Scribd
Upload
5 views

Handling Laboratory Animals

The document outlines the handling and inoculation techniques for various laboratory animals, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate animal models for experimental studies. It details the classification of animals, methods of handling different species, routes of administration for substances, and techniques for blood collection. The document also highlights the significance of humane treatment and proper techniques to ensure the welfare of the animals during experimentation.

Uploaded by

ruthkobusingye10
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5 views

Handling Laboratory Animals

The document outlines the handling and inoculation techniques for various laboratory animals, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate animal models for experimental studies. It details the classification of animals, methods of handling different species, routes of administration for substances, and techniques for blood collection. The document also highlights the significance of humane treatment and proper techniques to ensure the welfare of the animals during experimentation.

Uploaded by

ruthkobusingye10
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Handling of laboratory animals

Animal inoculation Techniques using different routes


Introduction:
Selection of an animal model is one of the most important step in any of the experimental studies. Animal model
preferred for the study must be producing similar disease profile as in the human.
Animal model selected should follow three main objectives:
1. Use of an animal phylogenetically closer to man.
2. Use of an animal in which the process under investigation is as close as possible to that in man.
3. The Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry are considered to be similar .
Classification of experimental animals:
1. RODENTS (Mice, Rats, Guinea pigs, Hamster… etc.)
2. NON-RODENTS (Rabbit, Dog, Cat, Monkey…..etc.)
MOUSE :
Smallest laboratory animal Easy to keep, handle and require small place for housing,
uniformly breed. Common strain Swiss albino mice, Sensitive to small doses of drugs.

RAT:
Rat is commonly used for the assay of different hormones and for the study of the oestrous
cycle, mating behavior and fertility.

Guinea pig :
Herbivorous and eats green foods seed and roots. Guinea pig are not able to synthesize
required daily vit C. Highly sensitive to histamine,Highly sensitive to penicillin Serum
contains an enzyme asparaginase, which shows anti- leukemic action, very susceptible to
tuberculosis and anaphylactic shock .

Hamster :
Third commonly used laboratory animal. Two species are commonly used : Golden or Syrian
Hamster -Chinese Hamster.Hamsters are used extensively in onco virus, influenza virus,
respiratory syncitical virus (RSV) studies and vaccine production Cheek pouches do not have
lymphatic drainage and hence they are ideal site for tissue transplants such as tumors and crafts
European hamster is a more suitable model for highly concentrated and prolonged smoke
inhalation studies.

Rabbit:
Very docile animals, Used for testing of large volume parenterals and for the screening and
bioassay of insulin, antidiabetic and curaremimetic drugs.New Zealand white rabbits have been
used in the screening of different drugs for diseases like diabetes, diphtheria, tuberculosis,
cancer and heart diseases. Employed in screening of antifertility drugs and for teratogenic
studies. Skin is sensitive to irritation. Hence used for irritancy tests. Good model for the
production of antibodies and antiserums.

ANIMAL HANDLING:
Before restrain, first pet or sooth the animal by slow deliberate movements in the body, overcrowding near the animal
cage should be , noise should be kept as minimum, don’t hold animal too hard, never agitate the animal, it may
become violent for self protection.
MOUSE:One can handle it with the help of blunt forceps by grasping the skin behind the neck or body. (to transfer
from one cage to another) Grasp the base of the tail with one hand and with the other grasp the loose skin behind its
neck Hold the complete body by grabbing back of neck by using all fingers

RAT:Lift rat out of the cage by grasping the base of the tail and place on a soft surface Place your index and middle
fingers alongside the rat’s head and your thumb and ring fingers under its forelegs. Use your index and middle fingers
to secure its head and remaining fingers to support the body Hold the complete body by grabbing the back using
complete palm

GUINEA PIG:By using both hands, calmly grasp it with one hand under the chest and use your other hand to support
its hindquarters Handle guinea pig with one hand, by holding its hindquarter

HAMSTER : Hold the complete body by grabbing at the nap of the neck by thumb and index finger and grasp the
complete body by using rest of fingers Hold the complete body by grabbing back by using complete palm

RABBIT : By using single hand, hold the pelvic region. This is to transfer rabbits from one cage to another By using
both the hands, hold the complete hindquarter. By using both hands, calmly grasp it with one hand supporting back of
neck and the other hand supporting its hindquarters.

ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION:
1. FEEDING OR ORAL CAVAGES:
Feeding or oral gavages Hold the rodent in hand carefully Measure the tube length from nose to the last rib of the
rodent and mark it Give a gentle tight grip at back of the neck, so that it opens its mouth widely. Push the rodent head
slightly upward and back to straighten esophagus and then either from right or left side of the teeth, insert the tube by
gentle rotation to avoid the resistance

2. INTRAPERITONEAL :
3. INTRAVENOUS :
4. INTRAMUSCULAR :
5. SUBCUTANEOUS :
6. INTRACARDIAC INJECTION:

BLOOD COLLECTION FROM EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS:


1. Terminal blood collection --whole blood withdrawal.
2. Non terminal blood collection (Single blood removal -- Multiple blood withdrawals).

TERMINAL BLOOD COLLECTION:


Done either after exsanguinations of the animal by physical stunning or after submitting the animal to general
anesthesia The blood from such animals can be collected by:

Withdrawal of blood from venacava or aorta after performing laparatomy Animals are subjected to exanguination after
decapitation, the jugular vein or carotid artery is exposed given an incision and blood is directly collected using a
syringe Blood can also be collected by retro-orbital bleeding of smaller animal like mice rats and hamsters.

NON TERMINAL COLLECTION OF BLOOD:


Required for single or multiple withdrawals. Different peripheral veins of different animals may be used for collection
of blood For multiple withdrawals, the amount of blood sample should not exceed 1% of total blood volume every 24
hours.
For single withdrawal of blood, up to 15% of total blood volume does not adversely affect animal. Withdrawal of
more than 15%may lead to cardiac failure. A single withdrawal of up to 15%of total blood volume can be repeated
after 3-4 weeks from the normal healthy animal.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF BLOOD REMOVAL:

1. BLOOD COLLECTION FROM TIP OF TAIL:


Common method used in rats and mice for collecting 0.1ml from the capillary blood is to cut sharply the tip of tail
Adequate for multiple collection of blood samples for the determination of biochemical parameters like blood glucose,
radio labelled drugs etc.. In tail less animals cardiac puncture is used for collection of blood.
2. BLOOD FROM SUPERFICIAL VEINS:
In larger animals superficial veins are used for blood collection The bore of the needle should as large as possible for
ensuring rapid withdrawal of blood A check is made afterwards to ensure that no after bleeding occurs from this point

3. PERMANENT VENOUS CANNULATION:


Used for chronic experiments which necessitate multiple blood collection at regular intervals The catheters are made
to exit at the back of animal for only 2cms and capped with steel needles and at the time of blood collection a longer
catheter is attached Thrombi formation due to clotting can be prevented by repeatedly filling the catheter with saline
containing heparin

4. RETRO-ORBITAL BLEEDING:
This technique for collection of blood should be used as the last resort ,by a well trained staff and be confirmed only to
one of the eyes Employed in small animals like rat and mice when larger amount of blood is required which cannot be
collected from tail vein or in tail less animals Should ideally be performed in anaesthetized animals

5. CARDIAC PUNCTURE:
Generally employed in guinea pig, hamsters and gerbils. It is ideal to perform cardiac puncture in anaesthetized animal
in order to reduce stress and facilitate smooth handling of animals Premedication with atropine helps to prevent
cardiac arrhythmias

You might also like