Drug/Substance Administration

A single-dose pharmacokinetic study of metronidazole administered to Gottingen minipigs (Sus scrofa) by oral gavage or voluntary oral dosing

Oral gavage (OG) dosing can be stressful to pigs and is associated with the risk of complications. To evaluate a potential refinement, we compared the pharmacokinetics of a drug with a known aversive taste (metronidazole) administered orally to 6 Gottingen...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal Training, Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Cooper, D. M., Rainey, A., Rosenfeld, C. et al. 2025. A single-dose pharmacokinetic study of metronidazole administered to Gottingen minipigs (Sus scrofa) by oral gavage or voluntary oral dosing. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 64(3), 514–519.

Advances in technical methods and applications of subretinal injections in experimental animals (2025)

The subretinal injection technique is an important intraocular drug delivery modality that allows access to the subretinal space to directly act on target cells or the administration of medications, markedly improving the therapeutic efficacy of ocular diseases. Subretinal injection in...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Song, C., Ji, Y., Wang, Y. et al. 2025. Advances in technical methods and applications of subretinal injections in experimental animals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Analgesia administration practices to support minimal handling (2024)

An adequate analgesic strategy is important to improve the postoperative recovery and welfare of laboratoy animals. It is desirable that the method for administering the drug is non-invasive and stress-free. Below are a few methods that we use to minimise...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Analgesia, Drug/Substance Administration, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Keenan, R., Lynch, A., Murphy, S. et al. 2024. Analgesia administration practices to support minimal handling. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(3), 239–240.

Refined method of Tropicamide application in minipigs

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the efficacy of Tropicamide when administered using a new spray method (compared to eye drop method).

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Gracey, K. 2024. Refined method of Tropicamide application in minipigs. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 145–147.

Report of the 2023 RSPCA/UFAW/IAT Rodent Welfare Group Meeting

This report summarises the meeting and covers discussions ranging from housing and husbandry to refinement in procedures, education, and learning from companion rate care. It includes some action points for readers to consider raising at their own establishments.

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Barnabe, M., Applebee, K., Hurst, J. et al. 2024. Report of the 2023 RSPCA/UFAW/IAT Rodent Welfare Group Meeting. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 81–90.

The 3Hs Initiative—Housing, handling, and habituation

We have looked at our housing, handling and habituation approaches to identify areas to make improvements. This is critical for our resaerch outputs and has the benefit of reducing the cumulative suffering the animals experience by reducing stress and negative...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Animal Training, Drug/Substance Administration, Handling, Housing, RestraintAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bartlett, J., Hinchcliffe, J., Jackson, M. et al. 2024. The 3Hs Initiative—Housing, handling, and habituation. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(2), 91–99.

Murine model of minimally invasive nasal depot (MIND) technique for central nervous system delivery of blood–brain barrier-impermeant therapeutics

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) poses a substantial obstacle to the successful delivery of therapeutics to the central nervous system (CNS). The transnasal route has been extensively explored, but success rates have been modest due to challenges related to the precise...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Chua, A. J., Di Francesco, V., D'Souza, A. et al. 2024. Murine model of minimally invasive nasal depot (MIND) technique for central nervous system delivery of blood–brain barrier-impermeant therapeutics. Lab Animal 53(12), 363–375.

Refinement of intranasal delivery in rats: A cadaveric study

The intranasal route enables direct delivery of multiple substances from the nose to the brain, through olfactory and trigeminal pathways, bypassing the blood–brain barrier and avoiding systemic absorption. Despite the potential of this route, the various administration approaches make data...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Pereira, M. N., Venâncio, C., Pinto, M. de L. et al. 2024. Refinement of intranasal delivery in rats: A cadaveric study. Laboratory Animals 58(4), 324–333.

Refined tamoxifen administration in mice by encouraging voluntary consumption of palatable formulations

Drug administration in preclinical rodent models is essential for research and the development of novel therapies. Compassionate administration methods have been developed, but these are mostly incompatible with water-insoluble drugs such as tamoxifen or do not allow for precise timing...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Vanhecke, D., Bugada, V., Steiner, R. et al. 2024. Refined tamoxifen administration in mice by encouraging voluntary consumption of palatable formulations. Lab Animal 53(8), 205–214.

Rats prefer condensed milk to strawberry jam – a new possibility for voluntary oral drug administration

Voluntary oral drug administration using sweet substances promotes rodents' therapeutic compliance while reducing stress induced by forced drug administration. We aimed to test whether rats would willingly eat strawberry jam or condensed milk from a syringe, and which one they...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Ferreira-Duarte, M., Lopes, I. M., Morato, M. et al. 2024. Rats prefer condensed milk to strawberry jam – a new possibility for voluntary oral drug administration. Laboratory Animals 58(2), 160–163.