Rodent

Effects of nesting material on energy homeostasis in BALB/cAnNCrl, C57BL/6NCrl, and Crl:CD1(ICR) mice housed at 20 °C

Discrepancies exist between the preferred temperature range for mice (26 to 32 °C) and current recommendations (20 to 26 °C), which may alter metabolism and negatively affect studies using mice. Previous research indicates that nesting material can alleviate cold stress...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Johnson, J. S., Taylor, D. J., Green, A. R. et al. 2017. Effects of nesting material on energy homeostasis in BALB/cAnNCrl, C57BL/6NCrl, and Crl:CD1(ICR) mice housed at 20 °C. JAALAS 56(3), 254-259.

Anesthetic and postanesthetic effects of alfaxalone–butorphanol compared with dexmedetomidine–ketamine in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)

Effective and safe anesthetic protocols are required for a variety of surgical and diagnostic procedures in chinchillas. Alfaxalone, a new anesthetic agent in the United States, can be administered intramuscularly and subcutaneously and is therefore potentially useful as an anesthetic...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Rodent

Citation: Parkinson, L., Mans, C. 2017. Anesthetic and postanesthetic effects of alfaxalone–butorphanol compared with dexmedetomidine–ketamine in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). JAALAS 56(3), 290-295.

Intraperitoneal administration of ethanol as a means of euthanasia for neonatal mice (Mus musculus)

The humane euthanasia of animals in research is of paramount importance. Neonatal mice frequently respond differently to euthanasia agents when compared with adults. The AVMA's Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals includes intraperitoneal injection of ethanol as "acceptable with conditions,"...

Year Published: 2017Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: de Souza Dyer, C., Brice, A. K., Marx, J. O. 2017. Intraperitoneal administration of ethanol as a means of euthanasia for neonatal mice (Mus musculus). JAALAS 56(3), 299-306.

Comparing phlebotomy by tail tip amputation, facial vein puncture, and tail vein incision in C57BL/6 mice by using physiologic and behavioral metrics of pain and distress

Tail tip amputation with minimal restraint is not widely used for mouse phlebotomy. In part, this infrequency may reflect policies influenced by tail tip amputation procedures for genotyping, which involve greater handling and tissue removal. To assess tail tip amputation...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Moore, E. S., Cleland, T. A., Williams, W. O. et al. 2017. Comparing phlebotomy by tail tip amputation, facial vein puncture, and tail vein incision in C57BL/6 mice by using physiologic and behavioral metrics of pain and distress. JAALAS 56(3), 307-317.

Effect of home cage bedding in the induction chamber on serum cortisol and corticosterone levels in response to isoflurane-induced anesthesia in C57BL/6J mice

Mice are routinely anesthetized with isoflurane in an induction chamber. The AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals states that distress should be minimized during euthanasia but does not address this point in regard to induction of anesthesia. Here we...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Reiter, C. P., Christy, A. C., Olsen, C. H. et al. 2017. Effect of home cage bedding in the induction chamber on serum cortisol and corticosterone levels in response to isoflurane-induced anesthesia in C57BL/6J mice. JAALAS 56(2), 118-121.

An efficient, simple, and noninvasive procedure for genotyping aquatic and nonaquatic laboratory animals

Various animal models are indispensible in biomedical research. Increasing awareness and regulations have prompted the adaptation of more humane approaches in the use of laboratory animals. With the development of easier and faster methodologies to generate genetically altered animals, convenient...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Identification MethodAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad, Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Okada, M., Miller, T. C., Roediger, J. et al. 2017. An efficient, simple, and noninvasive procedure for genotyping aquatic and nonaquatic laboratory animals. JAALAS 56(5), 570-573.

Effects of intracage ammonia on markers of pulmonary endothelial integrity in mice housed in static microisolation cages

Time-weighted exposure limits to ammonia are established for humans; however similar guidelines have not been defined for laboratory rodents. The Guide recommends maintaining air pollutants at concentrations below levels irritating to mucous membranes but does not provide specific values. Numerous...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Eichner, M., Purcell, J. E., Fortman, J. D. 2018. Effects of intracage ammonia on markers of pulmonary endothelial integrity in mice housed in static microisolation cages. JAALAS 57(1), 18-23.

Evaluation of a commercially available euthanasia solution as a voluntarily ingested euthanasia agent in laboratory mice

All currently accepted methods of euthanasia for laboratory mice involve some degree of stress, fear, anxiety, or pain. We evaluated the voluntary oral administration of a euthanasia drug in 99 male and 81 female mice of various strains. We first...

Year Published: 2018Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Dudley, E. S., Boivin, G. P. 2018. Evaluation of a commercially available euthanasia solution as a voluntarily ingested euthanasia agent in laboratory mice. JAALAS 57(1), 30-34.

Hydrophobic sand versus metabolic cages: A comparison of urine collection methods for rats (Rattus norvegicus)

A common method for urine collection from rats requires the use of a metabolic cage, thus exposing animals to extended periods of isolation in an unfamiliar cage with a wire-mesh floor. A new method involving hydrophobic sand, a material more...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hoffman, J. F., Fan, A. X., Neuendorf, E. H. et al. 2018. Hydrophobic sand versus metabolic cages: A comparison of urine collection methods for rats (Rattus norvegicus). JAALAS 57(1), 51-57.

Effects of an extended cage-change interval on ammonia levels and reproduction in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Prompted by the cage cleanliness of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), we evaluated a prolonged cage-change interval. We compared the effects of a 2-wk and 6-wk cage-change schedule on ammonia levels, temperature, humidity, and reproductive performance in breeding pairs housed in...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Gerbil, Rodent

Citation: McCullagh, E. A., McCullagh, P., Klug, A. et al. 2017. Effects of an extended cage-change interval on ammonia levels and reproduction in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). JAALAS 56(6), 713-717.