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Schreiber T, Koopmann I, Brandstetter J, Talbot SR, Goldstein L, Hoffmann L, Schildt A, Joksch M, Krause B, Jaster R, Palme R, Zechner D, Vollmar B, Kumstel S. Evidence-Based Severity Assessment of Animal Models for Pancreatic Cancer. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1494. [PMID: 39062067 PMCID: PMC11275077 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal models are crucial to preclinical oncological research and drug development. Animal experiments must be performed in accordance with the 3R principles of replacement and reduction, if possible, and refinement where these procedures remain crucial. In addition, European Union legislations demand a continuous refinement approach, as well as pro- and retrospective severity assessment. In this study, an objective databased severity assessment was performed in murine models for pancreatic cancer induced by orthotopic, subcutaneous, or intravenous injection of Panc02 cells. Parameters such as body weight change, distress score, perianal temperature, mouse grimace scale, burrowing, nesting behavior, and the concentration of corticosterone in plasma and its metabolites in feces were monitored during tumor progression. The most important parameters were combined into a score and mapped against a reference data set by the Relative Severity Assessment procedure (RELSA) to obtain the maximum achieved severity for each animal (RELSAmax). This scoring revealed a significantly higher RELSAmax for the orthotopic model than for the subcutaneous and intravenous models. However, compared to animal models such as pancreatitis and bile duct ligation, the pancreatic cancer models are shown to be less severe. Data-based animal welfare assessment proved to be a valuable tool for comparing the severity of differently induced cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schreiber
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (T.S.); (I.K.); (J.B.); (L.G.); (L.H.); (D.Z.); (B.V.)
| | - Ingo Koopmann
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (T.S.); (I.K.); (J.B.); (L.G.); (L.H.); (D.Z.); (B.V.)
| | - Jakob Brandstetter
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (T.S.); (I.K.); (J.B.); (L.G.); (L.H.); (D.Z.); (B.V.)
| | - Steven R. Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Preclinical Data Science, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Lea Goldstein
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (T.S.); (I.K.); (J.B.); (L.G.); (L.H.); (D.Z.); (B.V.)
| | - Lisa Hoffmann
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (T.S.); (I.K.); (J.B.); (L.G.); (L.H.); (D.Z.); (B.V.)
| | - Anna Schildt
- Core Facility Multimodal Small Animal Imaging, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Markus Joksch
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.J.); (B.K.)
| | - Bernd Krause
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.J.); (B.K.)
| | - Robert Jaster
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Dietmar Zechner
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (T.S.); (I.K.); (J.B.); (L.G.); (L.H.); (D.Z.); (B.V.)
| | - Brigitte Vollmar
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (T.S.); (I.K.); (J.B.); (L.G.); (L.H.); (D.Z.); (B.V.)
| | - Simone Kumstel
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (T.S.); (I.K.); (J.B.); (L.G.); (L.H.); (D.Z.); (B.V.)
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Yampolsky M, Bachelet I, Fuchs Y. Reproducible strategy for excisional skin-wound-healing studies in mice. Nat Protoc 2024; 19:184-206. [PMID: 38030941 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00899-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Wound healing is a complex physiological process involving various cell types and signaling pathways. The capability to observe the dynamics of wound repair offers valuable insights into the effects of genetic modifications, pharmaceutical interventions or other experimental manipulations on the skin-repair process. Here, we provide a comprehensive protocol for a full-thickness, excisional skin-wound-healing assay in mice, which can easily be performed by any scientist who has received an animal welfare course certificate and can be completed within ~3 h, depending on the number of animals. Crucially, we highlight the importance of considering key aspects of the assay that can dramatically contribute to the reliability and reproducibility of these experiments. We thoroughly discuss the experimental design, necessary preparations, wounding technique and analysis. In addition, we discuss the use of lineage-tracing techniques to monitor cell migration, differentiation and the contribution of different cell populations to the repair process. Overall, we explore key aspects of the skin-wound-healing assay, supplying a detailed procedure and guidelines essential for decreasing variability and obtaining reliable and reproducible results.
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3
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Pernold K, Rullman E, Ulfhake B. Bouts of rest and physical activity in C57BL/6J mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280416. [PMID: 37363906 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective was to exploit the raw data output from a scalable home cage (type IIL IVC) monitoring (HCM) system (DVC®), to characterize pattern of undisrupted rest and physical activity (PA) of C57BL/6J mice. The system's tracking algorithm show that mice in isolation spend 67% of the time in bouts of long rest (≥40s). Sixteen percent is physical activity (PA), split between local movements (6%) and locomotion (10%). Decomposition revealed that a day contains ˜7100 discrete bouts of short and long rest, local and locomotor movements. Mice travel ˜330m per day, mainly during the dark hours, while travelling speed is similar through the light-dark cycle. Locomotor bouts are usually <0.2m and <1% are >1m. Tracking revealed also fits of abnormal behaviour. The starting positions of the bouts showed no preference for the rear over the front of the cage floor, while there was a strong bias for the peripheral (75%) over the central floor area. The composition of bouts has a characteristic circadian pattern, however, intrusive husbandry routines increased bout fragmentation by ˜40%. Extracting electrode activations density (EAD) from the raw data yielded results close to those obtained with the tracking algorithm, with 81% of time in rest (<1 EAD s-1) and 19% in PA. Periods ≥40 s of file when no movement occurs and there is no EAD may correspond to periods of sleep (˜59% of file time). We confirm that EAD correlates closely with movement distance (rs>0.95) and the data agreed in ˜97% of the file time. Thus, albeit EAD being less informative it may serve as a proxy for PA and rest, enabling monitoring group housed mice. The data show that increasing density from one female to two males, and further to three male or female mice had the same effect size on EAD (˜2). In contrast, the EAD deviated significantly from this stepwise increase with 4 mice per cage, suggesting a crowdedness stress inducing sex specific adaptations. We conclude that informative metrics on rest and PA can be automatically extracted from the raw data flow in near-real time (< 1 hrs). As discussed, these metrics relay useful longitudinal information to those that use or care for the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Pernold
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eric Rullman
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Brun Ulfhake
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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King H, Reiber M, Philippi V, Stirling H, Aulehner K, Bankstahl M, Bleich A, Buchecker V, Glasenapp A, Jirkof P, Miljanovic N, Schönhoff K, von Schumann L, Leenaars C, Potschka H. Anesthesia and analgesia for experimental craniotomy in mice and rats: a systematic scoping review comparing the years 2009 and 2019. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1143109. [PMID: 37207181 PMCID: PMC10188949 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1143109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental craniotomies are a common surgical procedure in neuroscience. Because inadequate analgesia appears to be a problem in animal-based research, we conducted this review and collected information on management of craniotomy-associated pain in laboratory mice and rats. A comprehensive search and screening resulted in the identification of 2235 studies, published in 2009 and 2019, describing craniotomy in mice and/or rats. While key features were extracted from all studies, detailed information was extracted from a random subset of 100 studies/year. Reporting of perioperative analgesia increased from 2009 to 2019. However, the majority of studies from both years did not report pharmacologic pain management. Moreover, reporting of multimodal treatments remained at a low level, and monotherapeutic approaches were more common. Among drug groups, reporting of pre- and postoperative administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and local anesthetics in 2019 exceeded that of 2009. In summary, these results suggest that inadequate analgesia and oligoanalgesia are persistent issues associated with experimental intracranial surgery. This underscores the need for intensified training of those working with laboratory rodents subjected to craniotomies. Systematic review registration https://osf.io/7d4qe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah King
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Reiber
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Vanessa Philippi
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Helen Stirling
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Aulehner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marion Bankstahl
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hanover, Germany
| | - André Bleich
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hanover, Germany
| | - Verena Buchecker
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Aylina Glasenapp
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hanover, Germany
| | - Paulin Jirkof
- Office for Animal Welfare and 3Rs, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nina Miljanovic
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Schönhoff
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lara von Schumann
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Cathalijn Leenaars
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hanover, Germany
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Heidrun Potschka,
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Effects of a Multimodal Approach Using Buprenorphine with/without Meloxicam on Food Intake, Body Weight, Nest Consolidating Behavior, Burrowing Behavior, and Gastrointestinal Tissues in Postoperative Male Mice. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9110589. [DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9110589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Distress affects animal welfare and scientific data validity. There is a lack of reports on the effects of multimodal analgesic approaches in mice. In this study, under the hypothesis that a multimodal analgesic protocol using buprenorphine with meloxicam has analgesic effects, we evaluated the effects of a multimodal analgesic protocol using buprenorphine with meloxicam on the well-being of mice during analgesic administration by changing the dosage of meloxicam. A total of 42 Slc:ICR male mice were categorized into nonsurgical and surgical groups (7 mice per group) and treated with an anesthetic (isoflurane) and analgesics (buprenorphine ± meloxicam). Analgesics were administered for 48 h after treatment. Buprenorphine (subcutaneous; 0.1 mg/kg/8 h) and meloxicam (subcutaneous; 0, 2.5, or 5 mg/kg/24 h) were administered twice. Body weight, food intake, nest consolidation score, and latency to burrow were evaluated. A significant decrease in food intake was observed 24 h after treatment, while a significant increase was observed 48 h post-treatment in all groups. Body weight showed a decreasing trend but was not significantly reduced. Furthermore, stomach, duodenum, and jejunum tissues showed no morphological abnormalities. Significant differences in burrow diving scores and the latency to burrow were observed between some groups, but these were not regarded as a consequence of the surgery and/or the meloxicam dose. When buprenorphine and meloxicam were combined, administering up to 5 mg/kg/day of meloxicam for 48 h to male mice after abdominal surgery had no significant negative effects on any tested parameters. In conclusion, a multimodal analgesic protocol of buprenorphine with meloxicam is among the options for increasing well-being in mice following abdominal surgery.
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Aulehner K, Leenaars C, Buchecker V, Stirling H, Schönhoff K, King H, Häger C, Koska I, Jirkof P, Bleich A, Bankstahl M, Potschka H. Grimace scale, burrowing, and nest building for the assessment of post-surgical pain in mice and rats-A systematic review. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:930005. [PMID: 36277074 PMCID: PMC9583882 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.930005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies suggested an informative value of behavioral and grimace scale parameters for the detection of pain. However, the robustness and reliability of the parameters as well as the current extent of implementation are still largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to systematically analyze the current evidence-base of grimace scale, burrowing, and nest building for the assessment of post-surgical pain in mice and rats. The following platforms were searched for relevant articles: PubMed, Embase via Ovid, and Web of Science. Only full peer-reviewed studies that describe the grimace scale, burrowing, and/or nest building as pain parameters in the post-surgical phase in mice and/or rats were included. Information about the study design, animal characteristics, intervention characteristics, and outcome measures was extracted from identified publications. In total, 74 papers were included in this review. The majority of studies have been conducted in young adult C57BL/6J mice and Sprague Dawley and Wistar rats. While there is an apparent lack of information about young animals, some studies that analyzed the grimace scale in aged rats were identified. The majority of studies focused on laparotomy-associated pain. Only limited information is available about other types of surgical interventions. While an impact of surgery and an influence of analgesia were rather consistently reported in studies focusing on grimace scales, the number of studies that assessed respective effects was rather low for nest building and burrowing. Moreover, controversial findings were evident for the impact of analgesics on post-surgical nest building activity. Regarding analgesia, a monotherapeutic approach was identified in the vast majority of studies with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs and opioids being most commonly used. In conclusion, most evidence exists for grimace scales, which were more frequently used to assess post-surgical pain in rodents than the other behavioral parameters. However, our findings also point to relevant knowledge gaps concerning the post-surgical application in different strains, age levels, and following different surgical procedures. Future efforts are also necessary to directly compare the sensitivity and robustness of different readout parameters applied for the assessment of nest building and burrowing activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Aulehner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Cathalijn Leenaars
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Verena Buchecker
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Helen Stirling
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Schönhoff
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Hannah King
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Christine Häger
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Ines Koska
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Paulin Jirkof
- Office for Animal Welfare and 3Rs, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - André Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Marion Bankstahl
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany,*Correspondence: Heidrun Potschka
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The Impact of Activity-Based Interventions on Neuropathic Pain in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2022; 11:cells11193087. [PMID: 36231048 PMCID: PMC9563089 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical activity-based rehabilitative interventions represent the main treatment concept for people suffering from spinal cord injury (SCI). The role such interventions play in the relief of neuropathic pain (NP) states is emerging, along with underlying mechanisms resulting in SCI-induced NP (SCI-NP). Animal models have been used to investigate the benefits of activity-based interventions (ABI), such as treadmill training, wheel running, walking, swimming, and bipedal standing. These activity-based paradigms have been shown to modulate inflammatory-related alterations as well as induce functional and structural changes in the spinal cord gray matter circuitry correlated with pain behaviors. Thus far, the research available provides an incomplete picture of the cellular and molecular pathways involved in this beneficial effect. Continued research is essential for understanding how such interventions benefit SCI patients suffering from NP and allow the development of individualized rehabilitative therapies. This article reviews preclinical studies on this specific topic, goes over mechanisms involved in SCI-NP in relation to ABI, and then discusses the effectiveness of different activity-based paradigms as they relate to different forms, intensity, initiation times, and duration of ABI. This article also summarizes the mechanisms of respective interventions to ameliorate NP after SCI and provides suggestions for future research directions.
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Ulker E, Caillaud M, Koseli E, Contreras K, Alkhlaif Y, Lindley E, Barik M, Ghani S, Bryant CD, Imad Damaj M. Comparison of Pain-Like behaviors in two surgical incision animal models in C57BL/6J mice. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2022; 12:100103. [PMID: 36531613 PMCID: PMC9755018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2022.100103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Management of pain post-surgery is crucial for tissue healing in both veterinary and human medicine. Overuse of some analgesics such as opioids may lead to addictions and worsen pain syndromes (opioid-induced hyperalgesia), while underuse of it may affect the welfare of the patient. Therefore, the importance of using surgery models in laboratory animals is increasing, with the goal of improving our understanding of pain neurobiology and developing safer analgesics. METHODS We compared the widely used plantar incision model with the laparotomy surgery model and measured pain-related behaviors using both spontaneous and evoked responses in female and male C57BL/6J mice. Additionally, we assessed conditioned place preference (CPP) and sucrose preference tests to measure pain-induced motivation for the analgesic ketoprofen and anhedonia-like behavior. RESULTS Laparotomized mice showed increased abdominal sensitivity while paw-incised mice showed increased paw thermal and mechanical sensitivity up to seven days post-surgery. Laparotomy surgery reduced all spontaneous behaviors in our study however this effect dissipated by 24 h post-laparotomy. On the other hand, paw incision only reduced the percentage of cage hanging in a sex-dependent manner at 6 h post-incision. We also showed that both surgery models increased conditioned place preference for ketoprofen while preference for sucrose was only reduced at 24 h post-laparotomy. Laporatomy, but not paw incision, induced a decrease in body weight at 24 h post-surgery. Neither surgery model affected fluid intake. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that post-surgery hypersensitivity and behavioral deficits may differ by the incision site. Furthermore, factors associated with the surgery including length of the incision, duration of the anesthesia, and the layers that received stitches may affect subsequent spontaneous behaviors. These findings may help to improve drug development or the choice of the effective analgesic, depending on the surgery type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esad Ulker
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Martial Caillaud
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Eda Koseli
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Katherine Contreras
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Yasmin Alkhlaif
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Eric Lindley
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Mitali Barik
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Sofia Ghani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Camron D. Bryant
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, USA
| | - M. Imad Damaj
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
- Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
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9
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Development of behavioral patterns in young C57BL/6J mice: a home cage-based study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2550. [PMID: 35169182 PMCID: PMC8847349 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06395-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence exists that behavioral patterns only stabilize once mice reach adulthood. Detailed information about the course of behavioral patterns is of particular relevance for neuroscientific research and for the assessment of cumulative severity in genetically modified mice. The analysis considered five age groups focusing on behavioral assessments in the animals’ familiar home cage environment during the adolescence phase. We confirmed age- and sex-specific differences for several of the behavioral parameters and fecal corticosterone metabolites. Interestingly, an age-dependent decline in saccharin preference was detected in female mice. Regardless of sex, relevant levels of burrowing activity were only observed during later developmental phases. The development of nest complexity following the offer of new material was affected by age in female mice. In female and male mice, an age-dependency was evident for wheel running reaching a peak at P 50. A progressive increase with age was also observed for Open field activity. The data sets provide guidance for behavioral studies and for development of composite measure schemes for evidence-based severity assessment in young mice. Except for the burrowing test, the different behavioral tests can be applied in different age groups during post-weaning development. However, age- and sex-specific characteristics need to be considered.
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10
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Riedesel AK, Bach-Hagemann A, Abdulbaki A, Talbot SR, Tolba R, Schwabe K, Lindauer U. Burrowing behaviour of rats: Strain differences and applicability as well-being parameter after intracranial surgery. Lab Anim 2022; 56:356-369. [PMID: 35144494 DOI: 10.1177/00236772211072977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In mice, burrowing is considered a species-typical parameter for assessing well-being, while this is less clear in rats. This exploratory study evaluated burrowing behaviour in three rat strains during training and in the direct postoperative phase after complex intracranial surgery in different neuroscience rat models established at Hannover Medical School or Aachen University Hospital. Male Crl:CD (SD; n = 18), BDIX/UlmHanZtm (BDIX; n = 8) and RjHan:WI (Wistar; n = 35) rats were individually trained to burrow gravel out of a tube on four consecutive days. Thereafter, BDIX rats were subjected to intracranial injection of BT4Ca cells and tumour resection (rat glioma model), SD rats to injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or vehicle (rat Parkinson's disease model) and Wistar rats to endovascular perforation or sham surgery (rat subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) model). Burrowing was retested on the day after surgery. During training, BDIX rats burrowed large amounts (mean of 2370 g on the fourth day), while SD and Wistar rats burrowed less gravel (means of 846 and 520 g, respectively). Burrowing increased significantly during training only in Wistar rats. Complex surgery, that is, tumour resection (BDIX), 6-OHDA injection (SD) and endovascular perforation or sham surgery for SAH (Wistar) significantly reduced burrowing and body weight, while simple stereotactic injection of tumour cells or vehicle did not affect burrowing. Despite the training, burrowing differed between the strains. In the direct postoperative phase, burrowing was reduced after complex surgery, indicating reduced well-being. Reduced burrowing was accompanied with postoperative weight loss, a validated and recognised quantitative measure for severity assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annika Bach-Hagemann
- Translational Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, Department of Neurosurgery, 9165RWTH Aachen University, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Arif Abdulbaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Steven R Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - René Tolba
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science & Experimental Surgery, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schwabe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Ute Lindauer
- Translational Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, Department of Neurosurgery, 9165RWTH Aachen University, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
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Green-Fulgham SM, Ball JB, Maier SF, Rice KC, Watkins LR, Grace PM. Suppression of active phase voluntary wheel running in male rats by unilateral chronic constriction injury: Enduring therapeutic effects of a brief treatment of morphine combined with TLR4 or P2X7 antagonists. J Neurosci Res 2022; 100:265-277. [PMID: 32533604 PMCID: PMC8377614 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The present series of studies examine the impact of systemically administered therapeutics on peripheral nerve injury (males; unilateral sciatic chronic constriction injury [CCI])-induced suppression of voluntary wheel running, across weeks after dosing cessation. Following CCI, active phase running distance and speed are suppressed throughout the 7-week observation period. A brief course of morphine, however, increased active phase running distance and speed throughout this same period, an effect apparent only in sham rats. For CCI rats, systemic co-administration of morphine with antagonists of either P2X7 (A438079) or TLR4 ((+)-naloxone) (receptors critical to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and consequent inflammatory cascades) returned running behavior of CCI rats to that of shams through 5+ weeks after dosing ceased. This is a striking difference in effect compared to our prior CCI allodynia results using systemic morphine plus intrathecal delivery of these same antagonists, wherein a sustained albeit partial suppression of neuropathic pain was observed. This may point to actions of the systemic drugs at multiple sites along the neuraxis, modulating injury-induced, inflammasome-mediated effects at the injured sciatic nerve and/or dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord, and potentially higher levels. Given that our data to date point to morphine amplifying neuroinflammatory processes put into motion by nerve injury, it is intriguing to speculate that co-administration of TLR4 and/or P2X7 antagonists can intervene in these inflammatory processes in a beneficial way. That is, that systemic administration of such compounds may suppress inflammatory damage at multiple sites, rapidly and persistently returning neuropathic animals to sham levels of response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. Green-Fulgham
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jayson B. Ball
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Steven F. Maier
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kenner C. Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Linda R. Watkins
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Peter M. Grace
- Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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12
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Tmem160 contributes to the establishment of discrete nerve injury-induced pain behaviors in male mice. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110152. [PMID: 34936870 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is a prevalent medical problem, and its molecular basis remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the significance of the transmembrane protein (Tmem) 160 for nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. An extensive behavioral assessment suggests a pain modality- and entity-specific phenotype in male Tmem160 global knockout (KO) mice: delayed establishment of tactile hypersensitivity and alterations in self-grooming after nerve injury. In contrast, Tmem160 seems to be dispensable for other nerve injury-induced pain modalities, such as non-evoked and movement-evoked pain, and for other pain entities. Mechanistically, we show that global KO males exhibit dampened neuroimmune signaling and diminished TRPA1-mediated activity in cultured dorsal root ganglia. Neither these changes nor altered pain-related behaviors are observed in global KO female and male peripheral sensory neuron-specific KO mice. Our findings reveal Tmem160 as a sexually dimorphic factor contributing to the establishment, but not maintenance, of discrete nerve injury-induced pain behaviors in male mice.
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13
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Obermueller B, Castellani C, Till H, Reininger-Gutmann B, Singer G. An examination of nest-building behaviour using five different nesting materials in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice. Anim Welf 2021. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.30.4.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The aim of our study was to assess the nest-building behaviour of two mouse (Mus musculus) strains using different nesting materials and examine possible sex- and housing-specific effects. Adult mice of two strains (C57BL/6J; n = 64 and BALB/cAnNCrl; n = 99) were randomly allocated
to the following housing groups: single-housed male, single-housed female, pair-housed male and pair-housed female. One of the following nest-building materials was placed in each home-cage in a random order: nestlets (Plexx BV, The Netherlands), cocoons (Carfil, Belgium), wooden wool, crinklets
and compact (all three, Safe, Germany). The following day, nests were rated applying a nest-scoring scale ranging from 0 to 10, the nests were removed, and a different nest-building material provided. In both tested strains, nestlets achieved the highest nest-building scores when compared
to the other four nest-building materials. All nest-building materials scored higher in BALB/c mice compared to C57BL/6J animals reaching statistical significance in crinklets only. Sex comparison revealed that female C57BL/6J mice only scored significantly higher using crinklets than males
and BALB/c female mice were rated significantly higher using wooden wool, cocoons and compact than their male counterparts. While pair-housed C57BL/6J animals built higher-rated nests than single-housed mice in the C57BL/6J strain in all five materials tested, the scores were not significantly
different in the BALB/c strain. Results of the present study reveal significant strain-, sex- and housing-related influences on the complexity of nests using different standardised building materials. Such observations need to be taken into account when planning the optimal enrichment programme
for laboratory animals.
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14
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Furumoto K, Ogita K, Kamisaka T, Kawasumi A, Takata K, Maeta N, Itoi T, Nohara M, Saeki K, Kanda T. Effects of Multimodal Analgesic Protocol, with Buprenorphine and Meloxicam, on Mice Well-Being: A Dose Finding Study. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3420. [PMID: 34944198 PMCID: PMC8698195 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The anesthetic or analgesic agent of choice, route and frequency of anesthetic or analgesic administration, and stressors induce distress during the perioperative period. We evaluated a multimodal analgesic protocol using buprenorphine and meloxicam on the well-being of mice. Twenty-four Slc:ICR male mice were divided into control, anesthesia + analgesia, and surgery + anesthesia + analgesia groups. Tap water (orally: PO) and water for injection (subcutaneous: SC) were administered to the control group. Buprenorphine was administered twice (SC, 0.1 mg/kg/8 h) and meloxicam was administered thrice (PO, 5 mg/kg/24 h) to the anesthesia + analgesia and surgery + anesthesia + analgesia groups. The mice were subjected to laparotomy and assessed for several parameters. Even in absence of surgical pain, the anesthesia + analgesia group presented the same negative effects as the surgery + anesthesia + analgesia group. This multimodal analgesic protocol for mice was expected to have an analgesic effect on pain associated with laparotomy but was not sufficient to prevent food intake and weight decrease. This does not negate the need to administer analgesics, but suggests the need to focus on and care not only about the approach to relieve pain associated with surgery, but also other types of distresses to minimize negative side effects that may interfere with postoperative recovery in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayo Furumoto
- College of Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Tsurajima-cho Nishinoura 2640, Kurasiki 7128555, Okayama, Japan; (K.F.); (K.O.); (T.K.); (A.K.); (K.T.); (N.M.); (T.I.)
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ikoino-oka 1-3, Imabari 7948555, Ehime, Japan; (M.N.); (K.S.)
| | - Kumi Ogita
- College of Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Tsurajima-cho Nishinoura 2640, Kurasiki 7128555, Okayama, Japan; (K.F.); (K.O.); (T.K.); (A.K.); (K.T.); (N.M.); (T.I.)
| | - Tomomi Kamisaka
- College of Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Tsurajima-cho Nishinoura 2640, Kurasiki 7128555, Okayama, Japan; (K.F.); (K.O.); (T.K.); (A.K.); (K.T.); (N.M.); (T.I.)
| | - Asami Kawasumi
- College of Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Tsurajima-cho Nishinoura 2640, Kurasiki 7128555, Okayama, Japan; (K.F.); (K.O.); (T.K.); (A.K.); (K.T.); (N.M.); (T.I.)
| | - Koushi Takata
- College of Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Tsurajima-cho Nishinoura 2640, Kurasiki 7128555, Okayama, Japan; (K.F.); (K.O.); (T.K.); (A.K.); (K.T.); (N.M.); (T.I.)
| | - Noritaka Maeta
- College of Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Tsurajima-cho Nishinoura 2640, Kurasiki 7128555, Okayama, Japan; (K.F.); (K.O.); (T.K.); (A.K.); (K.T.); (N.M.); (T.I.)
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ikoino-oka 1-3, Imabari 7948555, Ehime, Japan; (M.N.); (K.S.)
| | - Takamasa Itoi
- College of Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Tsurajima-cho Nishinoura 2640, Kurasiki 7128555, Okayama, Japan; (K.F.); (K.O.); (T.K.); (A.K.); (K.T.); (N.M.); (T.I.)
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ikoino-oka 1-3, Imabari 7948555, Ehime, Japan; (M.N.); (K.S.)
| | - Masakatsu Nohara
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ikoino-oka 1-3, Imabari 7948555, Ehime, Japan; (M.N.); (K.S.)
| | - Kaori Saeki
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ikoino-oka 1-3, Imabari 7948555, Ehime, Japan; (M.N.); (K.S.)
| | - Teppei Kanda
- College of Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Tsurajima-cho Nishinoura 2640, Kurasiki 7128555, Okayama, Japan; (K.F.); (K.O.); (T.K.); (A.K.); (K.T.); (N.M.); (T.I.)
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ikoino-oka 1-3, Imabari 7948555, Ehime, Japan; (M.N.); (K.S.)
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15
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Buckinx A, Van Schuerbeek A, Bossuyt J, Allaoui W, Van Den Herrewegen Y, Smolders I, De Bundel D. Exploring Refinement Strategies for Single Housing of Male C57BL/6JRj Mice: Effect of Cage Divider on Stress-Related Behavior and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal-Axis Activity. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:743959. [PMID: 34776890 PMCID: PMC8581484 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.743959] [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: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Single housing of laboratory mice is a common practice to meet experimental needs, or to avoid intermale aggression. However, single housing is considered to negatively affect animal welfare and may compromise the scientific validity of experiments. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of a cage with a cage divider, which avoids physical contact between mice while maintaining sensory contact, may be a potential refinement strategy for experiments in which group housing of mice is not possible. Methods: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6JRj mice were single housed, pair housed or pair housed with a cage divider for four (experiment 1) or ten (experiment 2) weeks, after which we performed an open field test, Y-maze spontaneous alternation test, elevated plus maze test, an auditory fear conditioning task, and assessed responsiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Results: Housing conditions did not affect body weight, exploratory activity, anxiety, working memory, fear memory processing or markers for HPA-axis functioning in either experiment 1 or experiment 2. There was an increased distance traveled in mice housed with a cage divider compared to pair housed mice after 4 weeks, and after 10 weeks mice housed with a cage divider made significantly more arm entries in the Y-maze spontaneous alternation test. Conclusion: Taken together, our study did not provide evidence for robust differences in exploratory activity, anxiety, working memory and fear memory processing in male C57BL/6JRj mice that were single housed, pair housed or pair housed with a cage divider.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Buckinx
- Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Andries Van Schuerbeek
- Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jo Bossuyt
- Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wissal Allaoui
- Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yana Van Den Herrewegen
- Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ilse Smolders
- Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dimitri De Bundel
- Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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16
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Jacobson ML, Wulf HA, Tsuda MC, Browne CA, Lucki I. Sex differences in the modulation of mouse nest building behavior by kappa opioid receptor signaling. Neuropharmacology 2020; 177:108254. [PMID: 32726598 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that females are less sensitive than males to the effects of kappa opioid receptor (KOR) ligands across multiple behavioral measures. The effects of the KOR agonist U50,488 and the KOR antagonist aticaprant were assessed on nest building behavior, an ethologically relevant indicator of overall well-being and affect, in adult male and female C57BL/6J mice. Females required a higher dose of U50,488 to suppress nesting, and a higher dose of aticaprant to restore U50,488-induced impairment of nesting. Females also required a higher dose of aticaprant to decrease immobility scores in the forced swim test. Pretreatment with the estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen, at a dose which blocked estrogen receptors, augmented the effect of U50,488 on nesting in female mice, suggesting that estrogen receptors play a key role in attenuating the effects of KOR ligands in female mice. Together, these results suggest that females are less sensitive to KOR mediation, requiring a higher dose to achieve comparable results to males. This behavioral sensitivity, as measured by nesting, may be mediated by estrogen receptors. Together these studies highlight the importance of comparing sex differences in response to KOR regulation on behaviors related to affective states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moriah L Jacobson
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Service University, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Hildegard A Wulf
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Service University, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Mumeko C Tsuda
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Service University, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA; Rat Behavior Core, Uniformed Service University, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Caroline A Browne
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Service University, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Irwin Lucki
- Department of Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Service University, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Service University, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
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17
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Kumstel S, Wendt EHU, Eichberg J, Talbot SR, Häger C, Zhang X, Abdelrahman A, Schönrogge M, Palme R, Bleich A, Vollmar B, Zechner D. Grading animal distress and side effects of therapies. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1473:20-34. [PMID: 32207155 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In order to combine high-quality research with minimal harm to animals, a prospective severity assessment for animal experiments is legally required in many countries. In addition, an assessment of the evidence-based severity level might allow realistic harm-benefit analysis and the appraisal of refinement methods. However, only a few examples describe the distress of animals by simple, cost-efficient, and noninvasive methods. We, therefore, evaluated the severity of an orthotopic mouse model for pancreatic cancer using C57BL/6J mice when pursuing two different chemotherapies. We assessed fecal corticosterone metabolites, body weight, distress score, and burrowing, as well as nesting activity. Moreover, we established a multifactorial model using multivariate logistic regression to describe animal distress. This multifactorial analysis revealed that metformin + galloflavin treatment caused higher distress than metformin + α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate therapy. Similar results were obtained by using the best cutoff calculated by Youden's J index when using only single parameters, such as burrowing activity or fecal corticosterone metabolite concentration. Thus, the present study revealed that single readout parameters, as well as multivariate analysis, can help to assess the severity of animal experiments and detect side effects of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Kumstel
- Rudolf-Zenker Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Edgar H U Wendt
- Rudolf-Zenker Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Johanna Eichberg
- Rudolf-Zenker Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Steven R Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Christine Häger
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Xianbin Zhang
- Rudolf-Zenker Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Ahmed Abdelrahman
- Rudolf-Zenker Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Maria Schönrogge
- Rudolf-Zenker Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - André Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Brigitte Vollmar
- Rudolf-Zenker Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Dietmar Zechner
- Rudolf-Zenker Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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18
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González-Cano R, Montilla-García Á, Ruiz-Cantero MC, Bravo-Caparrós I, Tejada MÁ, Nieto FR, Cobos EJ. The search for translational pain outcomes to refine analgesic development: Where did we come from and where are we going? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:238-261. [PMID: 32147529 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pain measures traditionally used in rodents record mere reflexes evoked by sensory stimuli; the results thus may not fully reflect the human pain phenotype. Alterations in physical and emotional functioning, pain-depressed behaviors and facial pain expressions were recently proposed as additional pain outcomes to provide a more accurate measure of clinical pain in rodents, and hence to potentially enhance analgesic drug development. We aimed to review how preclinical pain assessment has evolved since the development of the tail flick test in 1941, with a particular focus on a critical analysis of some nonstandard pain outcomes, and a consideration of how sex differences may affect the performance of these pain surrogates. We tracked original research articles in Medline for the following periods: 1973-1977, 1983-1987, 1993-1997, 2003-2007, and 2014-2018. We identified 606 research articles about alternative surrogate pain measures, 473 of which were published between 2014 and 2018. This indicates that preclinical pain assessment is moving toward the use of these measures, which may soon become standard procedures in preclinical pain laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael González-Cano
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Armilla, Granada, Spain.
| | - Ángeles Montilla-García
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Armilla, Granada, Spain.
| | - M Carmen Ruiz-Cantero
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Armilla, Granada, Spain.
| | - Inmaculada Bravo-Caparrós
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Armilla, Granada, Spain.
| | - Miguel Á Tejada
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Armilla, Granada, Spain; IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Francisco R Nieto
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Armilla, Granada, Spain.
| | - Enrique J Cobos
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Center, University of Granada, Armilla, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain; Teófilo Hernando Institute for Drug Discovery, Madrid, Spain.
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19
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Turner PV, Pang DS, Lofgren JL. A Review of Pain Assessment Methods in Laboratory Rodents. Comp Med 2019; 69:451-467. [PMID: 31896391 PMCID: PMC6935698 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-19-000042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Ensuring that laboratory rodent pain is well managed underpins the ethical acceptability of working with these animals in research. Appropriate treatment of pain in laboratory rodents requires accurate assessments of the presence or absence of pain to the extent possible. This can be challenging some situations because laboratory rodents are prey species that may show subtle signs of pain. Although a number of standard algesiometry assays have been used to assess evoked pain responses in rodents for many decades, these methods likely represent an oversimplification of pain assessment and many require animal handling during testing, which can result in stress-induced analgesia. More recent pain assessment methods, such as the use of ethograms, facial grimace scoring, burrowing, and nest-building, focus on evaluating changes in spontaneous behaviors or activities of rodents in their home environments. Many of these assessment methods are time-consuming to conduct. While many of these newer tests show promise for providing a more accurate assessment of pain, most require more study to determine their reliability and sensitivity across a broad range of experimental conditions, as well as between species and strains of animals. Regular observation of laboratory rodents before and after painful procedures with consistent use of 2 or more assessment methods is likely to improve pain detection and lead to improved treatment and care-a primary goal for improving overall animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia V Turner
- Charles River, Wilmington , Massachusetts Dept of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada;,
| | - Daniel Sj Pang
- Dept of Clinical Sciences, Université de Montréal, Quebec, J2S 2M2, Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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20
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Foley PL, Kendall LV, Turner PV. Clinical Management of Pain in Rodents. Comp Med 2019; 69:468-489. [PMID: 31822323 PMCID: PMC6935704 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-19-000048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The use of effective regimens for mitigating pain remain underutilized in research rodents despite the general acceptance of both the ethical imperative and regulatory requirements intended to maximize animal welfare. Factors contributing to this gap between the need for and the actual use of analgesia include lack of sufficient evidence-based data on effective regimens, under-dosing due to labor required to dose analgesics at appropriate intervals, concerns that the use of analgesics may impact study outcomes, and beliefs that rodents recover quickly from invasive procedures and as such do not need analgesics. Fundamentally, any discussion of clinical management of pain in rodents must recognize that nociceptive pathways and pain signaling mechanisms are highly conserved across mammalian species, and that central processing of pain is largely equivalent in rodents and other larger research species such as dogs, cats, or primates. Other obstacles to effective pain management in rodents have been the lack of objective, science-driven data on pain assessment, and the availability of appropriate pharmacological tools for pain mitigation. To address this deficit, we have reviewed and summarized the available publications on pain management in rats, mice and guinea pigs. Different drug classes and specific pharmacokinetic profiles, recommended dosages, and routes of administration are discussed, and updated recommendations are provided. Nonpharmacologic tools for increasing the comfort and wellbeing of research animals are also discussed. The potential adverse effects of analgesics are also reviewed. While gaps still exist in our understanding of clinical pain management in rodents, effective pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies are available that can and should be used to provide analgesia while minimizing adverse effects. The key to effective clinical management of pain is thoughtful planning that incorporates study needs and veterinary guidance, knowledge of the pharmacokinetics and mechanisms of action of drugs being considered, careful attention to individual differences, and establishing an institutional culture that commits to pain management for all species as a central component of animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia L Foley
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC;,
| | - Lon V Kendall
- Laboratory Animal Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Patricia V Turner
- Charles River, Wilmington, Massachusetts, Dept of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
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21
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Jirkof P, Rudeck J, Lewejohann L. Assessing Affective State in Laboratory Rodents to Promote Animal Welfare-What Is the Progress in Applied Refinement Research? Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E1026. [PMID: 31775293 PMCID: PMC6941082 DOI: 10.3390/ani9121026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An animal's capacity to suffer is a prerequisite for any animal welfare concern, and the minimization of suffering is a key aim of refinement research. In contrast to the traditional focus on avoiding or reducing negative welfare states, modern animal welfare concepts highlight the importance of promoting positive welfare states in laboratory animals. Reliable assessments of affective states, as well as the knowledge of how to elicit positive affective states, are central to this concept. Important achievements have been made to assess pain and other negative affective states in animals in the last decades, but it is only recently that the neurobiology of positive emotions in humans and animals has been gaining more interest. Thereby, the need for promotion of positive affective states for laboratory animals is gaining more acceptance, and methods allowing the assessment of affective states in animals have been increasingly introduced. In this overview article, we present common and emerging methods to assess affective states in laboratory rodents. We focus on the implementation of these methods into applied refinement research to identify achieved progress as well as the future potential of these tools to improve animal welfare in animal-based research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulin Jirkof
- Department Animal Welfare and 3R, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Juliane Rudeck
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Center for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), 12277 Berlin, Germany; (J.R.); (L.L.)
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Center for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), 12277 Berlin, Germany; (J.R.); (L.L.)
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie University Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany
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22
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Weegh N, Füner J, Janke O, Winter Y, Jung C, Struve B, Wassermann L, Lewejohann L, Bleich A, Häger C. Wheel running behaviour in group-housed female mice indicates disturbed wellbeing due to DSS colitis. Lab Anim 2019; 54:63-72. [DOI: 10.1177/0023677219879455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Voluntary wheel running (VWR) behaviour is a sensitive indicator of disturbed wellbeing and used for the assessment of individual experimental severity levels in laboratory mice. However, monitoring individual VWR performance usually requires single housing, which itself might have a negative effect on wellbeing. In consideration of the 3Rs principle, VWR behaviour was evaluated under group-housing conditions. To test the applicability for severity assessment, this readout was evaluated in a dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) induced colitis model. For continuous monitoring, an automated system with integrated radio-frequency identification technology was used, enabling detection of individual VWR. After a 14-day adaptation period mice demonstrated a stable running performance. Analysis during DSS treatment in combination with repeated facial vein phlebotomy and faecal sampling procedure resulted in significantly reduced VWR behaviour during the course of colitis and increased VWR during disease recovery. Mice submitted to phlebotomy and faecal sampling but no DSS treatment showed less reduced VWR but a longer-lasting recovery. Application of a cluster model discriminating individual severity levels based on VWR and body weight data revealed the highest severity level in most of the DSS-treated mice on day 7, but a considerable number of control mice also showed elevated severity levels due to sampling procedures alone. In summary, VWR sensitively indicated the course of DSS colitis severity and the impact of sample collection. Therefore, monitoring of VWR is a suitable method for the detection of disturbed wellbeing due to DSS colitis and sampling procedure in group-housed female laboratory mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Weegh
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | | | | | - York Winter
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin
| | | | - Birgitta Struve
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Laura Wassermann
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behaviour and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - André Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Christine Häger
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Germany
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23
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Rix A, Drude N, Mrugalla A, Mottaghy FM, Tolba RH, Kiessling F. Performance of severity parameters to detect chemotherapy-induced pain and distress in mice. Lab Anim 2019; 54:452-460. [PMID: 31660776 DOI: 10.1177/0023677219883327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
According to European Union directive 2010/63/EU a severity classification of experimental procedures performed on laboratory animals is mandatory. This includes a prospective evaluation of all interventions performed within the experiment, as well as an assessment of the actual burden of each animal during the experiment. In this regard, the evaluation and scoring of defined criteria regarding the health state of animals could help to early identify deteriorations in animal health and facilitate the application of humane endpoints. This article discusses the applicability of an adapted score sheet in BALB/cAnNRj mice receiving either cisplatin, doxorubicin or busulfan, three chemotherapeutic agents with different toxicological profiles and longitudinal non-invasive molecular imaging. The health state was investigated by score sheets documenting general state, body weight, spontaneous behaviour and treatment specific parameters (e.g. anaemia, neurotoxicity, persistent diarrhoea). Although blood and serum analyses clearly indicated various organ damage, most scoring parameters except for body weight did not report on the deceasing animal health state. Thus, there is need for more sensitive observational parameters to judge the animal's health state and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Rix
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen International University, Germany
| | - Natascha Drude
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen International University, Germany.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen International University, Germany
| | - Anna Mrugalla
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen International University, Germany
| | - Felix M Mottaghy
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen International University, Germany.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), The Netherlands
| | - René H Tolba
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen International University, Germany
| | - Fabian Kiessling
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen International University, Germany
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24
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Kumstel S, Vasudevan P, Palme R, Zhang X, Wendt EHU, David R, Vollmar B, Zechner D. Benefits of non-invasive methods compared to telemetry for distress analysis in a murine model of pancreatic cancer. J Adv Res 2019; 21:35-47. [PMID: 31641536 PMCID: PMC6796693 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prospective severity assessment is legally required in many countries to ensure high-quality research along with high welfare standards for laboratory animals. Mice and rats, the most common laboratory species, are prey animals that usually suppress signs of pain and suffering. Therefore, highly sensitive readout parameters are necessary to adequately quantify distress. The present study compared the performance of different non-invasive methods in determining animal distress, such as measuring body weight, distress score, faecal corticosterone metabolites, burrowing, and nesting behaviour, with continuous monitoring of heart rate, body temperature and activity by telemetry. The distress caused by two surgical interventions was compared and the burden caused by tumour growth was described. Transmitter implantation caused higher distress than laparotomy plus carcinoma cell injection into the pancreas. Surprisingly, no significant increase in distress was observed during tumour growth. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that some non-invasive distress-parameters, i.e., distress-score and burrowing activity, exhibited slightly better performance to quantify distress than the most suitable parameters measured by telemetry. Due to the high burden caused by the implantation of the telemetric device, the use of non-invasive methods to assess distress in laboratory animals after surgical interventions should be favoured in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Kumstel
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Praveen Vasudevan
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany.,Department of Life, Light and Matter, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Xianbin Zhang
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Edgar Heinz Uwe Wendt
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Robert David
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany.,Department of Life, Light and Matter, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Brigitte Vollmar
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Dietmar Zechner
- Rudolf-Zenker-Institute of Experimental Surgery, University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
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25
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Abstract
Nest building behavior has been intensely applied as a parameter for severity assessment in mice. In contrast, only a limited number of studies have reported nest building data from rats. Here, we assessed nest building in rats in two different facilities addressing the hypotheses that the vendor, previous experience with the nesting material as well as sex of the rats has an impact on the performance. Data from two study sites and three raters were compared to obtain information about the robustness of nest complexity scoring. The findings demonstrate a generally poor nest building performance in rats with a pronounced day-to-day fluctuation, and site-specific differences. Application of a newly developed scoring system resulted in an intermediate inter-rater reliability. Previous experience with the nesting material did not exert a consistent impact on nest complexity scores. Sex differences proved to depend on vendor and animal facility without consistent findings supporting a superior performance in female or male rats. In conclusion, our findings argue against a robust and consistent influence of sex and familiarity with the nesting material. The comparison between facilities suggests that local conditions need to be considered as influencing factors, which should be explored in more detail by future multicenter approaches. Considering the day-to-day fluctuation and the intermediate inter-rater reliability, we highly recommend to base nest complexity evaluation on means from several subsequent days analyzed by a group of experienced raters.
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26
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Tappe-Theodor A, King T, Morgan MM. Pros and Cons of Clinically Relevant Methods to Assess Pain in Rodents. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 100:335-343. [PMID: 30885811 PMCID: PMC6528820 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The primary objective of preclinical pain research is to improve the treatment of pain. Decades of research using pain-evoked tests has revealed much about mechanisms but failed to deliver new treatments. Evoked pain-tests are often limited because they ignore spontaneous pain and motor or disruptive side effects confound interpretation of results. New tests have been developed to focus more closely on clinical goals such as reducing pathological pain and restoring function. The objective of this review is to describe and discuss several of these tests. We focus on: Grimace Scale, Operant Behavior, Wheel Running, Burrowing, Nesting, Home Cage Monitoring, Gait Analysis and Conditioned Place Preference/ Aversion. A brief description of each method is presented along with an analysis of the advantages and limitations. The pros and cons of each test will help researchers identify the assessment tool most appropriate to meet their particular objective to assess pain in rodents. These tests provide another tool to unravel the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and help overcome the translational gap in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Tappe-Theodor
- Pharmacology Institute, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Tamara King
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
| | - Michael M Morgan
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA, USA
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27
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Häger C, Keubler LM, Talbot SR, Biernot S, Weegh N, Buchheister S, Buettner M, Glage S, Bleich A. Running in the wheel: Defining individual severity levels in mice. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2006159. [PMID: 30335759 PMCID: PMC6193607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The fine-scale grading of the severity experienced by animals used in research constitutes a key element of the 3Rs (replace, reduce, and refine) principles and a legal requirement in the European Union Directive 2010/63/EU. Particularly, the exact assessment of all signs of pain, suffering, and distress experienced by laboratory animals represents a prerequisite to develop refinement strategies. However, minimal and noninvasive methods for an evidence-based severity assessment are scarce. Therefore, we investigated whether voluntary wheel running (VWR) provides an observer-independent behaviour-centred approach to grade severity experienced by C57BL/6J mice undergoing various treatments. In a mouse model of chemically induced acute colitis, VWR behaviour was directly related to colitis severity, whereas clinical scoring did not sensitively reflect severity but rather indicated marginal signs of compromised welfare. Unsupervised k-means algorithm–based cluster analysis of body weight and VWR data enabled the discrimination of cluster borders and distinct levels of severity. The validity of the cluster analysis was affirmed in a mouse model of acute restraint stress. This method was also applicable to uncover and grade the impact of serial blood sampling on the animal’s welfare, underlined by increased histological scores in the colitis model. To reflect the entirety of severity in a multidimensional model, the presented approach may have to be calibrated and validated in other animal models requiring the integration of further parameters. In this experimental set up, however, the automated assessment of an emotional/motivational driven behaviour and subsequent integration of the data into a mathematical model enabled unbiased individual severity grading in laboratory mice, thereby providing an essential contribution to the 3Rs principles. Animal-based biomedical research is often accompanied by experience of discomfort or pain by the animal. Recognition of disturbed animal welfare is mandatory, and the classification and assessment of its severity is a crucial part of the legislative framework in the European Union (EU). In the present study, we analysed voluntary wheel running (VWR) behaviour as a measure of compromised welfare in a mouse colitis model. Unsupervised mathematical clustering of clinical and VWR data enabled us to allocate and classify severity levels. This cluster model was verified using VWR data from a restraint stress model and allowed us to uncover the impact of routine experimental procedures on these mice. We propose that clustering of VWR behaviour provides a useful method for assessing the severity level of experimental procedures conducted on mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Häger
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lydia M. Keubler
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Steven R. Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Svenja Biernot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nora Weegh
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Manuela Buettner
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Silke Glage
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - André Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- * E-mail:
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28
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Side effects of pain and analgesia in animal experimentation. Lab Anim (NY) 2017; 46:123-128. [DOI: 10.1038/laban.1216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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29
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Sauer M, Fleischmann T, Lipiski M, Arras M, Jirkof P. Buprenorphine via drinking water and combined oral-injection protocols for pain relief in mice. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2016.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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30
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Ellen Y, Flecknell P, Leach M. Evaluation of Using Behavioural Changes to Assess Post-Operative Pain in the Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus). PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161941. [PMID: 27583446 PMCID: PMC5008650 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To manage pain effectively in people and animals, it is essential to recognise when pain is present and to assess its intensity. Currently there is very little information regarding the signs of post-surgical pain or its management in guinea pigs. Studies from other rodent species indicate that behaviour-based scoring systems can be used successfully to detect pain and evaluate analgesic efficacy. This preliminary study aimed to establish whether behaviour-based scoring systems could be developed to assess post-surgical pain in guinea pigs. This prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled study used 16 guinea pigs, and evaluated changes in behaviour following either anaesthesia alone or anaesthesia and orchiectomy. Behaviour was assessed using a combination of manual and automated scoring of remotely obtained video footage. A small number of behaviours were identified that appeared to have high specificity for pain caused by orchiectomy. However, the behaviours were displayed infrequently. The most common was a change in posture from standing to recumbency, sometimes with one hind leg extended either to the side or behind the body. A composite behaviour score incorporating these abnormal behaviours differentiated between the effects of surgery and anaesthesia alone (p<0.0001), and between animals that received analgesia post-operatively compared to an untreated group (p<0.0001). Although behavioural changes occurred in these guinea pigs after orchiectomy, the changes were relatively subtle and the individual specific pain-related behaviours occurred infrequently. However, it may prove possible to develop a behaviour-based scoring system for routine use in this species using a combination of pain-related behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette Ellen
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Flecknell
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Leach
- School of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
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31
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Voluntary and evoked behavioral correlates in inflammatory pain conditions under different social housing conditions. Pain Rep 2016; 1:e564. [PMID: 29392189 PMCID: PMC5741310 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Most preclinical pain models rely on short-duration stimulus-evoked hind paw measurements even though chronic pain is usually a day and night experience. Pain is a debilitating condition that influences the sociability and the ability for voluntary tasks, but the relevant behavioral readouts for these aspects are mostly underrepresented in the literature. Moreover, we lack standardization in most behavioral paradigms. Important aspects are herewith the combination and duration of particular behavioral tasks and the effects of social environment. We aimed at thoroughly investigating stimulus-evoked and voluntary behavioral parameters in the Complete Freund's Adjuvant model of unilateral hind paw inflammation in male mice. Moreover, we analyzed the impact of different social housing conditions. We used a portfolio of classical response measurements, detailed gait analysis, using 2 different measuring systems (Dynamic weight bearing and CatWalk), as well as observer-independent voluntary wheel running and homecage monitoring in a longitudinal time frame. The impact of grouped or isolated housing was investigated in all behavioral paradigms. We observed that unilateral hind paw inflammation provoked changes in several behaviors. Among these were wheel running activity and different homecage activity parameters. Stimulus-evoked hypersensitivity lasted much longer than gait abnormalities and decreased voluntary wheel running activity. Similar effects were monitored in both social housing conditions. This is the first longitudinal study providing detailed insights into various voluntary behavioral parameters related to pain in a unilateral inflammatory model. Stimulus-evoked behavioral changes lasted longer than changes in voluntary behavioral parameters, and the social environment hardly affects these changes.
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32
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Effects of experimental housing conditions on recovery of laboratory mice. Lab Anim (NY) 2015; 44:65-70. [PMID: 25602397 DOI: 10.1038/laban.662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The beneficial effects of environment and social support during disease recovery in humans are widely accepted. Because laboratory mice are social animals and are highly motivated to interact with each other and with their environment, it is very likely that environmental and social factors are also beneficial to their recovery from experimental interventions or spontaneous diseases. The beneficial effects of enriched environments have been particularly well analyzed in the field of brain disorders, but several studies suggest that positive social contact and a complex and familiar environment may also support recovery from injury, from invasive procedures such as surgery or from spontaneously occurring diseases. The author reviews relevant publications on the effects of environment and social housing on recovery from disease or surgery in laboratory mice and other rodents. She concludes that in addition to promoting animal welfare, provision of optimal experimental housing conditions might also contribute to the clinical relevance of preclinical animal models by more closely simulating the environmental and social characteristics of disease recovery in humans.
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Zhang T, Tian X, Wang Q, Tong Y, Wang H, Li Z, Li L, Zhou T, Zhan R, Zhao L, Sun Y, Fan D, Lu L, Zhang J, Jin Y, Xiao W, Guo X, Chui D. Surgical stress induced depressive and anxiety like behavior are improved by dapsone via modulating NADPH oxidase level. Neurosci Lett 2015; 585:103-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Revised: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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34
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The amount of cage bedding preferred by female BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Lab Anim (NY) 2014; 44:17-22. [PMID: 25526055 DOI: 10.1038/laban.659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In order to improve the welfare of laboratory mice, a number of different environmental enrichment strategies have been developed to provide opportunities for mice to engage in naturalistic behaviors. Providing sufficient cage bedding for mice to use as a burrowing substrate could be considered an environmental enrichment strategy, but few studies have considered the welfare aspects of cage bedding amount. The authors compared the preferences of group-housed female BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice for three different volumes of cage bedding (0.5 l, 1.5 l and 6 l). Mice of both strains but especially C57BL/6 mice showed strong preferences for cages with more bedding. The results highlight the importance of providing a sufficient amount of cage bedding to laboratory mice.
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Jirkof P, Tourvieille A, Cinelli P, Arras M. Buprenorphine for pain relief in mice: repeated injections vs sustained-release depot formulation. Lab Anim 2014; 49:177-87. [DOI: 10.1177/0023677214562849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Sustained-release formulations of analgesic drugs are promising alternatives to repeated drug injections. Here, we compared a sustained-release formulation of buprenorphine (SB, 2.2 mg/kg) with a standard protocol of three injections of buprenorphine (Temgesic, 0.1 mg/kg/8 h) in mice. Buprenorphine serum concentration and analgesic action (thermal sensitivity) were determined in healthy mice. Additionally, the pain relief properties of both protocols were assessed after laparotomy using physiological and ethological measures of pain and recovery. Serum concentrations and thermal sensitivity tests indicated duration of action of at least 4 h (but less than 8 h) with the Temgesic protocol, and 24–48 h with SB. Behavioural and clinical parameters indicated at least partial pain relief after surgery for both protocols. Observed side-effects of buprenorphine independent of the protocol were increased activity, disturbed circadian rhythm and several abnormal behaviours. A tendency for decreased food and water intake as well as body weight reduction was also seen. Body weight decreased significantly in animals that received three injections of Temgesic, regardless of whether surgery was performed or not ( P = 0.015; P = 0.023), hinting at a stress response towards this repeated intervention. In conclusion, an application interval of 8 h (Temgesic) appears too long and might lead to repeated periods with insufficient analgesia in animals undergoing lasting and/or substantial pain after surgery. In comparison to the standard protocol, SB provided a long-lasting, assured analgesia without possible stressful repeated injections in a standard surgical model, with only limited and acceptable behavioural side-effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Jirkof
- Division of Surgical Research, Centre for Clinical Research, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - P Cinelli
- Division of Trauma Surgery, Centre for Clinical Research, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Arras
- Division of Surgical Research, Centre for Clinical Research, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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36
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Cesarovic N, Arras M, Jirkof P. Impact of inhalation anaesthesia, surgery and analgesic treatment on home cage behaviour in laboratory mice. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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37
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Schuler B, Rieger G, Gubser M, Arras M, Gianella M, Vogel O, Jirkof P, Cesarovic N, Klohs J, Jakob P, Brock M, Gorr TA, Baum O, Hoppeler H, Samillan-Soto V, Gassmann M, Fischer JA, Born W, Vogel J. Endogenous α-calcitonin-gene-related peptide promotes exercise-induced, physiological heart hypertrophy in mice. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2014; 211:107-21. [PMID: 24479375 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 10/10/2013] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM It is unknown how the heart distinguishes various overloads, such as exercise or hypertension, causing either physiological or pathological hypertrophy. We hypothesize that alpha-calcitonin-gene-related peptide (αCGRP), known to be released from contracting skeletal muscles, is key at this remodelling. METHODS The hypertrophic effect of αCGRP was measured in vitro (cultured cardiac myocytes) and in vivo (magnetic resonance imaging) in mice. Exercise performance was assessed by determination of maximum oxygen consumption and time to exhaustion. Cardiac phenotype was defined by transcriptional analysis, cardiac histology and morphometry. Finally, we measured spontaneous activity, body fat content, blood volume, haemoglobin mass and skeletal muscle capillarization and fibre composition. RESULTS While αCGRP exposure yielded larger cultured cardiac myocytes, exercise-induced heart hypertrophy was completely abrogated by treatment with the peptide antagonist CGRP(8-37). Exercise performance was attenuated in αCGRP(-/-) mice or CGRP(8-37) treated wild-type mice but improved in animals with higher density of cardiac CGRP receptors (CLR-tg). Spontaneous activity, body fat content, blood volume, haemoglobin mass, muscle capillarization and fibre composition were unaffected, whereas heart index and ventricular myocyte volume were reduced in αCGRP(-/-) mice and elevated in CLR-tg. Transcriptional changes seen in αCGRP(-/-) (but not CLR-tg) hearts resembled maladaptive cardiac phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Alpha-calcitonin-gene-related peptide released by skeletal muscles during exercise is a hitherto unrecognized effector directing the strained heart into physiological instead of pathological adaptation. Thus, αCGRP agonists might be beneficial in heart failure patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Schuler
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology; Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
| | - G. Rieger
- Institute of Anatomy; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
| | - M. Gubser
- Institute of Anatomy; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
| | - M. Arras
- Division of Surgical Research; University Hospital Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - M. Gianella
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology; Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - O. Vogel
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology; Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - P. Jirkof
- Division of Surgical Research; University Hospital Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - N. Cesarovic
- Division of Surgical Research; University Hospital Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - J. Klohs
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering; University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology; Zürich (ETHZ); Zürich Switzerland
| | - P. Jakob
- Institute of Physiology and Cardiovascular Research; University of Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - M. Brock
- Division of Pulmonology; University Hospital Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
- Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP); Zürich Switzerland
| | - T. A. Gorr
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology; Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
- Clinic IV; Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology; University Medical Center; Freiburg Germany
| | - O. Baum
- Institute of Anatomy; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
| | - H. Hoppeler
- Institute of Anatomy; University of Bern; Bern Switzerland
| | - V. Samillan-Soto
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology; Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
- Physiology Department; Medical School; Universidad Alas Peruanas; Lima Peru
| | - M. Gassmann
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology; Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
- Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP); Zürich Switzerland
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH); Lima Peru
| | - J. A. Fischer
- Former Research Laboratory for Calcium Metabolism; Orthopedic University Hospital Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - W. Born
- Former Research Laboratory for Calcium Metabolism; Orthopedic University Hospital Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
| | - J. Vogel
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology; Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zürich; Zürich Switzerland
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Jirkof P, Fleischmann T, Cesarovic N, Rettich A, Vogel J, Arras M. Assessment of postsurgical distress and pain in laboratory mice by nest complexity scoring. Lab Anim 2014; 47:153-61. [PMID: 23563122 DOI: 10.1177/0023677213475603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Preliminary studies have suggested a correlation between postsurgical pain and nest building behaviour in laboratory mice. However, there is no standardized measure for estimating pain by means of nest building performance. Here, we investigated nest building under various conditions, and scored nest complexity to assess postsurgical pain. Mice of both sexes, different strains [C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and B6D2-Tg(Pr-mSMalphaActin)V5rCLR-25], and kept under different housing conditions, showed no differences in their latency to use the offered nest material. Healthy female C57BL/6J mice were engaged 4.3% of the day with nest building and showed three peaks of this behaviour: in the beginning and middle of the light phase, and in the second half of the dark phase. For assessment of postsurgical pain, female C57BL/6J mice underwent a sham embryo transfer +/− different doses of the analgesic carprofen or control treatment. Nest complexity scoring at 9 h after the experimental treatments (i.e. at the end of the light phase) resulted in less than 10% of animals with noticeably manipulated nest material (nestlet) after surgery and more than 75% of healthy mice having built identifiable-to-complex nests or had noticeably manipulated nestlets, while animals after anaesthesia-only showed intermediate nest complexity. Carprofen analgesia resulted in no (5 mg/kg) or only slight (50 mg/kg) improvement of nest complexity after surgery. Thus, nest complexity scoring can be incorporated into daily laboratory routine and can be used in mice as a sensitive tool for detecting reduced wellbeing and general condition, but probably not for determining the efficacy of pain treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulin Jirkof
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Jirkof P. Burrowing and nest building behavior as indicators of well-being in mice. J Neurosci Methods 2014; 234:139-46. [PMID: 24525328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2013] [Revised: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of pain, distress and suffering, as well as evaluation of the efficacy of stress-reduction strategies, is crucial in animal experimentation but can be challenging in laboratory mice. Nest building and burrowing performance, observed in the home cage, have proved to be valuable and easy-to-use tools to assess brain damage or malfunction as well as neurodegenerative diseases. Both behaviors are used as parameters in models of psychiatric disorders or to monitor sickness behavior following infection. Their use has been proposed in more realistic and clinically relevant preclinical models of disease, and reduction of these behaviors seems to be especially useful as an early sign of dysfunction and to monitor disease progression. Finally, both behaviors are reduced by pain and stress. Therefore, in combination with specific disease markers, changes in nest building and burrowing performance may help provide a global picture of a mouse's state, and thus aid monitoring to ensure well-being in animal experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulin Jirkof
- Division of Surgical Research, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Sternwartstr. 6, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Behavioral methods are extensively used in pain research. Rodent modeling tends to rely on evoked responses but there is a growing interest in behavioral readouts that may capture elements of ongoing pain and disability, reflecting the major clinical signs and symptoms. Clinically, analgesics show greater efficacy in acute pain after standard surgery than in chronic conditions but are never completely effective on a population basis. In contrast, experimental pharmacological studies in rodents often demonstrate full efficacy, but there is variability in sensitivity between models and readouts. Full efficacy is rarely seen when more complex or multiple readouts are used to quantify behavior, especially after acute surgery or in studies of clinical pain in animals. Models with excellent sensitivity for a particular drug class exist and are suitable for screening mechanistically similar drugs. However, if used to compare drugs with different modes of action or to predict magnitude of clinical efficacy, these models will be misleading. Effective use of behavioral pharmacology in pain research is thus dependent on selection and validation of the best models for the purpose.
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Jirkof P, Cesarovic N, Rettich A, Arras M. Housing of female mice in a new environment and its influence on post-surgical behaviour and recovery. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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