animal-based neuroscience research: A case study focussed on rat epilepsy models

Comparative severity assessment of animal models and experimental interventions is of utmost relevance for harm-benefit analysis during ethical evaluation, an animal welfare-based model prioritization as well as the validation of refinement measures. Unfortunately, there is a lack of evidence-based approaches...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: van Dijk, R. M., Koska, I., Bleich, A. et al. 2020. Design of composite measure schemes for comparative severity assessment in animal-based neuroscience research: A case study focussed on rat epilepsy models. PLOS ONE 15(5): e0230141.

DIY: Foraging balls

This article describes the steps for making a DIY guinea pig or rabbit cardboard foraging ball. Pictures are provided for each step as well as the completed ball. These cardboard foraging balls can be made as large as you want,...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Buchanan, K. 2020. DIY: Foraging balls. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 8(3) (May/June), 51.

Automated radial 8-arm maze: A voluntary and stress-free behavior test to assess spatial learning and memory in mice

The radial arm maze (RAM) is a common behavioral test to assess spatial working and reference memory in mice. However, conventional RAM experiments require a substantial degree of manual handling and animals are usually subjected to prolonged periods of food...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Behavioral & Cognitive TestingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mei, J., Kohler, J., Winter, Y. et al. 2020. Automated radial 8-arm maze: A voluntary and stress-free behavior test to assess spatial learning and memory in mice. Behavioural Brain Research 381, 112352.

Aversion to desflurane and isoflurane in Sprague-Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Carbon dioxide and isoflurane are widely used for killing rats, yet may not truly achieve “euthanasia”, because they elicit aversion. The inhalant anesthetic desflurane is faster acting than isoflurane, representing a potential refinement. Using an aversion-avoidance paradigm, 24 rats were...

Year Published: 2020Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Frost, K., Shah, M., Leung , V. S. Y. et al. 2020. Aversion to desflurane and isoflurane in Sprague-Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus). Animals 10(6), 950.

Benefits of tunnel handling persist after repeated restraint, injection and anaesthesia

Millions of mice are used every year for scientific research, representing the majority of scientific procedures conducted on animals. The standard method used to pick up laboratory mice for general husbandry and experimental procedures is known as tail handling and...

Year Published: 2020Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Henderson, L. J., Dani, B., Serrano, E. M. N., et al. 2020. Benefits of tunnel handling persist after repeated restraint, injection and anaesthesia. Scientific Reports 10(1), 14562.

Body weight algorithm predicts humane endpoint in an intracranial rat glioma model

Humane endpoint determination is fundamental in animal experimentation. Despite commonly accepted endpoint criteria for intracranial tumour models (20% body weight loss and deteriorated clinical score) some animals still die before being euthanized in current research. We here systematically evaluated other...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Humane EndpointAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Helgers, S., Talbot, S. R., Riedesel, A. K. et al. 2020. Body weight algorithm predicts humane endpoint in an intracranial rat glioma model. Scientific Reports 10, 9020.

Effects of repetitive gentle handling of male C57BL/6NCrl mice on comparative behavioural test results

Mice are the most commonly used laboratory animals for studying diseases, behaviour, and pharmacology. Behavioural experiment battery aids in evaluating abnormal behaviour in mice. During behavioural experiments, mice frequently experience human contact. However, the effects of repeated handling on mice...

Year Published: 2020Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ueno, H., Takahashi, Y., Suemitsu, S. et al. 2020. Effects of repetitive gentle handling of male C57BL/6NCrl mice on comparative behavioural test results. Scientific Reports 10(1), 3509.