Detection of antibodies against Theilers murine encephalomyelitis virus GDVII strain in experimental guinea pigs
A disease affecting guinea pigs called ‘guinea pig lameness’ characterized by clinical signs of depression, lameness of limbs, flaccid paralysis, weight loss and death within a few weeks was first described by Römer in 1911. After a research group in our facility kept laboratory guinea pigs from two different origins together in one room, lameness was observed in two animals. Further investigations revealed a serological immune response against Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV; GDVII strain) in these animals. Histopathology of the lumbar spinal cord of these animals showed mononuclea...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Häger, C., Glage, S., Held, N., Bleich, E. M., Burghard, A., Mähler, M., Bleich, A. Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
Refinement of habituation procedures in diet-induced obese mice
Orogastric gavage, while a common method for delivering experimental substances in mice, has been shown to induce stress. To minimize the associated stress with this procedure, sham gavage prior to the start of experiment is a common method for habiutating mice. We investigated whether handling and restraint could replace sham treatment in the acclimatization protocol. Mice were either undisturbed, hand-restrained for 10 s or sham-gavaged daily for six days prior to eight days of twice daily gavage. The results showed that repetitive restraint and gavage had no differences in body weight after eight days of treatment compa...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Kärrberg, L., Andersson, L., Kastenmayer, R. J., Ploj, K. Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
A lateral thoracotomy approach for thoracic duct cannulation and lymphatic fluid collection in a feline model
This study describes a lateral thoracotomy approach for thoracic duct cannulation and lymphatic fluid collection in a feline model. The thoracic duct was cannulated via a left lateral intercostal thoracotomy in 12 cats. Lymphatic fluid was collected for up to 16 days and analyzed on days 3, 9 and 16. The volume collected and duration of cannula patency were recorded. Contrast imaging of the thoracic duct was performed if fluid ceased to flow or at the end of the 16-day study period. In two cats, the cannula became dislodged within 24 h. For the remaining 10 cats, mean daily volume collected was 43.7 mL (median 41.0, range ...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Hardie, R. J., Sheehan, N. K. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
A new non-craniotomy model of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the pig: a pilot study
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) from rupture of an intracranial arterial aneurysm is a devastating disease affecting young people, with serious lifelong disability or death as a frequent outcome. Large animal models that exhibit all the cardinal clinical features of human SAH are highly warranted. In this pilot study we aimed to develop a non-craniotomy model of SAH in pigs suitable for acute intervention studies. Six Norwegian Landrace pigs received advanced invasive hemodynamic and intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. The subarachnoid space, confirmed by a clear cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap, was reached by advancing a ...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Backer-Grondahl, A., Lindal, S., Lorentzen, M. A., Eldevik, P., Vorren, T., Kristiansen, B., Vangberg, T., Ytrebo, L. M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Use of the RatLoft decreases pup mortality in lactating mice
Lactating mice in laboratory conditions are thought to be under considerable stress. Dams may manifest this stress through a decrease in milk yield and/or increase in infanticide. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of access to an environmental enrichment device called the RatLoft on milk yield, circulating serotonin, and pup mortality using both wild-type mice and mice genetically deficient in tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1–/–; the rate-limiting enzyme in the non-neuronal serotonin synthesis pathway). Presence or absence of the RatLoft did not affect milk yield or circulating serotonin concent...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Weaver, S. R., Cronick, C. M., Prichard, A. P., Laporta, J., Benevenga, N. J., Hernandez, L. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Olfaction variation in mouse husbandry and its implications for refinement and standardization: UK survey of animal scents
Olfaction plays a crucial role in mouse communication, providing information about genetic identity, physiological status of conspecifics and alerting mice to potential predators. Scents of animal origin can trigger physiological and behavioural responses that could affect experimental responses and impact positively or negatively on mouse welfare. Additionally, differing olfactory profiles could help explain variation in results between laboratories. A survey was sent to animal research units in the UK to investigate potential transfer of scents of animal origin during routine husbandry procedures, and responses were obta...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Lopez-Salesansky, N., Mazlan, N. H., Whitfield, L. E., Wells, D. J., Burn, C. C. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Evaluation of clinical chemistry analytes from a single mouse using diluted plasma: effective way to reduce the number of animals in toxicity studies
In conclusion, in order to obtain reliable and interpretable data from a single mouse it is worthwhile considering diluting the plasma, which should reduce the number of animals used in an experiment. (Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Goyal, V. K., Pandey, S. K., Kakade, S., Nirogi, R. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
A simple method for inducing estrous cycle stage-specific morphological changes in the vaginal epithelium of immature female mice
In this study, we demonstrate that the standard procedure for oocyte superovulation and collection in the laboratory mouse (e.g. injection of equine chorionic gonadotropin followed 48 h later by human chorionic gonadotropin) can also be reliably used to induce changes in the epithelium of 3.5-week-old mouse vaginas in an estrous cycle stage-specific manner (e.g. establishment and replacement of a mucous secreting epithelium with a cornified epithelium; induction of cornification-associated loricrin expression). The superovulation protocol thus allows for the efficient and economic induction of estrous cycle stage-specific ...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Merkwitz, C., Blaschuk, O., Eplinius, F., Winkler, J., Prömel, S., Schulz, A., Ricken, A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Refinements for embryo implantation surgery in the mouse: comparison of injectable and inhalant anesthesias - tribromoethanol, ketamine and isoflurane - on pregnancy and pup survival
This study was carried out to test whether the anesthesia used during surgery could affect the number of pups produced. Anesthetics commonly used for implant surgery include tribromoethanol (Avertin) delivered by intraperitoneal (IP) injection, IP-injected ketamine:xylazine or ketamine:medetomidine mix, and inhaled isoflurane. To determine if the anesthesia used might affect the number of animals produced, each anesthetic agent was tested in implant surgeries and the numbers of pups produced using both wild-type and GEM embryos were assessed. Parallel studies were conducted in institutions in the EU and in the USA. Based o...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Norton, W. B., Scavizzi, F., Smith, C. N., Dong, W., Raspa, M., Parker-Thornburg, J. V. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Translated abstracts, in French, German and Spanish
(Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2016 Category: Research Tags: Translated abstracts Source Type: research
Simposio ORBEA
(Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - August 4, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Franco, N. H. Tags: News Source Type: research
SECAL en el Congreso de FELASA (Bruselas)
(Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - August 4, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Cuesta, J. R. Tags: News Source Type: research
The FELASA Award 2016 - A major award for laboratory animal science within Europe
(Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - August 4, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Brandstetter, H. Tags: News Source Type: research
Laboratory Animals Limited at FELASA Congress, 13-16 June 2016 Brussels, Belgium
(Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - August 4, 2016 Category: Research Tags: News Source Type: research
Fentanyl bolus induces muscle tremors in sevoflurane-anaesthetized piglets
Intravenous fentanyl (10 mcg/kg) or saline (control) was randomly administered to 10 healthy sevoflurane-mono-anaesthetized piglets. Trembling was assessed by two blinded observers using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a simple ordinal scale at baseline and 5 min (T5) after drug administration. If no trembling was observed at that time point, the opposite treatment was administered and piglets were re-evaluated after another 5 min (T10). Four out of five piglets showed trembling after fentanyl (T5), while none given saline showed any trembling. With fentanyl the VAS scores were significantly higher at T5 compared either ...
Source: Laboratory Animals - August 4, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Ringer, S. K., Spielmann, N., Weiss, M., Mauch, J. Y. Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
