Disease/Experimental Model

Welfare complications in the male BN/Crl and RjHan:SD rat streptozotocin-induced diabetes models

The streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycaemic rat model is widely used in diabetes research, particularly for investigating diabetic retinopathy; however, animal welfare concerns are often underreported. This study evaluated welfare outcomes in two commonly used rat lines, Brown Norway (BN/Crl) and Sprague...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Tenhunen, A., Mering, S., Voipio, H.-M. et al. 2025. Welfare complications in the male BN/Crl and RjHan:SD rat streptozotocin-induced diabetes models. Laboratory Animals 59(6), 652–663.

A new and less invasive surgical approach to the mouse spared nerve injury model of peripheral neuropathic pain

Background: Spared nerve injury (SNI) is a widely used rodent model in the study of peripheral neuropathic pain. The injury, that involves ligation and resection of the common peroneal and tibial branches of the sciatic nerve, results in a robust...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Rought, R., Rodrigues, R., Sharif-Naeini, R. et al. 2026. A new and less invasive surgical approach to the mouse spared nerve injury model of peripheral neuropathic pain. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 431, 110751.

Refining the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) cryo-injury model for cardiac regeneration and functional characterization

Guinea pigs have been a standard model in cardiovascular pharmacology and physiology research, but the advent of transgenic models has largely replaced them with mouse and rat models. However, guinea pigs remain important models in cardiac electrophysiology, drug-induced arrhythmias, or...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Nehring, M. E., Von Bibra, C., Geertz, B. et al. 2026. Refining the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) cryo-injury model for cardiac regeneration and functional characterization. JAALAS 65(1), 33–45.

Exploration of refined humane endpoints for melioidosis in BALB/c mice

The development of humane endpoints is critical for refining scientific studies involving animals. Body weight and clinical signs of disease data collected in four recent studies assessing medical countermeasures for utility against the disease melioidosis in mice were further analyzed....

Year Published: 2026Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Humane EndpointAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Harris, M. P., Barnes, K. B., Laws, T. R. et al. 2026. Exploration of refined humane endpoints for melioidosis in BALB/c mice. Lab Animal 55(2), 40–47.

Robust noninvasive detection of hyperglycemia in mouse models of metabolic dysregulation using the novel Urination Index biomarker

Blood glucose is one of the most essential parameters in metabolic research. Yet, accurate blood glucose monitoring in mouse models of diabetes is challenging owing to the substantial stress associated with the measurements and the variability in diabetes development among...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Brachs, S., Dall, M., Zimbalski, L.-K. et al. 2025. Robust noninvasive detection of hyperglycemia in mouse models of metabolic dysregulation using the novel Urination Index biomarker. Lab Animal 54(12), 379–389.

Paired versus single housing of ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) does not influence experimental outcomes of influenza a virus pathogenesis studies

Social housing of animals is well recognized as a fundamental element in providing for the well-being of social animals during laboratory research activities but is contraindicated in some experimental designs. To ascertain if social housing represented a potential confounder in...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Ferret

Citation: Belser, J. A., Kieran, T. J., Truelove, M. A. et al. 2026. Paired versus single housing of ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) does not influence experimental outcomes of influenza a virus pathogenesis studies. JAALAS 65(2), 182–190.

Opportunities for refinement of non-human primate vaccine studies

Non-human primates (NHPs) are used extensively in the development of vaccines and therapeutics for human disease. High standards in the design, conduct, and reporting of NHP vaccine studies are crucial for maximizing their scientific value and translation, and for making...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Humane Endpoint, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Prescott, M. J., Clark, C., Dowling, W. E. et al. 2021. Opportunities for refinement of non-human primate vaccine studies. Vaccines 9(3), 284.

Refinements in diabetic research – a technician led initiative

A genetically altered diabetic mouse model (Ins2akita) was introduced to the facility two years ago. From information available, it was expected that heterozygous animals would develop hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinemia, polydipsia and polyuria by 3 to 4 weeks old with males exhibiting...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hill, C., Lyons, C. 2025. Refinements in diabetic research – a technician led initiative. Animal Welfare and Technology 24(3), 254–256.

Refining the adjuvant-induced rat model of monoarthritis by optimizing the induction volume and injection site

Arthritis is a highly prevalent and disabling condition characterized by pathological joint-damage, clinical symptoms of pain and loss of normal joint function. Monoarthritis can be modelled in rodents via intraarticular injection of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA), inducing both joint inflammation...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Berke, M. S., Hansen, C. P., Kromann, S. et al. 2025. Refining the adjuvant-induced rat model of monoarthritis by optimizing the induction volume and injection site. Scientific Reports 15(1), 40281.

A rational approach of early humane endpoint determination in a murine model for cholestasis

Reduction of animal suffering during in vivo experiments is usually ensured by continuously monitoring the health status using a score sheet and by applying humane endpoints. However, most studies do not evaluate the plausibility of score sheets and do not...

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

Citation: Zhang, X., Kumstel, S., Tang, G. et al. 2020. A rational approach of early humane endpoint determination in a murine model for cholestasis. ALTEX 37(2), 197-207.