Laboratory routines cause animal stress (2004)

Balcombe, J. P., Barnard, N. D., Sandusky, C.

Abstract

Based on a literature review the conclusion was drawn that routine handling, venipuncture, and orogastic gavage lead to elevations of heart rate, blood pressure, and glucocorticoid concentrations that persist for 30 to 60 min or more following the event, suggesting that despite their routine use in laboratory studies, these procedures are acutely stressful for animals. ... We define stress as the effect produced by external (i.e., physical or environmental) events or internal (i.e., physiologic or psychologic) factors, referred to as stressors, which include an alteration in an animal's biological equilibrium [Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, 1992]. We define distress as an aversive state in which an animal is unable to adapt completely to stressors and the resulting stress and shows maladaptive behaviors [Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, 1992] .This article has also been reproduced in Animal Technology and Welfare 4(1), 3-15, 2005