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Vazquez-Gonzalez KI, Ochoa-Brust A, Rodriguez-Hernandez A, Ventura-Cisneros H, Lino-Lopez GJ, Barbosa-Valdovinos R, Rodriguez-Vazquez A, Vazquez-Vuelvas OF, Felix RA, Jiménez-Vargas JM, Melnikov V, Valdez-Velazquez LL. Cardiac alterations induced by Heloderma horridum horridum venom in rats: An experimental study with ECG analysis using a linear regression algorithm. Toxicon 2024; 249:108062. [PMID: 39127082 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.108062] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Envenomation by reptile venom, particularly from lizards, poses significant health risks and can lead to physiological and cardiovascular changes. The venom of Heloderma horridum horridum, endemic to Colima, Mexico, was tested on Wistar rats. Electrocardiographic (ECG) data were collected pre-treatment and at 5-min intervals for 1 h post-envenomation. A specially designed computational linear regression algorithm (LRA) was used for the segmentation analysis of the ECG data to improve the detection of fiducial points (P, Q, R, S, and T) in ECG waves. Additionally, heart tissue was analyzed for macroscopic and microscopic changes. The results revealed significant electrocardiographic alterations, including pacemaker migration, junctional extrasystoles, and intraventricular conduction aberrations. By applying a linear regression algorithm, the study compensated for noise and anomalies in the isoelectric line in an ECG signal, improving the detection of P and T waves and the QRS complex with an efficiency of 97.5%. Cardiac enzyme evaluation indicated no statistically significant differences between the control and experimental groups. Macroscopic and microscopic examination revealed no apparent signs of damage or inflammatory responses in heart tissues. This study enhances our understanding of the cardiovascular impact of Heloderma venom, suggesting a greater influence on changes in conduction and arrhythmias than on direct cardiac damage to the myocardium.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alberto Ochoa-Brust
- Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica Eléctrica, Universidad de Colima, Kilometro 9 Carretera Colima-Coquimatlan, Coquimatlan, Colima, 28400, Mexico
| | | | - Hugo Ventura-Cisneros
- Clinica ISSTE Hospital Dr. Miguel Trejo Ochoa. Calle Ignacio Sandoval 867, Lomas de Circunvalación, 28010, Colima, Colima, Mexico
| | - Gisela Jareth Lino-Lopez
- Centro Nacional de Referencia de Control Biológico, Dirección General de Sanidad Vegetal SENASICA SADER, Colima, 28110, Mexico
| | | | - Armando Rodriguez-Vazquez
- Unidad de Manejo para el Aprovechamiento de la Vida Silvestre en el Parque del "Palapo" Domicilio Conocido P-75 Agua Zarca, Coquimatlan, 28400, Mexico
| | - Oscar F Vazquez-Vuelvas
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Colima, Kilometro 9 Carretera Colima-Coquimatlan, Coquimatlan, Colima, 28400, Mexico
| | - Ramon A Felix
- Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica Eléctrica, Universidad de Colima, Kilometro 9 Carretera Colima-Coquimatlan, Coquimatlan, Colima, 28400, Mexico
| | - Juana M Jiménez-Vargas
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Colima, Kilometro 9 Carretera Colima-Coquimatlan, Coquimatlan, Colima, 28400, Mexico
| | - Valery Melnikov
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Colima, Av. Universidad 333, Colonia las Viboras, Colima, 28040, Mexico.
| | - Laura Leticia Valdez-Velazquez
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Colima, Av. Universidad 333, Colonia las Viboras, Colima, 28040, Mexico; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Colima, Kilometro 9 Carretera Colima-Coquimatlan, Coquimatlan, Colima, 28400, Mexico.
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2
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Jammal Salameh L, Bitzenhofer SH, Hanganu-Opatz IL, Dutschmann M, Egger V. Blood pressure pulsations modulate central neuronal activity via mechanosensitive ion channels. Science 2024; 383:eadk8511. [PMID: 38301001 DOI: 10.1126/science.adk8511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
The transmission of the heartbeat through the cerebral vascular system causes intracranial pressure pulsations. We discovered that arterial pressure pulsations can directly modulate central neuronal activity. In a semi-intact rat brain preparation, vascular pressure pulsations elicited correlated local field oscillations in the olfactory bulb mitral cell layer. These oscillations did not require synaptic transmission but reflected baroreceptive transduction in mitral cells. This transduction was mediated by a fast excitatory mechanosensitive ion channel and modulated neuronal spiking activity. In awake animals, the heartbeat entrained the activity of a subset of olfactory bulb neurons within ~20 milliseconds. Thus, we propose that this fast, intrinsic interoceptive mechanism can modulate perception-for example, during arousal-within the olfactory bulb and possibly across various other brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luna Jammal Salameh
- Neurophysiology Group, Zoological Institute, Regensburg University, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian H Bitzenhofer
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg Center of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ileana L Hanganu-Opatz
- Institute of Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Hamburg Center of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mathias Dutschmann
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Veronica Egger
- Neurophysiology Group, Zoological Institute, Regensburg University, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
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3
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Kahnau P, Mieske P, Wilzopolski J, Kalliokoski O, Mandillo S, Hölter SM, Voikar V, Amfim A, Badurek S, Bartelik A, Caruso A, Čater M, Ey E, Golini E, Jaap A, Hrncic D, Kiryk A, Lang B, Loncarevic-Vasiljkovic N, Meziane H, Radzevičienė A, Rivalan M, Scattoni ML, Torquet N, Trifkovic J, Ulfhake B, Thöne-Reineke C, Diederich K, Lewejohann L, Hohlbaum K. A systematic review of the development and application of home cage monitoring in laboratory mice and rats. BMC Biol 2023; 21:256. [PMID: 37953247 PMCID: PMC10642068 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01751-7] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditionally, in biomedical animal research, laboratory rodents are individually examined in test apparatuses outside of their home cages at selected time points. However, the outcome of such tests can be influenced by various factors and valuable information may be missed when the animals are only monitored for short periods. These issues can be overcome by longitudinally monitoring mice and rats in their home cages. To shed light on the development of home cage monitoring (HCM) and the current state-of-the-art, a systematic review was carried out on 521 publications retrieved through PubMed and Web of Science. RESULTS Both the absolute (~ × 26) and relative (~ × 7) number of HCM-related publications increased from 1974 to 2020. There was a clear bias towards males and individually housed animals, but during the past decade (2011-2020), an increasing number of studies used both sexes and group housing. In most studies, animals were kept for short (up to 4 weeks) time periods in the HCM systems; intermediate time periods (4-12 weeks) increased in frequency in the years between 2011 and 2020. Before the 2000s, HCM techniques were predominantly applied for less than 12 h, while 24-h measurements have been more frequent since the 2000s. The systematic review demonstrated that manual monitoring is decreasing in relation to automatic techniques but still relevant. Until (and including) the 1990s, most techniques were applied manually but have been progressively replaced by automation since the 2000s. Independent of the year of publication, the main behavioral parameters measured were locomotor activity, feeding, and social behaviors; the main physiological parameters were heart rate and electrocardiography. External appearance-related parameters were rarely examined in the home cages. Due to technological progress and application of artificial intelligence, more refined and detailed behavioral parameters have been investigated in the home cage more recently. CONCLUSIONS Over the period covered in this study, techniques for HCM of mice and rats have improved considerably. This development is ongoing and further progress as well as validation of HCM systems will extend the applications to allow for continuous, longitudinal, non-invasive monitoring of an increasing range of parameters in group-housed small rodents in their home cages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Kahnau
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Mieske
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Wilzopolski
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Otto Kalliokoski
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Silvia Mandillo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabine M Hölter
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Vootele Voikar
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Adriana Amfim
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spiru Haret University, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sylvia Badurek
- Preclinical Phenotyping Facility, Vienna Biocenter Core Facilities (VBCF), member of the Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Aleksandra Bartelik
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Angela Caruso
- Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Research Coordination and Support Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Maša Čater
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Elodie Ey
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Inserm, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, 67400, France
| | - Elisabetta Golini
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - Anne Jaap
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dragan Hrncic
- Institute of Medical Physiology "Richard Burian", Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Anna Kiryk
- Laboratory of Preclinical Testing of Higher Standard, Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Benjamin Lang
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Natasa Loncarevic-Vasiljkovic
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Hamid Meziane
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Clinique de La Souris (ICS), CELPHEDIA, PHENOMIN, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, Illkirch, 67404, France
| | - Aurelija Radzevičienė
- Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Marion Rivalan
- Research Institute for Experimental Medicine (FEM) and NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Animal Behaviour Phenotyping Facility, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Research Coordination and Support Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicolas Torquet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Inserm, IGBMC, Institut Clinique de la Souris (ICS), CELPHEDIA, PHENOMIN, UMR 7104- UMR-S 1258, Illkirch, 67400, France
| | - Julijana Trifkovic
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of East Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Brun Ulfhake
- Div. Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christa Thöne-Reineke
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Diederich
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Hohlbaum
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany.
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Marchstr. 23, 10587, Berlin, Germany.
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4
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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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5
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Lamoureux L, Marottoli FM, Tseng KY, Tai LM. APOE4 Promotes Tonic-Clonic Seizures, an Effect Modified by Familial Alzheimer's Disease Mutations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:656521. [PMID: 33796539 PMCID: PMC8007905 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.656521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Seizures are emerging as a common symptom in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, often attributed to high levels of amyloid β (Aβ). However, the extent that AD disease risk factors modulate seizure activity in aging and AD-relevant contexts is unclear. APOE4 is the greatest genetic risk factor for AD and has been linked to seizures independent of AD and Aβ. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the role of APOE genotype in modulating seizures in the absence and presence of high Aβ levels in vivo. To achieve this goal, we utilized EFAD mice, which express human APOE3 or APOE4 in the absence (EFAD-) or presence (EFAD+) of familial AD mutations that result in Aβ overproduction. When quantified during cage change day, we found that unlike APOE3, APOE4 is associated with tonic-clonic seizures. Interestingly, there were lower tonic-clonic seizures in E4FAD+ mice compared to E4FAD- mice. Restraint handing and auditory stimuli failed to recapitulate the tonic-clonic phenotype in EFAD mice that express APOE4. However, after chemical-induction with pentylenetetrazole, there was a higher incidence of tonic-clonic seizures with APOE4 compared to APOE3. Interestingly, the distribution of seizures to the tonic-clonic phenotype was higher with FAD mutations. These data support that APOE4 is associated with higher tonic-clonic seizures in vivo, and that FAD mutations impact tonic-clonic seizures in a paradigm dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorissa Lamoureux
- Biological Resources Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Felecia M Marottoli
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kuei Y Tseng
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Leon M Tai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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6
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Wassermann L, Helgers SOA, Riedesel AK, Talbot SR, Bleich A, Schwabe K, Häger C. Monitoring of Heart Rate and Activity Using Telemetry Allows Grading of Experimental Procedures Used in Neuroscientific Rat Models. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:587760. [PMID: 33424534 PMCID: PMC7793729 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.587760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In animal experimentation, welfare and severity assessments of all procedures applied to animals are necessary to meet legal and ethical requirements, as well as public interests. So far, the methods suggested for this purpose are time consuming and personnel intensive. Also, evidence-based biostatistical methods for this purpose are still rare. We here tested whether the classification of heart rate (HR) and activity (Act) data monitored by telemetry in the home cage by unsupervised k-means-based class-labeling and subsequent Support Vector Machine (SVM) analysis allows severity assessment and grading of experimental procedures of different domains, including surgery, injection, behavioral testing, and routine handling for maintenance. Telemetric devices were subcutaneously implanted in young adult male Crl:CD(SD) and BDIX/UImHanZtm rats. After recovery, rats were randomly subjected to different experimental procedures, i.e., handling and cage change as routine maintenance, Rat Grimace Scale, burrowing, and social interaction for welfare assessment, as well as repeated subcutaneous injections. Thereafter, rats were either intracranially implanted with electrodes or injected with tumor cells. Directly after each procedure, HR and Act were monitored by telemetry in the home cage for 4 h. Application of k-means and SVM algorithms on the obtained data sets from baseline (as no stress), cage change (exploratory Act), and intracranial surgery (as burden) measurements computed three classes described as low HR/low Act, high HR/high Act, and high HR/low Act, respectively. Validation of the SVM model by entering data from all procedures confirmed the allocation to the high HR/low Act class (burden) after surgery, which lasted longer after subcutaneous transmitter implantation than after intracranial surgery. The majority of data points from repeated injections, behavioral testing, and maintenance handling were allocated to the low HR/low Act and high HR/high Act classes. Overall, the SVM model based on HR and Act data monitored in home cage after procedures may be useful for the classification and grading of experimental procedures of different domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Wassermann
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | | | | | - Steven R Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - André Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schwabe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Christine Häger
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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7
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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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8
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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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9
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Does the Stress of Laboratory Life and Experimentation on Animals Adversely Affect Research Data? A Critical Review. Altern Lab Anim 2018; 46:291-305. [DOI: 10.1177/026119291804600501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recurrent acute and/or chronic stress can affect all vertebrate species, and can have serious consequences. It is increasingly and widely appreciated that laboratory animals experience significant and repeated stress, which is unavoidable and is caused by many aspects of laboratory life, such as captivity, transport, noise, handling, restraint and other procedures, as well as the experimental procedures applied to them. Such stress is difficult to mitigate, and lack of significant desensitisation/habituation can result in considerable psychological and physiological welfare problems, which are mediated by the activation of various neuroendocrine networks that have numerous and pervasive effects. Psychological damage can be reflected in stereotypical behaviours, including repetitive pacing and circling, and even self-harm. Physical consequences include adverse effects on immune function, inflammatory responses, metabolism, and disease susceptibility and progression. Further, some of these effects are epigenetic, and are therefore potentially transgenerational: the biology of animals whose parents/grandparents were wild-caught and/or have experienced chronic stress in laboratories could be altered, as compared to free-living individuals. It is argued that these effects must have consequences for the reliability of experimental data and their extrapolation to humans, and this may not be recognised sufficiently among those who use animals in experiments.
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10
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Hickman DL. Home Cage Compared with Induction Chamber for Euthanasia of Laboratory Rats. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2018; 57. [PMID: 30305198 PMCID: PMC6241385 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-17-000160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study compared behavioral and physiologic changes in Sprague-Dawley and Brown Norway rats that were euthanizedby using a 30% volume displacement rate of CO2 in either their home cage or an induction chamber; rats euthanized in thehome cage were hypothesized to demonstrate a higher level of animal wellbeing. No significant differences were detectedin the physiologic responses to home cage versus induction chamber euthanasia groups. A few strain-related behavioraldifferences occurred. The number of digs per second was higher in Brown Norway compared with Sprague-Dawley rats when in the home cage, where a digging substrate was present. Rearing frequency was higher in both Brown Norway and Sprague-Dawley rats in the induction chamber compared with the home cage. This study demonstrated that although strainspecific differences were associated with the process of euthanasia, there were no significant differences between the treatment groups of home cage compared with induction chamber. This finding suggests that-from the perspective of a rat-either the home cage or an induction chamber can be used for euthanasia, with likely extension of this conclusion to use of either method to the induction of anesthesia.
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11
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Bailey J. Does the stress inherent to laboratory life and experimentation on animals adversely affect research data? Altern Lab Anim 2018; 45:299-301. [PMID: 29313701 DOI: 10.1177/026119291704500605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Stress and distress in laboratory animals is often inherent and unavoidable. The effect of these factors on the reliability and relevance of experimental data is not sufficiently appreciated. Greater awareness, debate and discussion of this issue are urgently required
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Gotlieb N, Albaz E, Shaashua L, Sorski L, Matzner P, Rosenne E, Amram B, Benbenishty A, Golomb E, Ben-Eliyahu S. Regeneration of Functional Adrenal Tissue Following Bilateral Adrenalectomy. Endocrinology 2018; 159:248-259. [PMID: 29059290 PMCID: PMC5761594 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
It is assumed that after complete bilateral adrenalectomy (ADX), no adrenal tissue will redevelop and adrenal hormone levels will remain low and unaffected by stress. However, anecdotal observations in animals and in patients suggest that under some unknown circumstances the opposite can occur. Herein, we studied whether adrenalectomized rats can develop an alternative source of systemic corticosterone after complete bilateral ADX with minimal replacement therapy. Male and female rats underwent either a standard ADX, in which the glands were removed with minimal surrounding adipose tissue, or an extensive ADX, in which glands were removed with most surrounding adipose tissue. Excised glands were histologically tested for completeness, and corticosterone replacement was nullified within 1 to 3 weeks postoperatively. In four experiments and in both excision approaches, some rats gradually reestablished baseline corticosterone levels and stress response in a time-dependent manner, but differences were observed in the reestablishing rates: 80% in standard ADX vs 20% in extensive ADX. Upon searching for the source of corticosterone secretion, we were surprised to find functional macroscopic foci of adrenocortical tissue without medullary tissue, mostly proximal to the original location. Chronic stress accelerated corticosterone level reestablishment. We hypothesized that underlying this phenomenon were preexisting ectopic microscopic foci of adrenocortical-like tissue or a few adrenal cells that were pre-embedded in surrounding tissue or detached from the excised gland upon removal. We concluded that adrenalectomized animals may develop compensatory mechanisms and suggest that studies employing ADX consider additional corticosterone supplementation, minimize stress, and verify the absence of circulating corticosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neta Gotlieb
- Department of Psychology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720
- Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Sagol School of Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ely Albaz
- Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Sagol School of Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Lee Shaashua
- Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Sagol School of Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Liat Sorski
- Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Sagol School of Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Pini Matzner
- Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Sagol School of Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Ella Rosenne
- Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Sagol School of Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Benjamin Amram
- Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Sagol School of Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Amit Benbenishty
- Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Sagol School of Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Eli Golomb
- Institute of Pathology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem 9103102, Israel
| | - Shamgar Ben-Eliyahu
- Neuroimmunology Research Unit, Sagol School of Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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Teske JA, Perez-Leighton CE, Noble EE, Wang C, Billington CJ, Kotz CM. Effect of Housing Types on Growth, Feeding, Physical Activity, and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats. Front Nutr 2016; 3:4. [PMID: 26870735 PMCID: PMC4740365 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2016.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Animal welfare and accurate data collection are equally important in rodent research. Housing influences study outcomes and can challenge studies that monitor feeding, so housing choice needs to be evidence-based. The goal of these studies was to (1) compare established measures of well-being between rodents housed in wire grid-bottom floors with a resting platform compared to solid-bottom floors with bedding and (2) determine whether presence of a chewable device (Nylabone) affects orexin-A-induced hyperphagia. Methods Rodents were crossed over to the alternate housing twice after 2-week periods. Time required to complete food intake measurements was recorded as an indicator of feasibility. Food intake stimulated by orexin-A was compared with and without the Nylabone. Blood corticosterone and hypothalamic BDNF were assessed. Results Housing had no effect on growth, energy expenditure, corticosterone, hypothalamic BDNF, behavior, and anxiety measures. Food intake was disrupted after housing cross-over. Time required to complete food intake measurements was significantly higher for solid-bottom bedded cages. The Nylabone had no effect on orexin-A-stimulated feeding. Conclusion Well-being is not significantly different between rodents housed on grid-bottom floors and those in solid-bottom-bedded cages based on overall growth and feeding but alternating between housing confounds measures of feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Teske
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Obesity Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Claudio Esteban Perez-Leighton
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Center for Integrative Medicine and Innovative Science, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Emily E Noble
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA
| | - Chuanfeng Wang
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Obesity Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Charles J Billington
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Obesity Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Catherine M Kotz
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Obesity Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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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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Abou-Ismail UA, Mohamed RA, El-Kholya SZ. The effects of witnessing managemental procedures during the light versus the dark phase of the light cycle on behaviour, performance and welfare of laboratory rats. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Wolfensohn S, Hawkins P, Lilley E, Anthony D, Chambers C, Lane S, Lawton M, Robinson S, Voipio HM, Woodhall G. Reducing suffering in animal models and procedures involving seizures, convulsions and epilepsy. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2013; 67:9-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2012.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2012] [Revised: 09/12/2012] [Accepted: 09/13/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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