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Pádua MS, Guil-Guerrero JL, Lopes PA. Behaviour Hallmarks in Alzheimer's Disease 5xFAD Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6766. [PMID: 38928472 PMCID: PMC11204382 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The 5xFAD transgenic mouse model widely used in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research recapitulates many AD-related phenotypes with a relatively early onset and aggressive age-dependent progression. Besides developing amyloid peptide deposits alongside neuroinflammation by the age of 2 months, as well as exhibiting neuronal decline by the age of 4 months that intensifies by the age of 9 months, these mice manifest a broad spectrum of behavioural impairments. In this review, we present the extensive repertoire of behavioural dysfunctions in 5xFAD mice, organised into four categories: motor skills, sensory function, learning and memory abilities, and neuropsychiatric-like symptoms. The motor problems, associated with agility and reflex movements, as well as balance and coordination, and skeletal muscle function, typically arise by the time mice reach 9 months of age. The sensory function (such as taste, smell, hearing, and vision) starts to deteriorate when amyloid peptide buildups and neuroinflammation spread into related anatomical structures. The cognitive functions, encompassing learning and memory abilities, such as visual recognition, associative, spatial working, reference learning, and memory show signs of decline from 4 to 6 months of age. Concerning neuropsychiatric-like symptoms, comprising apathy, anxiety and depression, and the willingness for exploratory behaviour, it is believed that motivational changes emerge by approximately 6 months of age. Unfortunately, numerous studies from different laboratories are often contradictory on the conclusions drawn and the identification of onset age, making preclinical studies in rodent models not easily translatable to humans. This variability is likely due to a range of factors associated with animals themselves, housing and husbandry conditions, and experimental settings. In the forthcoming studies, greater clarity in experimental details when conducting behavioural testing in 5xFAD transgenic mice could minimise the inconsistencies and could ensure the reliability and the reproducibility of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Soares Pádua
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária (AL4AnimalS), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José L. Guil-Guerrero
- Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos, Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain;
| | - Paula Alexandra Lopes
- CIISA—Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Laboratório Associado para Ciência Animal e Veterinária (AL4AnimalS), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
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2
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Kriengwatana BP, Marshall CJ, Stevenson T, Monaghan P. Early life conditions reduce similarity between reproductive partners in HPA axis response to stress. Horm Behav 2024; 162:105508. [PMID: 38513527 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Social environments modulate endocrine function, yet it is unclear whether individuals can become like their social partners in how they physiologically respond to stressors. This social transmission of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity could have long-term consequences for health and lifespan of individuals if their social partners react to stressors with an exaggerated HPA axis response. We tested whether glucocorticoid levels in response to stress of breeding partners changes after breeding depending on whether partners had similar or dissimilar postnatal conditions. We manipulated postnatal conditions by mimicking early life stress in zebra finch chicks (Taeniopygia guttata) via postnatal corticosterone exposure. When they reached adulthood, we created breeding pairs where the female and male had experienced either the same or different early life hormonal treatment (corticosterone or control). Before and after breeding, we obtained blood samples within 3 min and after 10 min or 30 min of restraint stress (baseline, cort10, cort30). We found that corticosterone levels of individuals in response to restraint were affected by their own and their partner's early life conditions, but did not change after breeding. However, across all pairs, partners became more similar in cort30 levels after breeding, although differences between partners in cort10 remained greater in pairs with a corticosterone-treated female. Thus, we show that HPA axis response to stressors in adulthood can be modulated by reproductive partners and that similarity between partners is reduced when females are postnatally exposed to elevated glucocorticoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buddhamas P Kriengwatana
- Institute for Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Christopher J Marshall
- Institute for Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Tyler Stevenson
- Institute for Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute for Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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3
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Fuochi S, Rigamonti M, Raspa M, Scavizzi F, de Girolamo P, D'Angelo L. Data repurposing from digital home cage monitoring enlightens new perspectives on mouse motor behaviour and reduction principle. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10851. [PMID: 37407633 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37464-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this longitudinal study we compare between and within-strain variation in the home-cage spatial preference of three widely used and commercially available mice strains-C57BL/6NCrl, BALB/cAnNCrl and CRL:CD1(ICR)-starting from the first hour post cage-change until the next cage-change, for three consecutive intervals, to further profile the circadian home-cage behavioural phenotypes. Cage-change can be a stressful moment in the life of laboratory mice, since animals are disturbed during the sleeping hours and must then rapidly re-adapt to a pristine environment, leading to disruptions in normal motor patterns. The novelty of this study resides in characterizing new strain-specific biological phenomena, such as activity along the cage walls and frontality, using the vast data reserves generated by previous experimental data, thus introducing the potential and exploring the applicability of data repurposing to enhance Reduction principle when running in vivo studies. Our results, entirely obtained without the use of new animals, demonstrate that also when referring to space preference within the cage, C57BL/6NCrl has a high variability in the behavioural phenotypes from pre-puberty until early adulthood compared to BALB/cAnNCrl, which is confirmed to be socially disaggregated, and CRL:CD1(ICR) which is conversely highly active and socially aggregated. Our data also suggest that a strain-oriented approach is needed when defining frequency of cage-change as well as maximum allowed animal density, which should be revised, ideally under the EU regulatory framework as well, according to the physiological peculiarities of the strains, and always avoiding the "one size fits all" approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Fuochi
- Experimental Animal Center, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Marcello Raspa
- National Research Council, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (CNR-IBBC/EMMA/Infrafrontier/IMPC), International Campus 'A. Buzzati-Traverso', Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Scavizzi
- National Research Council, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (CNR-IBBC/EMMA/Infrafrontier/IMPC), International Campus 'A. Buzzati-Traverso', Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo de Girolamo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Livia D'Angelo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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4
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Dare P, Strasser R. Ruff Morning? The Use of Environmental Enrichment during an Acute Stressor in Kenneled Shelter Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091506. [PMID: 37174543 PMCID: PMC10177596 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The length of stay for some animals has increased with the recent reduction of animals euthanized in US shelters and animal control facilities. Research examining the effectiveness of different types of enrichment on buffering the effects of acute daily stressors in the shelter environment, such as kennel cleaning, is lacking. In addition, daily known stressors can result in undesirable behaviors that could lead to a need for euthanasia. Ways to effectively reduce the effects of daily stressors while optimizing strained resources is currently a high priority. In this study, we presented shelter dogs with food, tactile, and scent enrichment items to increase (arousing) or decrease (calming) activity during the daily stressor of morning kennel cleaning. We found that calming, rather than arousing, enrichment items were associated with body position scores indicative of lower stress in dogs, with calming scent enrichment (lavender) producing the most significant benefit. In contrast, items that showed the greatest reduction in vocalization were arousing (ball) compared to other arousing conditions. Our findings suggest that different unwanted behaviors in the kennel environment often associated with stress can be reduced using specific types of enrichment during a daily stressful event. Further, the results illustrate that enrichment items other than food might be more effective at decreasing certain undesirable behaviors. Overall, this study provides insight into how shelter workers might effectively use enrichment items during an unavoidable acute stressor. With many shelters keeping dogs longer, addressing events that might cause repeated stress in this population may indirectly help with adopting and lowering euthanasia rates due to unwanted behavior that develops due to repeated exposure to this necessary but acute stressor of morning cleaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Dare
- Neuroscience and Behavior, Psychology Department, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Rosemary Strasser
- Neuroscience and Behavior, Psychology Department, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
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5
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Rogers RN, Keenan RA, Winn CB. Validation of Sanitization Practices in Single-use Individually Ventilated Mouse Cages at Standard and Thermoneutral Temperatures. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2022; 61:353-360. [PMID: 35840319 PMCID: PMC9674016 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-22-000036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Vivarium husbandry practices are based on performance data and adhere to applicable regulatory guidelines. Refinements in husbandry and optimization of sanitization protocols improve animal wellbeing and help standardize the microenvironment, contributing to research reproducibility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microenvironment to establish performance standards for mouse husbandry and sanitization, including housing at standard and thermoneutral temperatures. Male C57BL/6J mice were housed singly and in groups in disposable IVCs on α-cellulose or corncob bedding and microenvironmental indicators (ammonia, carbon dioxide) were evaluated. In addition, microbial bioburden tests (ATP and RODAC) were performed on cages and cage accessories on days 0, 7, 14 and, 28 to 30 after cage change. Water testing and aerobic culture of the waterspout of bottles containing chlorinated water were performed to determine acceptable replacement schedules. Ammonia levels remained below the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 8-h recommended exposure limit for humans (25 ppm) at all time points for all housing conditions through day 21 for group-housed mice, and through day 30 for singly housed mice. Microbial bioburden results for cage accessories and water testing were acceptable up to 28 d after cage change (RODAC less than 50 CFU; ATP less than 100,000 RLU) at both standard and thermoneutral housing temperatures. Mice remained clinically healthy throughout the studies. These results support site operating practices and verify extended sanitization recommendations per the Guide of the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals in this disposable IVC environment: group-housed mice receive bottom cage and water bottle change up to every 14 d with full cage change (including lid and accessories) every 28 d, and singly housed mice receive full cage change every 28 to 30 d or sooner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee N Rogers
- Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Comparative Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Rose A Keenan
- Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Comparative Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Caroline B Winn
- Pfizer Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Comparative Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts,Corresponding author.
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Ulfhake B, Lerat H, Honetschlager J, Pernold K, Rynekrová M, Escot K, Recordati C, Kuiper RV, Rosati G, Rigamonti M, Zordan S, Prins JB. A multicentre study on spontaneous in-cage activity and micro-environmental conditions of IVC housed C57BL/6J mice during consecutive cycles of bi-weekly cage-change. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267281. [PMID: 35613182 PMCID: PMC9132304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice respond to a cage change (CC) with altered activity, disrupted sleep and increased anxiety. A bi-weekly cage change is, therefore, preferred over a shorter CC interval and is currently the prevailing routine for Individually ventilated cages (IVCs). However, the build-up of ammonia (NH3) during this period is a potential threat to the animal health and the literature holds conflicting reports leaving this issue unresolved. We have therefor examined longitudinally in-cage activity, animal health and the build-up of ammonia across the cage floor with female and male C57BL/6 mice housed four per IVC changed every other week. We used a multicentre design with a standardised husbandry enabling us to tease-out features that replicated across sites from those that were site-specific. CC induce a marked increase in activity, especially during daytime (~50%) when the animals rest. A reduction in density from four to two mice did not alter this response. This burst was followed by a gradual decrease till the next cage change. Female but not male mice preferred to have the latrine in the front of the cage. Male mice allocate more of the activity to the latrine free part of the cage floor already the day after a CC. A behaviour that progressed through the CC cycle but was not impacted by the type of bedding used. Reducing housing density to two mice abolished this behaviour. Female mice used the entire cage floor the first week while during the second week activity in the latrine area decreased. Measurement of NH3 ppm across the cage floor revealed x3 higher values for the latrine area compared with the opposite area. NH3 ppm increases from 0–1 ppm to reach ≤25 ppm in the latrine free area and 50–100 ppm in the latrine area at the end of a cycle. As expected in-cage bacterial load covaried with in-cage NH3 ppm. Histopathological analysis revealed no changes to the upper airways covarying with recorded NH3 ppm or bacterial load. We conclude that housing of four (or equivalent biomass) C57BL/6J mice for 10 weeks under the described conditions does not cause any overt discomfort to the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Ulfhake
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - H. Lerat
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, UMS hTAG Inserm US046 CNRS UAR2019, Grenoble, France
| | - J. Honetschlager
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - K. Pernold
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M. Rynekrová
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - K. Escot
- Université Grenoble-Alpes, UMS hTAG Inserm US046 CNRS UAR2019, Grenoble, France
| | - C. Recordati
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy
- Mouse and Animal Pathology Laboratory, Fondazione Unimi, Milano, Italy
| | - R. V. Kuiper
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Section Aquatic Biosecurity Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - G. Rosati
- Tecniplast SpA, Buguggiate (Va), Italy
| | | | - S. Zordan
- Tecniplast SpA, Buguggiate (Va), Italy
| | - J.-B. Prins
- Central Animal Facility, PDC, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Baran SW, Bratcher N, Dennis J, Gaburro S, Karlsson EM, Maguire S, Makidon P, Noldus LPJJ, Potier Y, Rosati G, Ruiter M, Schaevitz L, Sweeney P, LaFollette MR. Emerging Role of Translational Digital Biomarkers Within Home Cage Monitoring Technologies in Preclinical Drug Discovery and Development. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:758274. [PMID: 35242017 PMCID: PMC8885444 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.758274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In drug discovery and development, traditional assessment of human patients and preclinical subjects occurs at limited time points in potentially stressful surroundings (i.e., the clinic or a test arena), which can impact data quality and welfare. However, recent advances in remote digital monitoring technologies enable the assessment of human patients and preclinical subjects across multiple time points in familiar surroundings. The ability to monitor a patient throughout disease progression provides an opportunity for more relevant and efficient diagnosis as well as improved assessment of drug efficacy and safety. In preclinical in vivo animal models, these digital technologies allow for continuous, longitudinal, and non-invasive monitoring in the home environment. This manuscript provides an overview of digital monitoring technologies for use in preclinical studies including their history and evolution, current engagement through use cases, and impact of digital biomarkers (DBs) on drug discovery and the 3Rs. We also discuss barriers to implementation and strategies to overcome them. Finally, we address data consistency and technology standards from the perspective of technology providers, end-users, and subject matter experts. Overall, this review establishes an improved understanding of the value and implementation of digital biomarker (DB) technologies in preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szczepan W. Baran
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Szczepan W. Baran,
| | - Natalie Bratcher
- Office of Global Animal Welfare, AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - John Dennis
- United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | | | | | - Sean Maguire
- GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, United States
| | - Paul Makidon
- Comparative Medicine, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Lucas P. J. J. Noldus
- Noldus Information Technology BV, Wageningen, Netherlands
- Department of Biophysics, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Yohann Potier
- Tessera Therapeutics Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Matt Ruiter
- Unified Information Devices Inc., Lake Villa, IL, United States
| | - Laura Schaevitz
- Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Patrick Sweeney
- Actual Analytics Ltd., Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Naason Science, Inc., Cheongju-si, South Korea
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8
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Effect of Music on Stress Parameters in Dogs during a Mock Veterinary Visit. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12020187. [PMID: 35049809 PMCID: PMC8772971 DOI: 10.3390/ani12020187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Visits to the vet are stressful for many pet dogs, but less is known about how measures of stress change over the course of a visit. Identifying appropriate measures of canine stress, along with successful interventions which alleviate stress in dogs during a veterinary visit, will be of great benefit to dogs and people. Music therapy has been successfully used to reduce stress and anxiety in people and other animals. Specifically, a process called entrainment, which involves playing music at a particular tempo aimed at synchronizing physiological responses, has been implemented with success in humans. The aim of this study was to examine a range of behavioral and physiological measures in dogs over the duration of a veterinary visit and to establish if bespoke music, which mimicked the tempo of their resting heart rate, could improve wellbeing. The results indicated that certain measures increased over time, indicating that dogs became increasingly stressed. Music was not shown to have a demonstrated effect across measures, suggesting that the stressor may be too extreme for this type of intervention to have a positive effect, or that music therapy requires modification before it can be successful in alleviating stress in dogs during a veterinary visit. Abstract Veterinary visits can be stressful for dogs, but how their wellbeing changes during a visit is not well understood. Music therapy has been successfully used in clinical practice to alleviate stress and anxiety in people. The present study aimed to understand how canine stress changes during a veterinary visit, establish the effect of music, and highlight measures which may be of practical use. In a randomized crossover design, dogs were exposed to no music and a bespoke piece of classical music at a tempo designed to match their resting heart rate during a mock veterinary visit. Dogs were scored as more “afraid” during the physical examination compared to when they were in the hospital kennel (p < 0.001). Salivary cortisol, IgA, and infrared temperature all increased significantly (p < 0.05) from baseline to post-kennel and post-examination, with no effect of music treatment. Core body temperature (p = 0.010) and the odds of ‘relaxed’ lips (p = 0.020) were lower when dogs were exposed to music compared to control visits. Overall, dogs experienced changes in physiology and behavior, indicative of increased stress, over the course of the visit. Additional research is required to further understand the effect that bespoke music may have in alleviating canine stress during veterinary visits.
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Domarecka E, Kalcioglu MT, Mutlu A, Özgür A, Smit J, Olze H, Szczepek AJ. Reporting Data on Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) in Rats: Recommendations Based on Review of Experimental Protocols and Literature. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11121596. [PMID: 34942898 PMCID: PMC8699229 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11121596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Research in hearing science is accelerating, and a wealth of data concerning auditory brainstem responses (ABR) in various animal models is published in peer-reviewed journals every year. Recently, we reviewed studies using ABR measurements in tinnitus rat models. We found significant discrepancies in the outcomes of these studies, some due to different research approaches and others due to different methodologies. Thus, the present work aimed to collect comprehensive information on all factors influencing ABR recordings in rats and compile recommendations on ABR data reporting. A questionnaire with queries about animal husbandry, transfer, handling, and the exact test conditions before, during, and after ABR recordings was sent to 125 researchers who published the relevant studies between 2015 and 2021. Eighteen researchers provided detailed answers on factors related to ABR measurements. Based on the analysis of the returned questionnaires, we identified three domains reflecting animal-, equipment-, and experiment-dependent factors that might influence the ABR outcome, thus requiring reporting in published research. The analysis of survey results led to the compilation of recommendations for reporting ABR outcomes supported by a literature review. Following these recommendations should facilitate comparative and meta-analyses of ABR results provided by various research groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Domarecka
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
- Correspondence: (E.D.); (A.J.S.)
| | - Mahmut Tayyar Kalcioglu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University, 34720 Istanbul, Turkey; (M.T.K.); (A.M.)
- Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Goztepe Prof. Dr. Suleyman Yalcin City Hospital, Kadikoy, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Mutlu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University, 34720 Istanbul, Turkey; (M.T.K.); (A.M.)
- Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Goztepe Prof. Dr. Suleyman Yalcin City Hospital, Kadikoy, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Abdulkadir Özgür
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, İstanbul Yeni Yuzyil University Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital, 34245 Istanbul, Turkey;
| | - Jasper Smit
- Zuyderland Medical Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, 6419 PC Heerlen, The Netherlands;
| | - Heidi Olze
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Agnieszka J. Szczepek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland
- Correspondence: (E.D.); (A.J.S.)
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10
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Phenotyping spontaneous locomotor activity in inbred and outbred mouse strains by using Digital Ventilated Cages. Lab Anim (NY) 2021; 50:215-223. [PMID: 34155410 DOI: 10.1038/s41684-021-00793-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Mouse strains differ markedly in all behaviors, independently of their genetic background. We undertook this study to disentangle the diurnal activity and feature key aspects of three non-genetically altered mouse strains widely used in research, C57BL/6NCrl (inbred), BALB/cAnNCrl (inbred) and CRL:CD1(ICR) (outbred). With this aim, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of the spontaneous locomotor activity of the mice during a 24-h period for 2 months, in two different periods of the year to reduce the seasonality effect. Mice (males and females) were group-housed in Digital Ventilated Cages (Tecniplast), mimicking standard housing conditions in research settings and avoiding the potential bias provided in terms of locomotor activity by single housing. The recorded locomotor activity was analyzed by relying on different and commonly used circadian metrics (i.e., day and night activity, diurnal activity, responses to lights-on and lights-off phases, acrophase and activity onset and regularity disruption index) to capture key behavioral responses for each strain. Our results clearly demonstrate significant differences in the circadian activity of the three selected strains, when comparing inbred versus outbred as well as inbred strains (C57BL/6NCrl versus BALB/cAnNCrl). Conversely, males and females of the same strain displayed similar motor phenotypes; significant differences were recorded only for C57BL/6NCrl and CRL:CD1(ICR) females, which displayed higher average locomotor activity from prepuberty to adulthood. All strain-specific differences were further confirmed by an unsupervised machine learning approach. Altogether, our data corroborate the concept that each strain behaves under characteristic patterns, which needs to be taken into consideration in the study design to ensure experimental reproducibility and comply with essential animal welfare principles.
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11
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Baran SW, Lim MA, Do JP, Stolyar P, Rabe MD, Schaevitz LR, Cadena SM. Digital Biomarkers Enable Automated, Longitudinal Monitoring in a Mouse Model of Aging. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76:1206-1213. [PMID: 33491048 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the growing needs of an aging human population, there is demand for scalable and reproducible approaches to study animal models of aging and to test novel therapeutic interventions. We investigated the sensitivity and utility of a continuous monitoring platform and its digital biomarkers (motion, breathing rate, and wheel running) to evaluate behavioral and physiological differences between "young" (12 weeks) and "old" (23 months) male C57BL/6J mice with or without running wheels in the home cage. Compared to young mice, old mice showed marked reductions in motion and breathing rate, as well as altered circadian rhythms. Mice without running wheels possessed lower breathing rates compared to their counterparts with running wheels. Digital biomarkers showed age-dependent changes in response to routine procedures (cage changes and blood sampling) and alterations in subjects that unexpectedly reached endpoint. Continuous collection of digital biomarkers in the home cage can enhance current approaches by providing unbiased longitudinal monitoring for large-scale aging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szczepan W Baran
- Emerging Technologies, Laboratory Animal Services, Scientific Operations, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Polina Stolyar
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Samuel M Cadena
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Saré RM, Lemons A, Smith CB. Behavior Testing in Rodents: Highlighting Potential Confounds Affecting Variability and Reproducibility. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040522. [PMID: 33924037 PMCID: PMC8073298 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent models of brain disorders including neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases are essential for increasing our understanding of underlying pathology and for preclinical testing of potential treatments. Some of the most important outcome measures in such studies are behavioral. Unfortunately, reports from different labs are often conflicting, and preclinical studies in rodent models are not often corroborated in human trials. There are many well-established tests for assessing various behavioral readouts, but subtle aspects can influence measurements. Features such as housing conditions, conditions of testing, and the sex and strain of the animals can all have effects on tests of behavior. In the conduct of behavior testing, it is important to keep these features in mind to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of results. In this review, we highlight factors that we and others have encountered that can influence behavioral measures. Our goal is to increase awareness of factors that can affect behavior in rodents and to emphasize the need for detailed reporting of methods.
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Inagaki H, Ushida T. The acoustic startle reflex as a tool for assessment of odor environment effects on affective states in laboratory mice. Exp Anim 2021; 70:119-125. [PMID: 33100276 PMCID: PMC7887624 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.20-0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Apart from self and conspecific odors, odors from other species also influence the affective states in laboratory mice (Mus musculus musculus) in their home cages and during experimental procedures, possibly inducing confusion and inconsistency in experimental data. Thus, it is important to detect the types of animal odors associated with housing, husbandry, and laboratory practice that can arouse different types of affective changes in mice. Here, we aimed to test the effectiveness of the acoustic startle reflex (ASR) in detecting changes in the affective states of laboratory mice due to animal-derived-odor as it has a non-zero baseline, and can be enhanced or attenuated by positive or negative affective shifts, respectively. We used ASR to examine the affective changes in mice that were induced by bedding odors and an alarm pheromone. The odor of bedding obtained from the mice' home cages significantly attenuated the ASR, suggesting positive affective shifts in the test mice, whereas that from bedding obtained from rat cages significantly enhanced the ASR, suggesting negative affective shifts. No significant changes in ASR were observed in mice presented with the odor of bedding obtained from cages of unfamiliar conspecifics. In contrast, there was significant ASR enhancement in mice exposed to volatile components of alarm pheromones trapped in water, suggesting negative affective shifts. Thus, our findings show that ASR may be a valuable tool in assessing the effects of odors on the affective states in laboratory mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideaki Inagaki
- Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ushida
- Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
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Zander A, Paunesku T, Woloschak GE. Analyses of cancer incidence and other morbidities in gamma irradiated B6CF1 mice. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231510. [PMID: 32818954 PMCID: PMC7440931 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
With increasing medical radiation exposures, it is important to understand how different modes of delivery of ionizing radiation as well as total doses of exposure impact health outcomes. Our lab studied the risks associated with ionizing radiation by analyzing the Northwestern University Radiation Archive for animals (NURA). NURA contains detailed data from a series of 10 individual neutron and gamma irradiation experiments conducted on over 50,000 mice. Rigorous statistical testing on control mice from all Janus experiments enabled us to select studies that could be compared to one another and uncover unexpected differences among the controls as well as experimental animals. For controls, mice sham irradiated with 300 fractions died significantly earlier than those with fewer sham fractions and were excluded from the pooled dataset. Using the integrated dataset of gamma irradiated and control mice, we found that fractionation significantly decreased the death hazard for animals dying of lymphomas, tumors, non-tumors, and unknown causes. Gender differences in frequencies of causes of death were identified irrespective of irradiation and dose fractionation, with female mice being at a greater risk for all causes of death, except for lung tumors. Irradiated and control male mice were at a significantly greater risk for lung tumors, the opposite from observations noted in humans. Additionally, we discovered that lymphoma deaths can occur quickly after exposures to high doses of gamma rays. This study systematically cross-compared outcomes of different modes of fractionation evaluated across different Janus experiments and across a wide span of total doses. It demonstrates that protraction modulated survival and disease status differently based on the total dose, cause of death, and sex of an animal. This novel method for analyzing the Janus datasets will lead to insightful new mechanistic hypotheses and research in the fields of radiation biology and protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alia Zander
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Tatjana Paunesku
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Gayle E. Woloschak
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Do JP, Defensor EB, Ichim CV, Lim MA, Mechanic JA, Rabe MD, Schaevitz LR. Automated and Continuous Monitoring of Animal Welfare through Digital Alerting. Comp Med 2020; 70:313-327. [PMID: 32414427 PMCID: PMC7446638 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-19-000090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A primary goal in preclinical animal research is respectful and responsible care aimed toward minimizing stress and discomfort while enhancing collection of accurate and reproducible scientific data. Researchers use hands-on clinical observations and measurements as part of routine husbandry procedures or study protocols to monitor animal welfare. Although frequent assessments ensure the timely identification of animals with declining health, increased handling can result in additional stress on the animal and increased study variability. We investigated whether automated alerting regarding changes in behavior and physiology can complement existing welfare assessments to improve the identification of animals in pain or distress. Using historical data collected from a diverse range of therapeutic models, we developed algorithms that detect changes in motion and breathing rate frequently associated with sick animals but rare in healthy controls. To avoid introducing selec- tion bias, we evaluated the performance of these algorithms by using retrospective analysis of all studies occurring over a 31-d period in our vivarium. Analyses revealed that the majority of the automated alerts occurred prior to or simultaneously with technicians' observations of declining health in animals. Additional analyses performed across the entire duration of 2 studies (animal models of rapid aging and lung metastasis) demonstrated the sensitivity, accuracy, and utility of automated alerting for detecting unhealthy subjects and those eligible for humane endpoints. The percentage of alerts per total subject days ranged between 0% and 24%, depending on the animal model. Automated alerting effectively complements standard clinical observations to enhance animal welfare and promote responsible scientific advancement.
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Hasenau JJ. Reproducibility and Comparative aspects of Terrestrial Housing Systems and Husbandry Procedures in Animal Research Facilities on Study Data. ILAR J 2020; 60:228-238. [DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilz021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
As mentioned in other chapters, reproducibility of research data is very complicated and has numerous contributors for concerns. This chapter will discuss the animal housing systems and corresponding husbandry practices in regard to current practices and known and potential confounders in the research environment. This area has a very high impact for reproducibility and comparability of study data outcomes.
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Barbee RW, Turner PV. Incorporating Laboratory Animal Science into Responsible Biomedical Research. ILAR J 2019; 60:9-16. [DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilz017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Biomedical research has made great strides in the past century leading to rapid advances in human life expectancy, all derived from improved understanding, prevention, and treatment of many diseases and conditions. Research involving laboratory animals has played a significant role in this medical progress. However, there continues to be controversy surrounding the use of animals in research, and animal models have been questioned regarding their relevance to human conditions. While research fraud and questionable research practices could potentially contribute to this problem, we argue that a relative ignorance of laboratory animal science has contributed to the “uncontrolled vivarium experiment” that runs parallel to the more controlled scientific experiment. Several variables are discussed, including husbandry, animal environment, social housing, and more, that can contribute to this uncontrolled experiment, and that can simultaneously decrease quality of life for rodent test subjects when ignored. An argument is put forward that laboratory animal veterinarians and scientists can and should play an important role in better controlling such variables. Similarly, the laboratory animal veterinarian and scientist should play an important role in responsible science by addressing complex interdisciplinary challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Wayne Barbee
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Office of Research and Innovation
| | - Patricia V Turner
- Charles River Laboratories Inc., Global Animal Welfare & Training, University of Guelph Pathobiology
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Sex-specific spatial memory deficits in mice with a conditional TrkB deletion on parvalbumin interneurons. Behav Brain Res 2019; 372:111984. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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19
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Minimum Information in In Vivo Research. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2019; 257:197-222. [PMID: 31541320 DOI: 10.1007/164_2019_285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Data quality, reproducibility and reliability are a matter of concern in many scientific fields including biomedical research. Robust, reproducible data and scientific rigour form the foundation on which future studies are built and determine the pace of knowledge gain and the time needed to develop new and innovative drugs that provide benefit to patients. Critical to the attainment of this is the precise and transparent reporting of data. In the current chapter, we will describe literature highlighting factors that constitute the minimum information that is needed to be included in the reporting of in vivo research. The main part of the chapter will focus on the minimum information that is essential for reporting in a scientific publication. In addition, we will present a table distinguishing information necessary to be recorded in a laboratory notebook or another form of internal protocols versus information that should be reported in a paper. We will use examples from the behavioural literature, in vivo studies where the use of anaesthetics and analgesics are used and finally ex vivo studies including histological evaluations and biochemical assays.
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Taitt KT, Kendall LV. Physiologic Stress of Ear Punch Identification Compared with Restraint Only in Mice. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE 2019; 58:438-442. [PMID: 31076022 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-18-000120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Social housing of laboratory rodents is recommended whenever possible to encourage natural behavior and social dynamics. Several identification methods are used to distinguish rodents from one another. One of the most common means of identifying mice is ear punching. The effect of ear punching for identification or genotyping on the welfare of mice remains a concern, because this method negatively affects welfare in other species. To assess the influence of ear punching on the welfare of mice, we implanted telemetry units in 6 female Swiss-Webster mice and monitored heart rate, body temperature, and activity after various routine procedures. The physiologic and behavioral responses to restraint (by scruffing) only, restraint and ear punching, and routine handling for husbandry were evaluated. The mean heart rate of mice after receiving an ear punch was significantly higher than baseline values at 30 min after the procedure, and the mean body temperature was significantly increased over baseline for at least 1 h. The heart rate, body temperature, and activity levels of mice after scruffing only and routine handling did not differ from baseline values. The proportion of time mice spent head grooming, a potentially nocifensive behavior, was increased immediately after ear punching and began to decline by 60 min. We show that the physiologic stress of mice receiving an ear punch was greater than that from restraint (scruffing) alone, whereas behavioral indices of pain were unchanged, suggesting that ear punching causes a transient response in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle T Taitt
- Laboratory Animal Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Lon V Kendall
- Laboratory Animal Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado;,
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Singh V, Kashyap S, Yadav U, Srivastava A, Singh AV, Singh RK, Singh SK, Saxena PS. Nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots demonstrate no toxicity under in vitro conditions in a cervical cell line and in vivo in Swiss albino mice. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2019; 8:395-406. [PMID: 31160973 DOI: 10.1039/c8tx00260f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and their derivatives have potential applications in the field of biomedical imaging. Toxicity is one of the critical parameters that can hamper their success in biological applications. In this context, our goal was to systematically investigate both in vivo and in vitro toxicity of nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs). In vivo toxic effects were evaluated for 30 days in Swiss albino mice at two different concentrations (5.0 mg per kg body weight (BW) and 10.0 mg per kg BW) of NCQDs. Results of haematological, serum biochemical, antioxidant and histopathological parameters showed no noteworthy defects at both of these concentrations. An in vitro assessment was performed against the human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa cells) at the concentration of 0-400 μg ml-1. The LDH profile, DNA fragmentation, apoptosis, and growth cycle of cells showed no apparent toxicity of NCQDs. The overall study offers highly biocompatible N-doped carbon quantum dots, which may be considered as an attractive material for future biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vimal Singh
- Department of Zoology , Institute of Science , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi-221005 , India . Tel: +919450593210 ;
| | - Sunayana Kashyap
- Department of Zoology , Institute of Science , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi-221005 , India . Tel: +919450593210 ;
| | - Umakant Yadav
- Department of Zoology , Institute of Science , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi-221005 , India . Tel: +919450593210 ;
| | - Anchal Srivastava
- Department of Physics , Institute of Science , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi-221005 , India
| | - Ajay Vikram Singh
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems , Heisenbergstr. 3 , Stuttgart , 70569 , Germany
| | - Rajesh Kumar Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery , Institute of Medical Science , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi-221005 , India
| | - Santosh Kumar Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery , Institute of Medical Science , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi-221005 , India
| | - Preeti S Saxena
- Department of Zoology , Institute of Science , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi-221005 , India . Tel: +919450593210 ;
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Lim MA, Defensor EB, Mechanic JA, Shah PP, Jaime EA, Roberts CR, Hutto DL, Schaevitz LR. Retrospective Analysis of the Effects of Identification Procedures and Cage Changing by Using Data from Automated, Continuous Monitoring. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE 2019; 58:126-141. [PMID: 30764898 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-18-000056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Many variables can influence animal behavior and physiology, potentially affecting scientific study outcomes. Laboratory and husbandry procedures-including handling, cage cleaning, injections, blood collection, and animal identification-may produce a multitude of effects. Previous studies have examined the effects of such procedures by making behavioral and physiologic measurements at specific time points; this approach can be disruptive and limits the frequency or duration of observations. Because these procedures can have both acute and long-term effects, the behavior and physiology of animals should be monitored continuously. We performed a retrospective data analysis on the effects of 2 routine procedures, animal identification and cage changing, on motion and breathing rates of mice continuously monitored in the home cage. Animal identification, specifically tail tattooing and ear tagging, as well as cage changing, produced distinct and reproducible postprocedural changes in spontaneous motion and breathing rate patterns. Behavioral and physiologic changes lasted approximately 2 d after tattooing or ear tagging and 2 to 4 d for cage changing. Furthermore, cage changes showed strain-, sex-, and time-of-day-dependent responses but not age-dependent differences. Finally, by reviewing data from a rodent model of multiple sclerosis as a retrospective case study, we documented that cage changing inadvertently affected experimental outcomes. In summary, we demonstrate how retrospective analysis of data collected continuously can provide high-throughput, meaningful, and longitudinal insights in to how animals respond to routine procedures.
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The role of the IACUC in ensuring research reproducibility. Lab Anim (NY) 2017; 46:129-135. [PMID: 28328872 DOI: 10.1038/laban.1213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
There is a "village" of people impacting research reproducibility, such as funding panels, the IACUC and its support staff, institutional leaders, investigators, veterinarians, animal facilities, and professional journals. IACUCs can contribute to research reproducibility by ensuring that reviews of animal use requests, program self-assessments and post-approval monitoring programs are sufficiently thorough, the animal model is appropriate for testing the hypothesis, animal care and use is conducted in a manner that is compliant with external and institutional requirements, and extraneous variables are minimized. The persons comprising the village also must have a shared vision that guards against reproducibility problems while simultaneously avoids being viewed as a burden to research. This review analyzes and discusses aspects of the IACUC's "must do" and "can do" activities that impact the ability of a study to be reproduced. We believe that the IACUC, with support from and when working synergistically with other entities in the village, can contribute to minimizing unintended research variables and strengthen research reproducibility.
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Abstract
If the scientist needs to contact the animal facility after any study to inquire about husbandry details, this represents a lost opportunity, which can ultimately interfere with the study results and their interpretation. There is a clear tendency for authors to describe methodological procedures down to the smallest detail, but at the same time to provide minimal information on animals and their husbandry. Controlling all major variables as far as possible is the key issue when establishing an experimental design. The other common mechanism affecting study results is a change in the variation. Factors causing bias or variation changes are also detectable within husbandry. Our lives and the lives of animals are governed by cycles: the seasons, the reproductive cycle, the weekend-working days, the cage change/room sanitation cycle, and the diurnal rhythm. Some of these may be attributable to routine husbandry, and the rest are cycles, which may be affected by husbandry procedures. Other issues to be considered are consequences of in-house transport, restrictions caused by caging, randomization of cage location, the physical environment inside the cage, the acoustic environment audible to animals, olfactory environment, materials in the cage, cage complexity, feeding regimens, kinship, and humans. Laboratory animal husbandry issues are an integral but underappreciated part of investigators' experimental design, which if ignored can cause major interference with the results. All researchers should familiarize themselves with the current routine animal care of the facility serving them, including their capabilities for the monitoring of biological and physicochemical environment.
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Skillings EA, Wood NI, Morton AJ. Beneficial effects of environmental enrichment and food entrainment in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease. Brain Behav 2014; 4:675-86. [PMID: 25328844 PMCID: PMC4107380 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Revised: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In addition to their cognitive and motor deficits, R6/2 mice show a progressive disintegration in circadian rhythms that mirrors the problems associated with sleep-wake disturbances experienced by patients with Huntington's disease (HD). It has been shown previously that motor and cognitive performance, as well as survival, can be improved in transgenic mouse models of HD through the provision of environmental enrichment. METHODS We compared the effect of two different overnight entrainment paradigms presented either separately or in combination. The first was environmental enrichment, the second was temporal food-entrainment. Environmental enrichment was provided in the dark period (the natural active period for mice) in the form of access to a Perspex playground containing running wheels, tunnels, climbing frame, ropes and chew blocks. Food entrainment was imposed by allowing access to food only during the dark period. We assessed a number of different aspects of function in the mice, measuring general health (by SHIRPA testing, body temperature and body weight measurements), cognitive performance in the touchscreen and locomotor behavior in the open field. RESULTS There were no significant differences in cognitive performance between groups on different schedules. Environmental enrichment delayed the onset of general health deterioration, while food entrainment slowed the loss of body weight, aided the maintenance of body temperature and improved locomotor behavior. Effects were limited however, and in combination had deleterious effects on survival. CONCLUSIONS Our results support previous studies showing that environmental enrichment can be beneficial and might be used to enhance the quality of life of HD patients. However, improvements are selective and 'enrichment' per se is likely to only be useful as an adjunct to a more direct therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Skillings
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Nigel I Wood
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
| | - A Jennifer Morton
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
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Duivenvoorde LPM, van Schothorst EM, Swarts HJM, Keijer J. Assessment of Metabolic Flexibility of Old and Adult Mice Using Three Noninvasive, Indirect Calorimetry-Based Treatments. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2014; 70:282-93. [DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glu027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Krauth D, Anglemyer A, Philipps R, Bero L. Nonindustry-sponsored preclinical studies on statins yield greater efficacy estimates than industry-sponsored studies: a meta-analysis. PLoS Biol 2014; 12:e1001770. [PMID: 24465178 PMCID: PMC3897361 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study by Lisa Bero and colleagues uses published preclinical statin research to show that nonindustry-funded animal studies yield more efficacious drug results than do industry-funded ones. Industry-sponsored clinical drug studies are associated with publication of outcomes that favor the sponsor, even when controlling for potential bias in the methods used. However, the influence of sponsorship bias has not been examined in preclinical animal studies. We performed a meta-analysis of preclinical statin studies to determine whether industry sponsorship is associated with either increased effect sizes of efficacy outcomes and/or risks of bias in a cohort of published preclinical statin studies. We searched Medline (January 1966–April 2012) and identified 63 studies evaluating the effects of statins on atherosclerosis outcomes in animals. Two coders independently extracted study design criteria aimed at reducing bias, results for all relevant outcomes, sponsorship source, and investigator financial ties. The I2 statistic was used to examine heterogeneity. We calculated the standardized mean difference (SMD) for each outcome and pooled data across studies to estimate the pooled average SMD using random effects models. In a priori subgroup analyses, we assessed statin efficacy by outcome measured, sponsorship source, presence or absence of financial conflict information, use of an optimal time window for outcome assessment, accounting for all animals, inclusion criteria, blinding, and randomization. The effect of statins was significantly larger for studies sponsored by nonindustry sources (−1.99; 95% CI −2.68, −1.31) versus studies sponsored by industry (−0.73; 95% CI −1.00, −0.47) (p value<0.001). Statin efficacy did not differ by disclosure of financial conflict information, use of an optimal time window for outcome assessment, accounting for all animals, inclusion criteria, blinding, and randomization. Possible reasons for the differences between nonindustry- and industry-sponsored studies, such as selective reporting of outcomes, require further study. Industry-sponsored clinical drug studies are associated with publication of outcomes that favor the sponsor, even when controlling for potential bias in the methods used. However, the influence of sponsorship bias has not been examined in preclinical animal studies. We performed a meta-analysis to identify whether industry sponsorship is associated with increased risks of bias or effect sizes of outcomes in a cohort of published preclinical studies of the effects of statins on outcomes related to atherosclerosis. We found that in contrast to clinical studies, the effect of statins was significantly larger for studies sponsored by nonindustry sources versus studies sponsored by industry. Furthermore, statin efficacy did not differ with respect to disclosure of financial conflict information, use of an optimal time window for outcome assessment, accounting for all animals, inclusion criteria, blinding, and randomization. Possible reasons for the differences between nonindustry- and industry-sponsored studies, such as selective outcome reporting, require further study. Overall, our findings provide empirical evidence regarding the impact of funding and other methodological criteria on research outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Krauth
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Andrew Anglemyer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Rose Philipps
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Lisa Bero
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Hoevenaars FPM, Bekkenkamp-Grovenstein M, Janssen RJRJ, Heil SG, Bunschoten A, Hoek-van den Hil EF, Snaas-Alders S, Teerds K, van Schothorst EM, Keijer J. Thermoneutrality results in prominent diet-induced body weight differences in C57BL/6J mice, not paralleled by diet-induced metabolic differences. Mol Nutr Food Res 2013; 58:799-807. [PMID: 24243645 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201300285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2013] [Revised: 08/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
SCOPE Mice are usually housed at 20-24 °C. At thermoneutrality (28 °C) larger diet-induced differences in obesity are seen. We tested whether this leads to large differences in metabolic health parameters. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed a 14-wk dietary intervention in C57BL/6J mice at 28 °C and assessed adiposity and metabolic health parameters for a semipurified low fat (10 energy%) diet and a moderate high fat (30 energy%) diet. A large and significant diet-induced differential increase in body weight, adipose tissue mass, adipocyte size, serum leptin level, and, to some extent, cholesterol level was observed. No adipose tissue inflammation was seen. No differential effect of the diets on serum glucose, free fatty acids, triacylglycerides, insulin, adiponectin, resistin, PAI-1, MMP-9, sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, sE-selectin, IL-6, ApoE, fibrinogen levels, or HOMA index was observed. Also in muscle no differential effect on mitochondrial density, mitochondrial respiratory control ratio, or mRNA expression of metabolic genes was found. Finally, in liver no differential effect on weight, triacylglycerides level, aconitase/citrate synthase activity ratio was seen. CONCLUSION Low fat diet and moderate high fat diet induce prominent body weight differences at thermoneutrality, which is not paralleled by metabolic differences. Our data rather suggest that thermoneutrality alters metabolic homeostasis.
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Krauth D, Woodruff TJ, Bero L. Instruments for assessing risk of bias and other methodological criteria of published animal studies: a systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2013; 121:985-92. [PMID: 23771496 PMCID: PMC3764080 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1206389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Results from animal toxicology studies are critical to evaluating the potential harm from exposure to environmental chemicals or the safety of drugs prior to human testing. However, there is significant debate about how to evaluate the methodology and potential biases of the animal studies. There is no agreed-upon approach, and a systematic evaluation of current best practices is lacking. OBJECTIVE We performed a systematic review to identify and evaluate instruments for assessing the risk of bias and/or other methodological criteria of animal studies. METHOD We searched Medline (January 1966-November 2011) to identify all relevant articles. We extracted data on risk of bias criteria (e.g., randomization, blinding, allocation concealment) and other study design features included in each assessment instrument. DISCUSSION Thirty distinct instruments were identified, with the total number of assessed risk of bias, methodological, and/or reporting criteria ranging from 2 to 25. The most common criteria assessed were randomization (25/30, 83%), investigator blinding (23/30, 77%), and sample size calculation (18/30, 60%). In general, authors failed to empirically justify why these or other criteria were included. Nearly all (28/30, 93%) of the instruments have not been rigorously tested for validity or reliability. CONCLUSION Our review highlights a number of risk of bias assessment criteria that have been empirically tested for animal research, including randomization, concealment of allocation, blinding, and accounting for all animals. In addition, there is a need for empirically testing additional methodological criteria and assessing the validity and reliability of a standard risk of bias assessment instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Krauth
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
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Olfaction and olfactory-mediated behaviour in psychiatric disease models. Cell Tissue Res 2013; 354:69-80. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-013-1617-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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