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Ratuski AS, Améndola L, Makowska IJ, Weary DM. Effects of temporary access to environmental enrichment on measures of laboratory mouse welfare. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15143. [PMID: 38956228 PMCID: PMC11219853 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65480-9] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Laboratory mice are typically housed in "shoebox" cages with limited opportunities to engage in natural behaviour. Temporary access to environments with increased space and complexity (playpens) may improve mouse welfare. Previous work by our group has shown that mice are motivated to access and use these environments, but it is unknown how other aspects of welfare are impacted. Female C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, and DBA/2J mice (n = 21; 7 mice per strain) were housed in mixed-strain trios and given temporary access to a large playpen with their cage mates three times per week. Control mice (n = 21; 7 mice per strain) remained in their home cages. Home cage behaviour (development of stereotypic behaviour over time, aggression following cage-changing) and anxiety tests were used to assess how playpen access impacted welfare. Contrary to our predictions, we found increased time spent performing stereotypies in playpen mice; this difference may be related to negative emotional states, increased motivation to escape the home cage, or active coping strategies. Playpen access resulted in strain-dependent improvements in aggression and some measures of anxiety. Aggression was lower for C57BL/6J mice in the playpen treatment following cage changing than it was for C57BL/6J control mice, while playpen mice, and particularly the C57BL/6J strain, spent more time in the center of the open field test and produced fewer fecal boli during anxiety testing, supporting other research showing that strain differences play an important role in behaviour and stress resiliency.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Ratuski
- UBC Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - L Améndola
- UBC Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - I J Makowska
- UBC Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - D M Weary
- UBC Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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Schmitt O, Finnegan E, Trevarthen A, Wongsaengchan C, Paul ES, Mendl M, Fureix C. Exploring the similarities between risk factors triggering depression in humans and elevated in-cage "inactive but awake" behavior in laboratory mice. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1348928. [PMID: 38605924 PMCID: PMC11008528 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1348928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Depression is a human mental disorder that can also be inferred in non-human animals. This study explored whether time spent inactive but awake ("IBA") in the home-cage in mice was further triggered by risk factors similar to those increasing vulnerability to depression in humans (early life stress, genetic predispositions, adulthood stress). Methods Eighteen DBA/2 J and 18 C57BL/6 J females were tested, of which half underwent as pups a daily maternal separation on post-natal days 2-14 (early-life stress "ELS") (other half left undisturbed). To assess the effect of the procedure, the time the dams from which the 18 subjects were born spent active in the nest (proxy for maternal behavior) was recorded on post-natal days 2, 6, 10 and 14 for 1 h before separation and following reunion (matched times for controls), using live instantaneous scan sampling (total: 96 scans/dam). For each ELS condition, about half of the pups were housed post-weaning (i.e., from 27 days old on average) in either barren (triggering IBA and depression-like symptoms) or larger, highly enriched cages (n = 4-5 per group). Time mice spent IBA post-weaning was observed blind to ELS treatment using live instantaneous scan sampling in two daily 90-min blocks, two days/week, for 6 weeks (total: 192 scans/mouse). Data were analyzed in R using generalized linear mixed models. Results The dams were significantly more active in the nest over time (p = 0.016), however with no significant difference between strains (p = 0.18), ELS conditions (p = 0.20) and before/after separation (p = 0.83). As predicted, post-weaning barren cages triggered significantly more time spent IBA in mice than enriched cages (p < 0.0001). However, neither ELS (p = 0.4) nor strain (p = 0.84) significantly influenced time mice spent IBA, with no significant interaction with environmental condition (ELS × environment: p = 0.2861; strain × environment: p = 0.5713). Discussion Our results therefore only partly support the hypothesis that greater time spent IBA in mice is triggered by risk factors for human depression. We discuss possible explanations for this and further research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Carole Fureix
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Bohn L, Bierbaum L, Kästner N, von Kortzfleisch VT, Kaiser S, Sachser N, Richter SH. Structural enrichment for laboratory mice: exploring the effects of novelty and complexity. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1207332. [PMID: 37841462 PMCID: PMC10570735 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1207332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Providing structural enrichment is a widespread refinement method for laboratory rodents and other animals in captivity. So far, animal welfare research has mostly focused on the effect of increased complexity either by accumulating or combining different enrichment items. However, increasing complexity is not the only possibility to refine housing conditions. Another refinement option is to increase novelty by regularly exchanging known enrichment items with new ones. In the present study, we used pair-housed non-breeding female C57BL/6J and DBA/2N mice to investigate the effect of novelty when applying structural enrichment. We used a double cage system, in which one cage served as home cage and the other as extra cage. While the home cage was furnished in the same way for all mice, in the extra cage we either provided only space with no additional enrichment items (space), a fixed set of enrichment items (complexity), or a changing set of enrichment items (novelty). Over 5 weeks, we assessed spontaneous behaviors, body weight, and extra cage usage as indicators of welfare and preference. Our main results showed that mice with access to structurally enriched extra cages (complexity and novelty) spent more time in their extra cages and complexity mice had lower latencies to enter their extra cages than mice with access to the extra cages without any structural enrichment (space). This indicates that the mice preferred the structurally enriched extra cages over the structurally non-enriched space cages. We found only one statistically significant difference between the novelty and complexity condition: during week 3, novelty mice spent more time in their extra cages than complexity mice. Although we did not detect any other significant differences between the novelty and complexity condition in the present study, more research is required to further explore the potential benefits of novelty beyond complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Bohn
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Louisa Bierbaum
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Niklas Kästner
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Norbert Sachser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - S. Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Münster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Barabas AJ, Soini HA, Novotny MV, Lucas JR, Erasmus MA, Cheng HW, Palme R, Gaskill BN. Assessing the effect of compounds from plantar foot sweat, nesting material, and urine on social behavior in male mice, Mus musculus. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276844. [PMID: 36322597 PMCID: PMC9629637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Home cage aggression causes poor welfare in male laboratory mice and reduces data quality. One of the few proven strategies to reduce aggression involves preserving used nesting material at cage change. Volatile organic compounds from the nesting material and several body fluids not only correlate with less home cage aggression, but with more affiliative allo-grooming behavior. To date, these compounds have not been tested for a direct influence on male mouse social behavior. This study aimed to determine if 4 previously identified volatile compounds impact home cage interactions. A factorial design was used with cages equally split between C57BL/6N and SJL male mice (N = 40). Treatments were randomly assigned across cages and administered by spraying one compound solution on each cage's nesting material. Treatments were refreshed after day 3 and during cage change on day 7. Home cage social behavior was observed throughout the study week and immediately after cage change. Several hours after cage change, feces were collected from individual mice to measure corticosterone metabolites as an index of social stress. Wound severity was also assessed after euthanasia. Measures were analyzed with mixed models. Compound treatments did not impact most study measures. For behavior, SJL mice performed more aggression and submission, and C57BL/6N mice performed more allo-grooming. Wound severity was highest in the posterior region of both strains, and the middle back region of C57BL/6N mice. Posterior wounding also increased with more observed aggression. Corticosterone metabolites were higher in C57BL/6N mice and in mice treated with 3,4-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione with more wounding. These data confirm previous strain patterns in social behavior and further validates wound assessment as a measure of escalated aggression. The lack of observed treatment effects could be due to limitations in the compound administration procedure and/or the previous correlation study, which is further discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J. Barabas
- Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Helena A. Soini
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Milos V. Novotny
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey R. Lucas
- Department of Biological Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Marisa A. Erasmus
- Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Heng-Wei Cheng
- USDA-ARS, Livestock Behavior Research Unit, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Experimental Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Brianna N. Gaskill
- Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
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MacLellan A, Nazal B, Young L, Mason G. Waking inactivity as a welfare indicator in laboratory mice: investigating postures, facial expressions and depression-like states. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022. [PMID: 36340516 DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6251130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Animal welfare assessment relies on valid and practical indicators of affect. In mice, the most widely used research vertebrates, lying still with eyes open, inactive-but-awake (IBA) in the home cage, has potential to be one such indicator. IBA is elevated in barren, conventional housing compared with well-resourced, enriched housing, and predicts immobility in Forced Swim Tests, a common measure of 'helplessness' in depression research. In Experiment 1, using females from three strains (C57BL/6, Balb/c and DBA/2), we first replicated past findings, confirming higher levels of IBA in conventional cages and a positive relationship between IBA and helplessness. We then extended this research to three other signs of depression: changes in weight and sleep, and reduced hippocampal volume. Here, IBA positively covaried with body mass index, with sleep in DBA/2s and conventionally housed BALB/cs, and negatively covaried with hippocampal volume in conventionally housed C57BL/6s. In Experiment 2, we sought to refine the phenotype of IBA to improve its accuracy as a welfare indicator. Here, scoring IBA performed in hunched postures appeared to improve its accuracy as an indicator in Balb/c mice. Additional research is now needed to further refine the phenotype of IBA and to confirm whether it reflects states consistent with depression, or instead other underlying poor welfare conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen MacLellan
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Basma Nazal
- Formerly Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Lauren Young
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Georgia Mason
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
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MacLellan A, Nazal B, Young L, Mason G. Waking inactivity as a welfare indicator in laboratory mice: investigating postures, facial expressions and depression-like states. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:221083. [PMID: 36340516 PMCID: PMC9627452 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Animal welfare assessment relies on valid and practical indicators of affect. In mice, the most widely used research vertebrates, lying still with eyes open, inactive-but-awake (IBA) in the home cage, has potential to be one such indicator. IBA is elevated in barren, conventional housing compared with well-resourced, enriched housing, and predicts immobility in Forced Swim Tests, a common measure of 'helplessness' in depression research. In Experiment 1, using females from three strains (C57BL/6, Balb/c and DBA/2), we first replicated past findings, confirming higher levels of IBA in conventional cages and a positive relationship between IBA and helplessness. We then extended this research to three other signs of depression: changes in weight and sleep, and reduced hippocampal volume. Here, IBA positively covaried with body mass index, with sleep in DBA/2s and conventionally housed BALB/cs, and negatively covaried with hippocampal volume in conventionally housed C57BL/6s. In Experiment 2, we sought to refine the phenotype of IBA to improve its accuracy as a welfare indicator. Here, scoring IBA performed in hunched postures appeared to improve its accuracy as an indicator in Balb/c mice. Additional research is now needed to further refine the phenotype of IBA and to confirm whether it reflects states consistent with depression, or instead other underlying poor welfare conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen MacLellan
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Basma Nazal
- Formerly Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Lauren Young
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Georgia Mason
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
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Russell A, Copio JN, Shi Y, Kang S, Franklin CL, Ericsson AC. Reduced housing density improves statistical power of murine gut microbiota studies. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110783. [PMID: 35545042 PMCID: PMC9161176 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome of humans and animals is critical to host health. Mice are used to investigate the microbiome and its influences; however, the predictive value of such studies is hindered by cage effects due to coprophagy. Our objectives were to evaluate the influence of cage density on the statistical power to detect treatment-dependent effects of a selective pressure on microbiome composition. C57BL/6 mice were separated into groups of 2 or 4 mice per cage and then assigned to groups receiving enrofloxacin, broad-spectrum antibiotics, or control. Fecal samples were collected at weeks 0, 1, and 4, along with contents of the jejunum and cecum. Bacterial DNA analysis examined microbiome richness, diversity, and variability within and between cages. Statistical analyses reveal that reduced housing density consistently results in comparable susceptibility to antibiotics, reduced cage effects, and increased statistical power to detect treatment-associated effects, justifying the practice of reduced housing density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Russell
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Joanna N Copio
- College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Yushu Shi
- Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201 USA
| | - Sumin Kang
- Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201 USA
| | - Craig L Franklin
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; University of Missouri Metagenomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201 USA; Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201 USA
| | - Aaron C Ericsson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; University of Missouri Metagenomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201 USA; Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201 USA.
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Mindus C, van Staaveren N, Fuchs D, Gostner JM, Kjaer JB, Kunze W, Mian MF, Shoveller AK, Forsythe P, Harlander-Matauschek A. Regulatory T Cell Modulation by Lactobacillus rhamnosus Improves Feather Damage in Chickens. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:855261. [PMID: 35478602 PMCID: PMC9036099 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.855261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It is currently unclear whether potential probiotics such as lactic acid bacteria could affect behavioral problems in birds. To this end, we assessed whether a supplementation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1 can reduce stress-induced severe feather pecking (SFP), feather damage and fearfulness in adult birds kept for egg laying. In parallel, we assessed SFP genotypic and phenotypic-related immune responses and aromatic amino acid status linked to neurotransmitter production. Social stress aggravated plumage damage, while L. rhamnosus treatment improved the birds' feather cover in non-stressed birds, but did not impact fearfulness. Our data demonstrate the significant impact of L. rhamnosus supplementation on the immune system. L. rhamnosus supplementation induced immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and cytotoxic T cells in both the cecal tonsils and the spleen. Birds exhibiting the SFP phenotype possessed lower levels of cecal tonsils regulatory T cells, splenic T helper cells and a lower TRP:(PHE+TYR). Together, these results suggest that bacteria may have beneficial effects on the avian immune response and may be useful therapeutic adjuncts to counteract SFP and plumage damage, thus increasing animal health and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Mindus
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Nienke van Staaveren
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Dietmar Fuchs
- Biocenter, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johanna M. Gostner
- Biocenter, Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Joergen B. Kjaer
- Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Celle, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kunze
- Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph's Healthcare, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - M. Firoz Mian
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Anna K. Shoveller
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Paul Forsythe
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Alexandra Harlander-Matauschek
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Alexandra Harlander-Matauschek
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Blenkuš U, Gerós AF, Carpinteiro C, Aguiar PDC, Olsson IAS, Franco NH. Non-Invasive Assessment of Mild Stress-Induced Hyperthermia by Infrared Thermography in Laboratory Mice. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:177. [PMID: 35049799 PMCID: PMC8773026 DOI: 10.3390/ani12020177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) is a physiological response to acute stressors in mammals, shown as an increase in core body temperature, with redirection of blood flow from the periphery to vital organs. Typical temperature assessment methods for rodents are invasive and can themselves elicit SIH, affecting the readout. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a promising non-invasive alternative, if shown to accurately identify and quantify SIH. We used in-house developed software ThermoLabAnimal 2.0 to automatically detect and segment different body regions, to assess mean body (Tbody) and mean tail (Ttail) surface temperatures by IRT, along with temperature (Tsc) assessed by reading of subcutaneously implanted PIT-tags, during handling-induced stress of pair-housed C57BL/6J and BALB/cByJ mice of both sexes (N = 68). SIH was assessed during 10 days of daily handling (DH) performed twice per day, weekly voluntary interaction tests (VIT) and an elevated plus maze (EPM) at the end. To assess the discrimination value of IRT, we compared SIH between tail-picked and tunnel-handled animals, and between mice receiving an anxiolytic drug or vehicle prior to the EPM. During a 30 to 60 second stress exposure, Tsc and Tbody increased significantly (p < 0.001), while Ttail (p < 0.01) decreased. We did not find handling-related differences. Within each cage, mice tested last consistently showed significantly higher (p < 0.001) Tsc and Tbody and lower (p < 0.001) Ttail than mice tested first, possibly due to higher anticipatory stress in the latter. Diazepam-treated mice showed lower Tbody and Tsc, consistent with reduced anxiety. In conclusion, our results suggest that IRT can identify and quantify stress in mice, either as a stand-alone parameter or complementary to other methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urša Blenkuš
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Campus, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK;
- Laboratory Animal Science, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Ana Filipa Gerós
- Neuroengineering and Computational Neuroscience Group, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (A.F.G.); (C.C.); (P.d.C.A.)
- FEUP—Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristiana Carpinteiro
- Neuroengineering and Computational Neuroscience Group, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (A.F.G.); (C.C.); (P.d.C.A.)
| | - Paulo de Castro Aguiar
- Neuroengineering and Computational Neuroscience Group, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (A.F.G.); (C.C.); (P.d.C.A.)
| | - I. Anna S. Olsson
- Laboratory Animal Science, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Nuno Henrique Franco
- Laboratory Animal Science, i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
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Fureix C, Trevarthen AC, Finnegan EM, Bučková K, Paul ES, Mendl MT. Do greater levels of in-cage waking inactivity in laboratory mice reflect a spontaneous depression-like symptom? A pharmacological investigation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 212:173311. [PMID: 34863797 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We previously identified in laboratory mice an inactive state [being awake with eyes open motionless within the home cage; inactive but awake, 'IBA'] sharing etiological factors and symptoms with human clinical depression. We further test the hypothesis that greater time spent displaying IBA indicates a depression-like state in mice by investigating whether the antidepressant Venlafaxine, environmental enrichment, and their combination, alleviate IBA. Seventy-two C57BL/6J and 72 DBA/2J female mice were pseudo-randomly housed post-weaning in mixed strain-pairs in non-enriched (NE; 48 pairs) or in environmentally enriched (EE; 24 pairs) cages. After 34 days, half of the mice housed in NE cages were either relocated to EE cages or left in NE cages. For each of these conditions, half of the mice drank either a placebo or the antidepressant Venlafaxine (10 mg/kg). The 48 mice housed in EE cages were all relocated to NE cages and allocated to either the placebo (n = 24) or Venlafaxine (n = 24). IBA data were collected prior to and after environmental adjustment by trained observers blind to the pharmacological and environmental adjustment treatments. Data were analyzed using GLM models. NE cages triggered more IBA than EE cages (Likelihood-Ratio-Test Chi23 = 53.501, p < 0.0001). Venlafaxine and environmental enrichment appeared equally effective at reducing IBA (LRT Chi23 = 18.262, p < 0.001), and combining these approaches did not magnify their effects. Enrichment removal triggered IBA increase (LRT Chi21 = 23.050, p < 0.001), but Venlafaxine did not overcome the increase in IBA resulting from enrichment loss (LTR Chi21 = 0.081, p = 0.775). Theoretical implications for putative depression-like states in mice, and further research directions, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Fureix
- University of Bristol, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, United Kingdom.
| | - Anna C Trevarthen
- University of Bristol, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, United Kingdom.
| | - Emily M Finnegan
- University of Bristol, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, United Kingdom.
| | - Katarína Bučková
- University of Bristol, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth S Paul
- University of Bristol, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, United Kingdom.
| | - Michael T Mendl
- University of Bristol, Bristol Veterinary School, Langford House, Langford BS40 5DU, United Kingdom.
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12
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Ratuski AS, Makowska IJ, Dvorack KR, Weary DM. Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18683. [PMID: 34548608 PMCID: PMC8455539 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98356-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory mice are typically housed in “shoebox" cages that limit the expression of natural behaviours. Temporary access to more complex environments (playpens) may improve their welfare. We aimed to assess if access to playpens is rewarding for conventionally-housed mice and to document mouse behaviour during playpen access. Female C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, and DBA/2J mice were provided temporary access to a large enriched playpen three times per week; control mice remained in their home cages. We measured latency to enter playpens and anticipatory behaviour to determine if access was rewarding, and recorded mouse behaviour during playpen sessions. Over time, playpen mice entered the playpen more quickly; latency declined from 168 ± 22 to 13 ± 2 s over the 14-d trial. As expected, playpen mice showed an increase in anticipatory behaviour before playpen access (mean ± SE = 19.7 ± 2.6 behavioural transitions), while control mice showed no change in anticipatory behaviour relative to baseline values (2.4 ± 1.6 transitions). Mice in the playpen performed more ambulatory behaviours than control mice who remained in home cages (21.5 ± 0.7 vs 6.9 ± 1.1 observations of 25 total observations). We conclude that conventionally-housed mice find voluntary playpen access rewarding, and suggest this as a useful option for providing laboratory mice with access to more complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Ratuski
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z6, Canada.
| | - I Joanna Makowska
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z6, Canada
| | - Kaitlyn R Dvorack
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z6, Canada
| | - Daniel M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z6, Canada
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13
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Resasco A, MacLellan A, Ayala MA, Kitchenham L, Edwards AM, Lam S, Dejardin S, Mason G. Cancer blues? A promising judgment bias task indicates pessimism in nude mice with tumors. Physiol Behav 2021; 238:113465. [PMID: 34029586 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In humans, affective states can bias responses to ambiguous information: a phenomenon termed judgment bias (JB). Judgment biases have great potential for assessing affective states in animals, in both animal welfare and biomedical research. New animal JB tasks require construct validation, but for laboratory mice (Mus musculus), the most common research vertebrate, a valid JB task has proved elusive. Here (Experiment 1), we demonstrate construct validity for a novel mouse JB test: an olfactory Go/Go task in which subjects dig for high- or low-value food rewards. In C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice faced with ambiguous cues, latencies to dig were sensitive to high/low welfare housing: environmentally-enriched animals responded with relative 'optimism' through shorter latencies. Illustrating the versatility of this validated JB task across different fields of research, it further allowed us to test hypotheses about the mood-altering effects of cancer in male and female nude mice (Experiment 2). Males, although not females, treated ambiguous cues as intermediate; and males bearing subcutaneous lung adenocarcinomas also responded more pessimistically to these than did healthy controls. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of a valid mouse JB task, and the first demonstration of pessimism in tumor-bearing animals. This task still needs to be refined to improve its sensitivity. However, it has great potential for investigating mouse welfare, the links between affective state and disease, depression-like states in animals, and hypotheses regarding the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie affect-mediated biases in judgment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Resasco
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, National Scientific and Technical Research Council-University of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratory of Experimental Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - A MacLellan
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - M A Ayala
- Laboratory of Experimental Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - L Kitchenham
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - A M Edwards
- Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - S Lam
- Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - S Dejardin
- Formerly Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - G Mason
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada.
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Bodden C, Wewer M, Kästner N, Palme R, Kaiser S, Sachser N, Richter SH. Not all mice are alike: Mixed-strain housing alters social behaviour. Physiol Behav 2020; 228:113220. [PMID: 33122091 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The use of millions of mice in scientific studies worldwide emphasises the continuing need for a reduction of sample sizes, however, not at the expense of scientific validity. Split-plot designs have been suggested to enhance statistical power while allowing a reduction of animal numbers in comparison to traditional experimental designs. Recently, a promising approach of a split-plot design has been implemented and proven useful using mixed-strain housing of at least three different mouse strains. However, the impact of co-housing different strains of mice in one cage on animal welfare has still to be defined. This study aimed at comparing the effects of mixed-strain and same-strain housing of female C57BL/6J and DBA/2N mice on welfare and behaviour in two experimental phases. In a first phase, mice were housed in either mixed- or same-strain pairs. Home cage behaviour, activity rhythm, body weight, and faecal corticosterone metabolites were assessed. Furthermore, tests for anxiety-like and exploratory behaviour as well as spatial learning were performed. In a second phase, sociability was investigated in newly formed mixed-strain quartets. Mixed-strain housing did not induce alterations in anxiety, locomotion, learning, stereotypic behaviour, and stress hormone levels. However, changes in social behaviours and activity rhythm were observed. Increased agonistic and decreased socio-positive behaviours might point towards mild impacts on welfare in C57BL/6J mice under co-housing conditions. Altogether, scientific research may greatly benefit from co-housing mice of different strains within the same cages (e.g. for the realisation of a split-plot design), provided that strains are carefully selected for compatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Bodden
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Maximilian Wewer
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Niklas Kästner
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Norbert Sachser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany; Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
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15
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Basson AR, LaSalla A, Lam G, Kulpins D, Moen EL, Sundrud MS, Miyoshi J, Ilic S, Theriault BR, Cominelli F, Rodriguez-Palacios A. Artificial microbiome heterogeneity spurs six practical action themes and examples to increase study power-driven reproducibility. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5039. [PMID: 32193395 PMCID: PMC7081340 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60900-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
With >70,000 yearly publications using mouse data, mouse models represent the best engrained research system to address numerous biological questions across all fields of science. Concerns of poor study and microbiome reproducibility also abound in the literature. Despite the well-known, negative-effects of data clustering on interpretation and study power, it is unclear why scientists often house >4 mice/cage during experiments, instead of ≤2. We hypothesized that this high animal-cage-density practice abounds in published literature because more mice/cage could be perceived as a strategy to reduce housing costs. Among other sources of 'artificial' confounding, including cyclical oscillations of the 'dirty-cage/excrement microbiome', we ranked by priority the heterogeneity of modern husbandry practices/perceptions across three professional organizations that we surveyed in the USA. Data integration (scoping-reviews, professional-surveys, expert-opinion, and 'implementability-score-statistics') identified Six-Actionable Recommendation Themes (SART) as a framework to re-launch emerging protocols and intuitive statistical strategies to use/increase study power. 'Cost-vs-science' discordance was a major aspect explaining heterogeneity, and scientists' reluctance to change. With a 'housing-density cost-calculator-simulator' and fully-annotated statistical examples/code, this themed-framework streamlines the rapid analysis of cage-clustered-data and promotes the use of 'study-power-statistics' to self-monitor the success/reproducibility of basic and translational research. Examples are provided to help scientists document analysis for study power-based sample size estimations using preclinical mouse data to support translational clinical trials, as requested in NIH/similar grants or publications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail R Basson
- Division of Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Digestive Health Research Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Alexandria LaSalla
- Division of Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Gretchen Lam
- Division of Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Danielle Kulpins
- Division of Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Erika L Moen
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Mark S Sundrud
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Jun Miyoshi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sanja Ilic
- Department of Human Sciences and Nutrition, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Fabio Cominelli
- Division of Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Digestive Health Research Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Mouse Models Core, Silvio O'Conte Cleveland Digestive Diseases Research Core Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Germ-free and Gut Microbiome Core, Digestive Health Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios
- Division of Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Digestive Health Research Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Mouse Models Core, Silvio O'Conte Cleveland Digestive Diseases Research Core Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
- Germ-free and Gut Microbiome Core, Digestive Health Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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16
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Nip E, Adcock A, Nazal B, MacLellan A, Niel L, Choleris E, Levison L, Mason G. Why are enriched mice nice? Investigating how environmental enrichment reduces agonism in female C57BL/6, DBA/2, and BALB/c mice. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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17
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Bodden C, von Kortzfleisch VT, Karwinkel F, Kaiser S, Sachser N, Richter SH. Heterogenising study samples across testing time improves reproducibility of behavioural data. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8247. [PMID: 31160667 PMCID: PMC6547843 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44705-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing debate on the reproducibility crisis in the life sciences highlights the need for a rethinking of current methodologies. Since the trend towards ever more standardised experiments is at risk of causing highly idiosyncratic results, an alternative approach has been suggested to improve the robustness of findings, particularly from animal experiments. This concept, referred to as "systematic heterogenisation", postulates increased external validity and hence, improved reproducibility by introducing variation systematically into a single experiment. However, the implementation of this concept in practice requires the identification of suitable heterogenisation factors. Here we show that the time of day at which experiments are conducted has a significant impact on the reproducibility of behavioural differences between two mouse strains, C57BL/6J and DBA/2N. Specifically, we found remarkably varying strain effects on anxiety, exploration, and learning, depending on the testing time, i.e. morning, noon or afternoon. In a follow-up simulation approach, we demonstrate that the systematic inclusion of two different testing times significantly improved reproducibility between replicate experiments. Our results emphasise the potential of time as an effective and easy-to-handle heterogenisation factor for single-laboratory studies. Its systematic variation likely improves reproducibility of research findings and hence contributes to a fundamental issue of experimental design and conduct in laboratory animal science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Bodden
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Vanessa Tabea von Kortzfleisch
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Fabian Karwinkel
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Norbert Sachser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany. .,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
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18
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A comparison of two types of running wheel in terms of mouse preference, health, and welfare. Physiol Behav 2018; 191:82-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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19
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Oliveira ACB, Morais TFL, Bernal C, Martins VCA, Plepis AMG, Menezes PFC, Perussi JR. Red light accelerates the formation of a human dermal equivalent. J Biomater Appl 2018; 32:1265-1275. [DOI: 10.1177/0885328218759385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna CB Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades Bioengenharia - EESC/FMRP/IQSC, Universidade São Paulo-São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Thayz FL Morais
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades Bioengenharia - EESC/FMRP/IQSC, Universidade São Paulo-São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia Bernal
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo-São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Virginia CA Martins
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo-São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Ana MG Plepis
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades Bioengenharia - EESC/FMRP/IQSC, Universidade São Paulo-São Carlos-SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo-São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Priscila FC Menezes
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo-São Carlos-SP, Brazil
| | - Janice R Perussi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades Bioengenharia - EESC/FMRP/IQSC, Universidade São Paulo-São Carlos-SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo-São Carlos-SP, Brazil
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20
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Bailoo JD, Murphy E, Varholick JA, Novak J, Palme R, Würbel H. Evaluation of the effects of space allowance on measures of animal welfare in laboratory mice. Sci Rep 2018; 8:713. [PMID: 29335423 PMCID: PMC5768730 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18493-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied how space allowance affects measures of animal welfare in mice by systematically varying group size and cage type across three levels each in both males and females of two strains of mice (C57BL/6ByJ and BALB/cByJ; n = 216 cages, a total of 1152 mice). This allowed us to disentangle the effects of total floor area, group size, stocking density, and individual space allocation on a broad range of measures of welfare, including growth (food and water intake, body mass); stress physiology (glucocorticoid metabolites in faecal boli); emotionality (open field behaviour); brain function (recurrent perseveration in a two-choice guessing task); and home-cage behaviour (activity, stereotypic behaviour). While increasing group size was associated with a decrease in food and water intake in general, and more specifically with increased attrition due to escalated aggression in male BALB mice, no other consistent effects of any aspect of space allowance were found with respect to the measures studied here. Our results indicate that within the range of conditions commonly found in laboratory mouse housing, space allowance as such has little impact on measures of welfare, except for group size which may be a risk factor for escalating aggression in males of some strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy D Bailoo
- Division of Animal Welfare, University of Bern, Bern, CH, Switzerland.
| | - Eimear Murphy
- Division of Animal Welfare, University of Bern, Bern, CH, Switzerland
| | | | - Janja Novak
- Division of Animal Welfare, University of Bern, Bern, CH, Switzerland
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, AT, Austria
| | - Hanno Würbel
- Division of Animal Welfare, University of Bern, Bern, CH, Switzerland
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21
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Walker M, Mason G. Using mildly electrified grids to impose costs on resource access: A potential tool for assessing motivation in laboratory mice. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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22
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Systematic heterogenization for better reproducibility in animal experimentation. Lab Anim (NY) 2017; 46:343-349. [DOI: 10.1038/laban.1330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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23
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Introducing Therioepistemology: the study of how knowledge is gained from animal research. Lab Anim (NY) 2017; 46:103-113. [PMID: 28328885 DOI: 10.1038/laban.1224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
This focus issue of Lab Animal coincides with a tipping point in biomedical research. For the first time, the scale of the reproducibility and translatability crisis is widely understood beyond the small cadre of researchers who have been studying it and the pharmaceutical and biotech companies who have been living it. Here we argue that an emerging literature, including the papers in this focus issue, has begun to congeal around a set of recurring themes, which themselves represent a paradigm shift. This paradigm shift can be characterized at the micro level as a shift from asking "what have we controlled for in this model?" to asking "what have we chosen to ignore in this model, and at what cost?" At the macro level, it is a shift from viewing animals as tools (the furry test tube), to viewing them as patients in an equivalent human medical study. We feel that we are witnessing the birth of a new discipline, which we term Therioepistemology, or the study of how knowledge is gained from animal research. In this paper, we outline six questions that serve as a heuristic for critically evaluating animal-based biomedical research from a therioepistemological perspective. These six questions sketch out the broad reaches of this new discipline, though they may change or be added to as this field evolves. Ultimately, by formalizing therioepistemology as a discipline, we can begin to discuss best practices that will improve the reproducibility and translatability of animal-based research, with concomitant benefits in terms of human health and animal well-being.
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24
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Boltze J, Nitzsche F, Jolkkonen J, Weise G, Pösel C, Nitzsche B, Wagner DC. Concise Review: Increasing the Validity of Cerebrovascular Disease Models and Experimental Methods for Translational Stem Cell Research. Stem Cells 2017; 35:1141-1153. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.2595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Boltze
- Department of Translational Medicine and Cell Technology; Fraunhofer Research Institution for Marine Biotechnology and Cell Technology; Lübeck Germany
- Institute for Medical and Marine Biotechnology, University of Lübeck; Lübeck Germany
| | - Franziska Nitzsche
- Department of Cell Therapy; Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology; Leipzig Germany
- Department of Radiology; McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania USA
| | - Jukka Jolkkonen
- Department of Neurology; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland; Kuopio Finland
| | - Gesa Weise
- Department of Cell Therapy; Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology; Leipzig Germany
- Department of Neurology; University of Leipzig; Germany
| | - Claudia Pösel
- Department of Cell Therapy; Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology; Leipzig Germany
| | - Björn Nitzsche
- Department of Cell Therapy; Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology; Leipzig Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine; University Hospital Leipzig; Germany
| | - Daniel-Christoph Wagner
- Department of Cell Therapy; Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology; Leipzig Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Mainz; Germany
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25
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Fureix C, Walker M, Harper L, Reynolds K, Saldivia-Woo A, Mason G. Stereotypic behaviour in standard non-enriched cages is an alternative to depression-like responses in C57BL/6 mice. Behav Brain Res 2016; 305:186-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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