Determining the effect of storage conditions on prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen concentration in rat plasma samples
Coagulation parameters are usually included in clinical and preclinical safety studies to evaluate the effect of xenobiotics on the extrinsic or intrinsic pathways of coagulation. The analysis is generally performed at the time of terminal sacrifice where many activities are scheduled. Chances of delay in analysis are likely particularly when blood is collected for coagulation via the abdominal vena cava. This experiment was planned to assess the variations in coagulation parameters caused by delay in analysis as well as by storage conditions. Blood was collected from the posterior vena cava under isoflurane anesthesia, an...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2015 Category: Research Authors: Goyal, V. K., Kakade, S., Pandey, S. K., Gothi, A. K., Nirogi, R. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Pinworm detection in mice with immunodeficient (NOD SCID) and immunocompetent (CD-1 and Swiss) soiled bedding sentinels in individually ventilated cage systems
In conclusion, combining various diagnostic techniques and samplings at week 7 post-exposure with non-invasive methods increases the rate of pinworm detection. Immunodeficient SBSs showed higher sensitivity than immunocompetent ones. Thus, use of immunodeficient SBSs is highly recommended in health control protocols. (Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2015 Category: Research Authors: Eguiluz, C., Rossi, M., Viguera, E. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Establishment of a model of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in different weekly-aged ICR mice
In this study, we evaluated the effect of age on APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in different weekly-aged mice to establish a model of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity that is an accurate reflection of general experimental conditions. Male ICR mice 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks old were given APAP intraperitoneally, and mortality, hepatic damage and the plasma concentration of APAP metabolites were evaluated. It was found that younger male ICR mice were relatively resistant to hepatotoxicity induced by intraperitoneal APAP administration. In addition, the APAP-glucuronide concentration in plasma remained essentially the same among the d...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2015 Category: Research Authors: Taguchi, K., Tokuno, M., Yamasaki, K., Kadowaki, D., Seo, H., Otagiri, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Primary tumour growth in an orthotopic osteosarcoma mouse model is not influenced by analgesic treatment with buprenorphine and meloxicam
Little is known about the treatment of bone pain in animal models of bone cancer. In the present study, the orthotopic 143-B human osteosarcoma xenotransplantation model was used to address the following questions: (1) Can repetitive analgesic treatment extend the experimental period by prolonging the time to reach humane endpoints and (2) Does repetitive analgesic treatment affect bone tumour development and metastasis? The analgesics, buprenorphine and meloxicam, were either applied individually or in combination at 12 h intervals as soon as the animals began to avoid using the tumour cell injected leg. While control mic...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2015 Category: Research Authors: Husmann, K., Arlt, M. J. E., Jirkof, P., Arras, M., Born, W., Fuchs, B. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
The reporting of clinical signs in laboratory animals: FELASA Working Group Report
Observing and reporting clinical signs in laboratory animals is necessary for many reasons: the assessment of animal welfare, compliance with the principle of refinement (e.g. humane endpoints), regulatory compliance (e.g. reporting severity) and, importantly, as a scientific outcome, e.g. in animal models of disease or safety studies. Developments in the reporting of clinical signs will enhance the scientific value gained from animal experiments and further address the ethical cost. This paper discusses systematic approaches to the observation and reporting of clinical signs in animals (to be) used for research. Glossarie...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2015 Category: Research Authors: Fentener van Vlissingen, J., Borrens, M., Girod, A., Lelovas, P., Morrison, F., Torres, Y. S. Tags: Working Group Report Source Type: research
When sex matters in biomedical research
(Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 25, 2015 Category: Research Authors: Riederer, B. M. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research -A consensus based on an initiative by CephRes, FELASA and the Boyd Group
This paper is the result of an international initiative and is a first attempt to develop guidelines for the care and welfare of cephalopods (i.e. nautilus, cuttlefish, squid and octopus) following the inclusion of this Class of ~700 known living invertebrate species in Directive 2010/63/EU. It aims to provide information for investigators, animal care committees, facility managers and animal care staff which will assist in improving both the care given to cephalopods, and the manner in which experimental procedures are carried out. Topics covered include: implications of the Directive for cephalopod research; project appl...
Source: Laboratory Animals - September 9, 2015 Category: Research Authors: Fiorito, G., Affuso, A., Basil, J., Cole, A., de Girolamo, P., D'Angelo, L., Dickel, L., Gestal, C., Grasso, F., Kuba, M., Mark, F., Melillo, D., Osorio, D., Perkins, K., Ponte, G., Shashar, N., Smith, D., Smith, J., Andrews, P. L. Tags: Guidelines Source Type: research
Range of blood lactate values in farm pigs prior to experimental surgery
This report can benefit research projects monitoring blood lactate values in farm pigs during experimental surgery. (Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - April 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Hofmaier, F., Dinger, K., Braun, R., Sterner-Kock, A. Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
Group housing of male CD1 mice: reflections from toxicity studies
Owing to their naturally aggressive behaviour, male mice are often housed individually in toxicity studies. However, several publications advocate group-housing of mice to enable normal social behaviour and interactions between the animals. This refinement project aimed at facilitate group-housing in toxicity studies. A handling procedure, including key factors such as allocation into groups before sexual maturation, transfer of used nesting material into clean cages and avoidance of external changes, that makes group-housing of male CD-1 mice possible in long-term toxicity studies has been developed at Safety Assessment w...
Source: Laboratory Animals - April 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Annas, A., Bengtsson, C., Tornqvist, E. Tags: Short Reports Source Type: research
Optimized administration regimen of lopinavir for a myocardial ischaemia reperfusion study in Sprague-Dawley rats
Pharmacokinetics of drugs may differ between small and large mammals (including humans); therefore, drug testing in animal models must be carefully designed. Sprague–Dawley rats were used in cardiac experiments, during which the lopinavir concentration in serum had to match human therapeutic levels (4–10 μg/mL). Lopinavir was administered as a co-formulated drug of lopinavir and ritonavir. It was found that after a single administration of a standard human peroral dose (lopinavir 13.3 mg/kg of body weight), the serum concentration of lopinavir was only one-tenth of the target level. It remained below the min...
Source: Laboratory Animals - April 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Katayama, M., Jiamsripong, P., Bukatina, A. E., Lombari, T. R., McMahon, E. M., Gades, N. M., Belohlavek, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of minute virus of mice and mouse parvovirus infections in laboratory mice
Mouse parvoviruses are among the most prevalent infectious pathogens in contemporary mouse colonies. To improve the efficiency of routine screening for mouse parvovirus infections, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the VP gene was developed. The assay detected minute virus of mice (MVM), mouse parvovirus (MPV) and a mouse housekeeping gene (α-actin) and was able to specifically detect MVM and MPV at levels as low as 50 copies. Co-infection with the two viruses with up to 200-fold differences in viral concentrations can easily be detected. The multiplex PCR assay developed here could be a use...
Source: Laboratory Animals - April 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Wang, K. W., Chueh, L. L., Wang, M. H., Huang, Y. T., Fang, B. H., Chang, C. Y., Fang, M. C., Chou, J. Y., Hsieh, S. C., Wan, C. H. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Towards further reduction and replacement of animal bioassays in prion research by cell and protein misfolding cyclic amplification assays
Laboratory animals have long since been used extensively in bioassays for prions in order to quantify, usually in terms of median infective doses [ID50], how infectious these pathogens are in vivo. The identification of aberrant prion protein as the main component and self-replicating principle of prions has given rise to alternative approaches for prion titration. Such approaches often use protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) for the cell-free biochemical measurement of prion-associated seeding activity, or cell assays for the titration of in vitro infectivity. However, median seeding and cell culture infective ...
Source: Laboratory Animals - April 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Boerner, S., Wagenfuhr, K., Daus, M. L., Thomzig, A., Beekes, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Non-ABO blood group systems phenotyping in non-human primates for blood banking laboratory and xenotransplantation
Some biomedical research procedures, such as organ xenotransplantation, usually require intensive hemotherapy. Knowledge of the whole phenotype of blood donor and graft could be useful in the field of xenotransplantation. Human and simian-type categories of blood groups have been established and they can be tested by standard methods used for human blood grouping. The aim of this work was to study the incidence of non-ABO blood group systems in different species of non-human primates, which are employed in biomedical research. The phenotype of Rh, Lewis, Kidd, Kell, MNSs, Lutheran, P and Duffy antigens was investigated in ...
Source: Laboratory Animals - April 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Ramis, G., Martinez-Alarcon, L., Quereda, J. J., Mrowiec, A., Funes, C., Rios, A., Ramirez, P., Munoz, A., Majado, M. J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Evaluation of the oscillometric technique for intermittent non-invasive arterial blood pressure measurement in the anaesthetized pig
In conclusion, oscillometric measurements at the FL and the tail base offer reliable prediction of AP in the anaesthetized pig. (Source: Laboratory Animals)
Source: Laboratory Animals - April 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Ypsilantis, P., Didilis, V., Simopoulos, C. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Airway management using a supraglottic airway device without endotracheal intubation for positive ventilation of anaesthetized rats
In this study, we compared the effectiveness of airway management of a home-made supraglottic airway device (SAD), which is cheap to fabricate and easy to place with that of an endotracheal intubation tube in enflurane-anaesthetized rats. Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats (200–300 g) were randomly assigned to two equal groups for positive pressure mechanical ventilation using either the SAD or an endotracheal intubation tube. The carotid artery of each rat was cannulated for continuous blood pressure measurements and obtaining blood samples for determination of oxygen tension, carbon dioxide tension, and blood acidity ...
Source: Laboratory Animals - April 5, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Cheong, S. H., Lee, J. H., Kim, M. H., Cho, K. R., Lim, S. H., Lee, K. M., Park, M. Y., Yang, Y. I., Kim, D. K., Choi, C. S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
