Lab Animals Flashcards
Animals frequently used for research
- Mice
- Rats
- Pig
- Rabbit
- Zebrafish
- Chicken
- Cattle/sheep
- Various wildlife
AT USASK, highest used species is chickens, then mice
Specific pathogen free (SPF) animals
- Animals bred to eliminate certain pathogens, reduce disease outbreaks, reduce zoonosis, increases research
- Bred by C-section, dam-fostering
Acclimation
- Lab animals often need a week to adjust to new environment before use. This will allow for cortisol levels to go back to normal
- Expose to routine handling and common procedures to familiarize animals. Includes Classical and operant conditioning (positive reinforcement training)
Positive reinforcement training (PRT)
- Operant conditioning
- Reduces stress on the animals for procedures
Ex. mice tunnel handling
Laboratory animal allergies (LAA)
Workers have allergic symptoms when exposed to allergenic proteins from lab animals. If allergic to one, often become allergic to others over time
- Urine, dander, saliva, bedding, feed, mold, insects
Zoonosis risk with lab animals
- Few zoonoses from SPF rodents and rabbits besides LAA and fecal bacterial exposure
- Chance of mycobacterial exposure from fish if you have open cuts or sores
Mouse/rat housing
- Ventilated vs. static caging
- Barrier facilities to prevent wild rodent disease transmission
- Workers can’t have rodents at home
- Controlled temperature, humidity, lighting
- Bedding, nesting material, environmental enrichment
Most common mouse strains
C57BI/6, Balb/c, Nude
Catching mice with tube
- Can use tube, place around edge of cage. Mice will run around edge into tube
- Pick up tube and tip mouse backwards into your hand
- Don’t chase mouse with tunnel
- Handling should be quick, don’t be hesitant
Restraint of mice
- Use scruffing; don’t hold upside down by tail
1. One-handed restraint
–> 3 finger hold. Scruff mouse but support body with other fingers while mouse is upside down on palm
2. Two-handed restraint
**Can use scruff guard
Scruffing
Don’t scruff with 2 fingers and create longitudinal fold, as this causes choking/pressure on throat INSTEAD use 3 fingers and create different angle of fold
Support body
Injections for mice and rats
- Subcutaneous- most common (anywhere in scruff)
- Intramuscular- rare (hind leg)
- Intraperitoneal- common (lower abdomen)
- Intravenous- common (tail vein)
- Intravenous- retro-orbital (stick behind eye)- not as common, need to be anesthetized first
- Oral gavage
Blood collection in mice
- Small circulating volume between 1-1.5ml
- Typically collect 10-100ul per collection
- Repeated collections need rest period to allow blood production and prevent anemia
- Taken at tail vein or artery, saphenous vein, facial vein, jugular vein, cardiac (when under anesthesia), and rarely but can be taken at retro-orbital plexus
Mouse and rat anesthesia
- Isoflurane induction box and mask
- Injection, IP, or IV with top up as needed
Reasons for anesthesia in mice
- Surgery
- Imaging
- Blood collection
- Inoculation