Design of environment for animals

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Design of environment for animals

• The ABC of Animal Experiments 2008
• NLAC
• Kristiina Raatesalmi, FT

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Standardization of the environment

• optimal possible environment to each animal
  species
• possibilities to species specific behaviour
• quality of research
• reduction of animals needed in experiments

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Best possible environment increases welfare

• Physical environment
• appropriate complexity
• meets species-specific needs
• secures health
• prevents injuries
• Psychological environment
• appropriate complexity
• allows species-specific patterns

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Technical planning

• Environment
• -airflow
• -temperature
• -humidity
• -lightning
• -noise
• Techical and service instruments

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Environmental factors affecting animal experiments

• cage (material, structure, size, bedding, social
  contacts)
• noise
• microbiology
• nutrition and drinking water
• photoperiod (normal/turned)
• temperature
• humidity
• volatiles (CO2, NH3 perfumes!)
• handling
• experimental procedures

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Environment

• physical
• chemical
• social
• microbiological

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Physical environment

• cage
• ventilation
• temperature
• humidity
• lightning
• noise

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Temperature

• Species Optimal range
• oC
• mouse 20-24
• rat 20-24
• guinea pig 20-24
• rabbit 15-21
• swine 10-24

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Other physical factors

• ventilation
• fresh, clean air 15 x/hour
• humidity
• 45-65 optimal
• lighting
• below 300 lux
• photoperiod
• normally 1212
• sound
• rodents are sensitive to ultrasounds!

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Lighting

• albinos sensitive
• retinal athropy and degeneration
• automatically regulated photoperiod
• if disturbed, effects may last weeks
• effects on physiology (especially reproduction)
• rodents are active at night
• night light (1-2 lux)
• DO NOT TOUCH THE LIGHT SWITCH IN THE ANIMAL ROOM
  OR IN THE CORRIDOR!!!

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Social contacts

• group housing recommended
• group density
• quarantine
• experiments
• operations
• different species in different rooms
• special needs
• human contacts

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Chemical environment

• bedding
• detergent traces
• food
• drinking water
• drugs
• volatiles

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Smell

• most animals have a good sense of smell
• effects poorly known
• predator-prey
• pheromones
• Avoid extra smell

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Social environment

• cage mates
• conspecifics
• (other species, not allowed in the room!)
• humans

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Microbiological environment

• bacteria
• viruses
• fungi
• parasites

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Microbiological environment

• Defined microbiological status
• 1. axenic animals
• absence of all microbes
• 2. gnotobiotic animals
• absence of microbes or associated only with
  known species
• 3. SPF animals
• specific pathogen free
• 4. conventional animals

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Housing

• housing (conventional, barrier, IVC, isolator)
• cage/pen space
• bedding and nest material
• enrichment
• tubes, igloos
• toys

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Enrichment
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Exercises

• You are going to perform an animal experiment
  concerning the following research topics
• 1. Toxicological research
• drug toxicity via inhalation of the compound
• 2. Nutritional research related to cardiovascular
  problems
• the influence of dietary cholesterol
  concentrations on the development of
  atherosclerotic plaques in the blood vessels
• 3. Choice of drinking different liquids
• selection for breeding (ethanol 12 )
• behavioural research (sucrose 0.8 )

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• 4. Pharmacological research
• the influence of a new pharmacon on behaviour
• Questions
• 1. What animal species would you use?
• 2. How to accomodate these animals and how to
  ensure well-being?
• size and design of the cage
• number of animals per cage
• group housing vs. single housing
• climate (temperature, relative humidity, light,
  noise)
• environmental enrichment