Lab Animals

mouse

• most widely used mammal in research

• easy to maintain

• prolific

• great genetic diversity

rats

• easily maintained

• good household pets

• larger (good for surgical manipulation and sample collection)

rabbits

• can be house trained

• good pets

• exhibited in shows

• research

• food/fur/byproducts

mouse and rat order

rodentia

rabbit order

lagomorpha

mouse scientific name

mus musculus

mouse and rat mom

dam

mouse and rat dad

sire

mouse and rat parturition

pup

mouse and rat offspring

pup

rabbit mom

doe

rabbit dad

buck

rabbit parturition

kindle

rabbit offspring

kit/kittling

how to pick up mice

• grasp base of tail with dominant hand

• place mouse on a surface that will give give mouse firm footing

• using thumb and forefinger grasp scruff

• hold tail with last two fingers

how to hold rates

do not hold scruff as it is stressful for them

• grasp at base of tail for cursory examination

• for firmer restraint

  • grasp whole body

  • circle thumb and index finger around forelimbs

  • rest of you fingers circle around chest

  • use other hand to support lower body and hold tail

how to hold rabbits

susceptible to lumbar and spinal luxation - handle with care

• grasp skin over shoulder or scruff (more secure) with one hand and support hindquarters with other

• if needed, use restraint box or cat bag

temporary ID

• felt tip marker on ear or tail and lasts several days

• dyes on fur will last several weeks

  • restricted to albino or light-colored animals

• shave patch of fur on back/side

permanant ID

• ear punching

• ear tagging

• subcutaneously implanting coded transponder microchip

ear punching

• commonly used

• special punch to produce a small notch at edge or punch a hole in middle of ear

• test device before animal use

• disinfected or autoclave entire punch before use

mouse life span

1-2 yrs

mouse adult weight (F/M)

30/35 g

mouse breeding onset (F/M)

6-7/6-8 wks

mouse estrous cycle

4-5 d

mouse gestation

19-21 d

mouse weaning

21 d

mouse litter size

10-12

rat life span

2-4 yrs

rat adult weight (F/M)

300-500 g

rat breeding onset (F/M)

9-10/9-11 wks

rat estrous cycle

4-5 d

rat gestation

20-22 d

rat weaning age

21 d

rat litter size

9-11

rabbit life span

5-6 yrs

rabbit adult weight (F/M)

6/5 kg

rabbit breeding onset (F/M)

5/6 mo

rabbit estrous cycle

15-16 (induced)

rabbit gestation

31-32 d

rabbit weaning age

4-8 wks

rabbit litter size

7-9

lee-boot effect

• used to synch females

• house together

• enter “persistent diestrus”

• useful for breeding

whitten effect

• use bedding from. male into cage

• females will be estrus stage ~3 d later

how to tell stage of mouse cycle

• sample cells from vagina with swab

• look at vulva

  • diestrus: small vulva opening and dry

  • rising levels of estrogen in proestrus and estrus make vulva moister and pink