1
|
Reiber M, von Schumann L, Buchecker V, Boldt L, Gass P, Bleich A, Talbot SR, Potschka H. Evidence-based comparative severity assessment in young and adult mice. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285429. [PMID: 37862304 PMCID: PMC10588901 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In animal-based research, welfare assessments are essential for ethical and legal reasons. However, accurate assessment of suffering in laboratory animals is often complicated by the multidimensional character of distress and pain and the associated affective states. The present study aimed to design and validate multidimensional composite measure schemes comprising behavioral and biochemical parameters based on a bioinformatics approach. Published data sets from induced and genetic mouse models of neurological and psychiatric disorders were subjected to a bioinformatics workflow for cross-model analyses. ROC analyses pointed to a model-specific discriminatory power of selected behavioral parameters. Principal component analyses confirmed that the composite measure schemes developed for adult or young mice provided relevant information with the level of group separation reflecting the expected severity levels. Finally, the validity of the composite measure schemes developed for adult and young mice was further confirmed by k-means-based clustering as a basis for severity classification. The classification systems allowed the allocation of individual animals to different severity levels and a direct comparison of animal groups and other models. In conclusion, the bioinformatics approach confirmed the suitability of the composite measure schemes for evidence-based comparative severity assessment in adult and young mice. In particular, we demonstrated that the composite measure schemes provide a basis for an individualized severity classification in control and experimental groups allowing direct comparison of severity levels across different induced or genetic models. An online tool (R package) is provided, allowing the application of the bioinformatics approach to severity assessment data sets regardless of the parameters or models used. This tool can also be used to validate refinement measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Reiber
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Lara von Schumann
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Verena Buchecker
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Lena Boldt
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Gass
- RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andre Bleich
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Steven Roger Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and Central Animal Facility, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
De Vleeschauwer S, Lambaerts K, Hernot S, Debusschere K. Severity Classification of Laboratory Animal Procedures in Two Belgian Academic Institutions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2581. [PMID: 37627373 PMCID: PMC10451636 DOI: 10.3390/ani13162581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the EU Directive 2010/63, all animal procedures must be classified as non-recovery, mild, moderate or severe. Several examples are included in the Directive to help in severity classification. Since the implementation of the Directive, different publications and guidelines have been disseminated on the topic. However, due to the large variety of disease models and animal procedures carried out in many different animal species, guidance on the severity classification of specific procedures or models is often lacking or not specific enough. The latter is especially the case in disease models where the level of pain, suffering, distress and lasting harm depends on the duration of the study (for progressive disease models) or the dosage given (for infectious or chemically induced disease models). This, in turn, may lead to inconsistencies in severity classification between countries, within countries and even within institutions. To overcome this, two Belgian academic institutions with a focus on biomedical research collaborated to develop a severity classification for all the procedures performed. This work started with listing all in-house procedures and assigning them to 16 (sub)categories. First, we determined which parameters, such as clinical signs, dosage or duration, were crucial for severity classification within a specific (sub)category. Next, a severity classification was assigned to the different procedures, which was based on professional judgment by the designated veterinarians, members of the animal welfare body (AWB) and institutional animal ethics committee (AEC), integrating the available literature and guidelines. During the classification process, the use of vague terminology, such as 'minor impact', was avoided as much as possible. Instead, well-defined cut-offs between severity levels were used. Furthermore, we sought to define common denominators to group procedures and to be able to classify new procedures more easily. Although the primary aim is to address prospective severity, this can also be used to assess actual severity. In summary, we developed a severity classification for all procedures performed in two academic, biomedical institutions. These include many procedures and disease models in a variety of animal species for which a severity classification was not reported so far, or the terms that assign them to a different severity were too vague.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sophie Hernot
- Laboratory for In Vivo Cellular and Molecular Imaging (ICMI-MIMA/BEFY), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Karlijn Debusschere
- Core Facility ANIM, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium;
- Core ARTH, Animal Facility, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mallien AS, Pfeiffer N, Brandwein C, Inta D, Sprengel R, Palme R, Talbot SR, Gass P. Comparative Severity Assessment of Genetic, Stress-Based, and Pharmacological Mouse Models of Depression. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:908366. [PMID: 35783227 PMCID: PMC9245036 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.908366] [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: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of animals in neurosciences is pivotal to gaining insights into complex functions and dysfunctions of behavior. For example, various forms of physical and/or psychological stress are inherent to various animal models for psychiatric disorders, e.g., depression. Regarding animal welfare, it would be mandatory to use models that inflict the least amount of stress necessary to address the underlying scientific question. This study compared the severity of different approaches to induce depression in mice: mutagenesis in GluA1 knockout, immobilization stress, and stress-induction via stress hormone treatment. While genetic alterations potentially represent a lifelong burden, the temporary intervention only affects the animals for a limited time. Therefore, we used home cage-based behavioral and physiological parameters, including nest building, burrowing, body weight, and fecal corticosterone metabolites, to determine the well-being of male and female mice. In addition, we performed an evidence-based estimate of severity using a composite score for relative severity assessment (RELSA) with this data. We found that even though restraint stress and supplementation of corticosterone in the diet both aimed at depression-related precipitating stress effects, the latter affected the well-being much stronger, especially in females. Restraint leads to less noticeable well-being impairments but causes depression-associated anhedonic behavior. Mice of both sexes recovered well from the stress treatment. GluA1 KO and their littermates showed diminished well-being, comparable to the immobilization experiments. However, since this is a lifelong condition, this burden is not reversible and potentially accumulative. In line with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), the process of choosing the most suitable model should ideally include an evidence-based severity assessment to be able to opt for the least severe alternative, which still induces the desired effect. Promoting refinement, in our study, this would be the restraint stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Stephanie Mallien
- Research Group (RG) Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Anne Stephanie Mallien,
| | - Natascha Pfeiffer
- Research Group (RG) Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christiane Brandwein
- Research Group (RG) Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dragos Inta
- Research Group (RG) Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department for Community Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Rolf Sprengel
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research (MPIMF), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Steven R. Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Peter Gass
- Research Group (RG) Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
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.
Collapse
|
5
|
Schmidt M, Rossetti AC, Brandwein C, Riva MA, Gass P, Elsner P, Hesse-Macabata J, Hipler UC, Smesny S, Milleit B. Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Deficiency is Associated with Cognitive Impairment and Elevated Phospholipase A2 Activity in Plasma of Mice. Neuroscience 2022; 480:167-177. [PMID: 34801657 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Decreased levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) are a common finding in schizophrenia. Another well-documented protein linked to schizophrenia is intracellular Ca2+-independent Phospholipase (PLA2). However, the potential association between PLA2 and BDNF with regard to schizophrenia has yet to be examined. In the present study, male and female BDNF knockout mice, a possible genetic model of schizophrenia, were exposed to prenatal stress and tested in the nest test, open field test and T-maze. Following behavioral tests, whole brain and plasma samples were harvested to measure the activity of PLA2. BDNF knockout mice showed cognitive deficits in the T-maze. Furthermore, there was a quadratic association of PLA2 with performance in the open field test. Moreover, BDNF deficiency and female sex were associated with elevated plasma PLA2 levels. The cognitive impairment of BDNF heterozygous mice as well as their increased PLA2 activity in plasma is consistent with findings in schizophrenia patients. The particular elevation of PLA2 activity in females may partly explain sex differences of clinical symptoms in schizophrenia (e.g. age of onset, severity of symptoms). Additionally, PLA2 was significantly correlated with body and adrenal weight after weaning, whereby the latter emphasizes the possible connection of PLA2 with steroidogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Schmidt
- RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Andrea Carlo Rossetti
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti, 9, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Christiane Brandwein
- RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti, 9, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Peter Gass
- RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty of Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Peter Elsner
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Jana Hesse-Macabata
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Uta-Christina Hipler
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Smesny
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Berko Milleit
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07743 Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Distress Analysis of Mice with Cervical Arteriovenous Fistulas. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113051. [PMID: 34827783 PMCID: PMC8614439 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Functional hemodialysis access is essential for the survival of patients with end-stage renal disease. Although various guidelines recommend autologous arteriovenous fistula as the first choice for hemodialysis, it is still the Achilles heel for patients. Several in vivo models have been used to study and improve the mechanisms of vascular remodeling of arteriovenous fistula. However, some models have the disadvantage of having anatomical features or a hemodynamic profile different from that of the arteriovenous fistula in humans. In the presented cervical arteriovenous fistula model, these disadvantages were eliminated. It resembles the human physiology and is an ideal animal model for arteriovenous fistula research. Moreover, in order to understand the impact of this model on animal welfare, the distress of this new animal model was analyzed. Body weight, faecal corticosterone metabolites, burrowing activity, nesting behaviour and distress scores were analysed after fistula creation and during the following three weeks. The physiological, behavioural, and neuroendocrine assessments all indicated that this model causes only moderate distress to the animals. This not only meets the need for animal ethics but also improves the quality of scientific research. Therefore, this cervical model is suitable for arteriovenous fistula research and should be used more frequently in the future. Abstract The welfare of laboratory animals is a consistent concern for researchers. Its evaluation not only fosters ethical responsibility and addresses legal requirements, but also provides a solid basis for a high quality of research. Recently, a new cervical arteriovenous model was created in mice to understand the pathophysiology of arteriovenous fistula, which is the most commonly used access for hemodialysis. This study evaluates the distress caused by this new animal model. Ten male C57B6/J mice with cervical arteriovenous fistula were observed for 21 days. Non-invasive parameters, such as body weight, faecal corticosterone metabolites, burrowing activity, nesting activity and distress scores were evaluated at each time point. Six out of ten created arteriovenous fistula matured within the observation time as defined by an increased diameter. The body weight of all animals was reduced after surgery but recovered within five days. In addition, the distress score was significantly increased during the early time point but not at the late time point after arteriovenous fistula creation. Neither burrowing activity nor nesting behaviour were significantly reduced after surgical intervention. Moreover, faecal corticosterone metabolite concentrations did not significantly increase. Therefore, the cervical murine arteriovenous fistula model induced moderate distress in mice and revealed an appropriate maturation rate of the fistulas.
Collapse
|
7
|
Additional Assessment of Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites Improves Visual Rating in the Evaluation of Stress Responses of Laboratory Rats. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030710. [PMID: 33807941 PMCID: PMC8001186 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Assessment of animal welfare is an important aspect of preclinical studies to minimize suffering and burden and to improve scientific data. In a standard preclinical setup, such an assessment is normally done via so-called score sheets, which are part of the official documentation and approval of a preclinical study. These score sheets contain different categories, including objective parameters such as animals’ body weight, as well as more subjective criteria such as general status, behavior, and appearance, by which the animal is assessed and given a score reflecting the burden. However, very little is known about whether this mainly visual-based and subjective evaluation of the animals’ welfare reliably reflects the status of the animal and correlates well with more objective parameters used for assessment of animal welfare. To this end, the current study investigates the concordance of parameters obtained via standardized score sheets and fecal corticosterone metabolites in a preclinical neuroscientific setup. Determination of fecal corticosterone metabolites as response parameter of adrenocortical activity is thereby a well-validated parameter often used to determine animals’ stress levels. Our data reveal that specific but subjective scores did not mirror the stress response assessed via fecal corticosterone metabolites in the same animals. Abstract Since animal experiments cannot be completely avoided, the pain, suffering, and distress of laboratory animals must be minimized. To this end, a major prerequisite is reliable assessment of pain and distress. Usually, evaluation of animal welfare is done by visual inspection and score sheets. However, relatively little is known about whether standardized, but subjective, score sheets are able to reliably reflect the status of the animals. The current study aimed to compare visual assessment scores and changes in body weight with concentrations of fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs) in a neuroscientific experimental setup. Additionally, effects of refinement procedures were investigated. Eight male adult Sprague-Dawley rats underwent several experimental interventions, including electroencephalograph electrode implantation and subsequent recording, positron emission tomography (PET), and sleep deprivation (SD) by motorized activity wheels. Additional 16 rats were either used as controls without any treatment or to evaluate refinement strategies. Stress responses were determined on a daily basis by means of measuring FCMs, body weight, and evaluation of the animals’ welfare by standardized score sheets. Surgery provoked a significant elevation of FCM levels for up to five days. Increases in FCMs due to PET procedures or SD in activity wheels were also highly significant, while visual assessment scores did not indicate elevated stress levels and body weights remained constant. Visual assessment scores correlate with neither changes in body weight nor increases in FCM levels. Habituation procedures to activity wheels used for SD had no impact on corticosterone release. Our results revealed that actual score sheets for visual assessment of animal welfare did not mirror physiological stress responses assessed by FCM measurements. Moreover, small changes in body weight did not correlate with FCM concentration either. In conclusion, as visual assessment is a method allowing immediate interventions on suffering animals to alleviate burden, timely stress assessment in experimental rodents via score sheets should be ideally complemented by validated objective measures (e.g., fecal FCM measured by well-established assays for reliable detection of FCMs). This will complete a comprehensive appraisal of the animals’ welfare status in a retrospective manner and refine stressor procedures in the long run.
Collapse
|
8
|
Mallien AS, Pfeiffer N, Vogt MA, Chourbaji S, Sprengel R, Gass P, Inta D. Cre-Activation in ErbB4-Positive Neurons of Floxed Grin1/NMDA Receptor Mice Is Not Associated With Major Behavioral Impairment. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:750106. [PMID: 34899420 PMCID: PMC8660629 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.750106] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive evidence suggests a dysfunction of the glutamate NMDA receptor (NMDAR) in schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder with putative early neurodevelopmental origins, but clinical onset mainly during late adolescence. On the other hand, pharmacological models using NMDAR antagonists and the clinical manifestation of anti-NMDAR encephalitis indicate that NMDAR blockade/hypofunction can trigger psychosis also at adult stages, without any early developmental dysfunction. Previous genetic models of NMDAR hypofunction restricted to parvalbumin-positive interneurons indicate the necessity of an early postnatal impairment to trigger schizophrenia-like abnormalities, whereas the cellular substrates of NMDAR-mediated psychosis at adolescent/adult stages are unknown. Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and its receptor ErbB4 represent schizophrenia-associated susceptibility factors that closely interact with NMDAR. To determine the neuronal populations implicated in "late" NMDAR-driven psychosis, we analyzed the effect of the inducible ablation of NMDARs in ErbB4-expressing cells in mice during late adolescence using a pharmacogenetic approach. Interestingly, the tamoxifen-inducible NMDAR deletion during this late developmental stage did not induce behavioral alterations resembling depression, schizophrenia or anxiety. Our data indicate that post-adolescent NMDAR deletion, even in a wider cell population than parvalbumin-positive interneurons, is also not sufficient to generate behavioral abnormalities resembling psychiatric disorders. Other neuronal substrates that have to be revealed by future studies, may underlie post-adolescent NMDAR-driven psychosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne S Mallien
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Natascha Pfeiffer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Miriam A Vogt
- Interfaculty Biomedical Research Facility (IBF), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Chourbaji
- Interfaculty Biomedical Research Facility (IBF), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rolf Sprengel
- Research Group of the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research at the Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Gass
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dragos Inta
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sensini F, Inta D, Palme R, Brandwein C, Pfeiffer N, Riva MA, Gass P, Mallien AS. The impact of handling technique and handling frequency on laboratory mouse welfare is sex-specific. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17281. [PMID: 33057118 PMCID: PMC7560820 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74279-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Handling is a well-known source of stress to laboratory animals and can affect variability of results and even compromise animal welfare. The conventional tail handling in mice has been shown to induce aversion and anxiety-like behaviour. Recent findings demonstrate that the use of alternative handling techniques, e.g. tunnel handling, can mitigate negative handling-induced effects. Here, we show that technique and frequency of handling influence affective behaviour and stress hormone release of subjects in a sex-dependent manner. While frequent tail handling led to a reduction of wellbeing-associated burrowing and increased despair-like behaviour in male mice, females seemed unaffected. Instead, they displayed a stress response to a low handling frequency, which was not detectable in males. This could suggest that in terms of refinement, the impact in handling could differ between the sexes. Independently from this observation, both sexes preferred to interact with the tunnel. Mice generally explored the tunnel more often than the tail-handling hands of the experimenter and showed more positively rated approaches, e.g. touching or climbing, and at the same time, less defensive burrowing, indicating a strong preference for the tunnel.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Sensini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Dragos Inta
- RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christiane Brandwein
- RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Natascha Pfeiffer
- RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Peter Gass
- RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anne Stephanie Mallien
- RG Animal Models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|