Rodent

Benjamin, K. 2024. Make training easier with a scruffing restraint device. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 12(2) (March/April), 38-39.

If you conduct technical training with mice at your institution, a scruffing restraint device is a valuable addition to your training aid tool kit. A scruffing restraint device, such as the ScruffGuard offered by Research...

Wongsaengchan, C., McCafferty, D. J., Lennox, K. et al. 2023. Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats. Animal Welfare 32, e66.

With recent increased focus on positive welfare in animal welfare science, there is demand for objective positive welfare indicators. It is unclear whether changes in body surface temperature can be used to non-invasively identify and...

Walczak-Gillies, Matthews, O., Fyfe, A. et al. 2023. Refining the welfare of immunocompromised mice receiving carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) to induce liver fibrosis. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 237–239.

Our method provides evidence that we can alter CCI4 dosing and implement recovery techniques to enhance Animal Welfare, whilst maintaining sufficient levels of fibrosis in the liver.

Rashbrook, V. S., Denti, L., Ruhrberg, C. 2023. Tamoxifen exacerbates morbidity and mortality in male mice receiving medetomidine anaesthesia. Animal Welfare 32, e78.

Tamoxifen-induced CreER-LoxP recombination is often used to induce spatiotemporally controlled gene deletion in genetically modified mice. Prior work has shown that tamoxifen and tamoxifen-induced CreER activation can have off-target effects that should be controlled. However...

Krueger, J. C., Habigt, M. A., Helmedag, M. J. et al. 2023. Evaluation of score parameters for severity assessment of surgery and liver cirrhosis in rats. Animal Welfare 32, e29.

Severity assessment in animals is an ongoing field of research. In particular, the question of objectifiable and meaningful parameters of score-sheets, as well as their best combination, arise. This retrospective analysis investigates the suitability of...

Hickman, M., Miller, L., MacDonald, R. 2023. An assessment of rat hammocks as enrichment. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 221–223.

Research has shown there are numerous welfare and scientific benefits to housing rats in more enriched and environmentally complex housing opposed to conventional housing. With the aim of increasing environmental complexity, providing opportunities for climbing...

Ciupa, J. 2023. The hard-hitting tooth—Does a scheduled teeth check reduce the number of mice found dead with malocclusion? Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 240–241.

Malocclusion is evident around the first 2-5 weeks of age for mice (NC3Rs, 2021). Therefore, it is hypothesised that a regular welfare check, the POST WEAN CHECK (PWC) at 5 weeks would: - significantly increase...

Beechener, S., Brown, S., Bombail, V. et al. 2023. An exploratory interview study of researchers’ and technicians’ perceptions of rat tickling. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 201–209.

This paper highlights the main themes which emerged from a study carried out with Animal Technicians and researchers to better understand: - perceptions of rat tickling - potential drivers and barriers to the uptake of...

Altino, V. S., Rezende, D. C., Nogueira, S. S. et al. 2023. Validation of complementary non-invasive tools for stress assessment in spotted paca (Cuniculus paca). Animal Welfare 32, e54.

Monitoring the concentration of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) in faecal samples is a non-invasive tool for physiological stress evaluation, particularly useful when studying wild species. However, both negative and positive stimuli (distress and eustress, respectively) can...

Subscribe to Rodent