Pub Date : 2025-10-10DOI: 10.1038/s41684-025-01618-0
Philipp Villiger, Charlotte Calvet, Eva Maria Pastor-Arroyo, Carsten A. Wagner, Petra Seebeck
Metabolic cages (MCs) are often used to collect feces and urine samples. However, the housing of mice in MCs can be stressful, potentially affecting parameters of interest. Here we compare our standard protocol for individual MC housing (4 days at 23 °C: 3 days of permanent acclimatization followed by 24 h sampling (MC23)) with a short-term intermittent acclimatization protocol (3 h of MC housing for 3 days plus 24 h sampling (accMC23)), the provision of a nest (4 days at 23 °C in MC (nest-MC23)) and MC housing at thermoneutrality (4 days at 30 °C, MC30)). C57BL6/N mice were implanted with telemetric transmitters to collect electrocardiograms, blood pressure, core body temperature and activity data. Single-housed mice in the MC at 23 °C had lower core body temperatures and higher heart and respiratory rates than mice in the MC30 group. Mice housed in MCs at 23 °C exhibited increased food consumption and weight loss, combined with significantly increased expression of messenger RNAs of key molecules in brown fat compared with mice housed in MCs at 30 °C. They also showed increased corticosterone levels. Some male mice of the MC23 and accMC23 groups exhibited episodes of reduced core body temperature and reduced blood pressure and heart rate. Our study demonstrates that housing mice in MCs at 23 °C has a substantial impact on their physiology and welfare due to a substantial cold stress. MC housing at thermoneutrality (30 °C) provides a simple solution to improve mouse welfare. Furthermore, the results showed that a single acclimatization period had the same effect as repeated exposure to the MCs and, therefore, provided no additional benefit. The study compares acclimatization protocols for metabolic cages and found that the standard housing at 23 °C impacts mice’s physiology and welfare owing to cold stress. However, thermoneutral housing provides a simple solution to improve mouse welfare.
{"title":"Thermoneutral environment improves mouse welfare and reduces stress in metabolic cages","authors":"Philipp Villiger, Charlotte Calvet, Eva Maria Pastor-Arroyo, Carsten A. Wagner, Petra Seebeck","doi":"10.1038/s41684-025-01618-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41684-025-01618-0","url":null,"abstract":"Metabolic cages (MCs) are often used to collect feces and urine samples. However, the housing of mice in MCs can be stressful, potentially affecting parameters of interest. Here we compare our standard protocol for individual MC housing (4 days at 23 °C: 3 days of permanent acclimatization followed by 24 h sampling (MC23)) with a short-term intermittent acclimatization protocol (3 h of MC housing for 3 days plus 24 h sampling (accMC23)), the provision of a nest (4 days at 23 °C in MC (nest-MC23)) and MC housing at thermoneutrality (4 days at 30 °C, MC30)). C57BL6/N mice were implanted with telemetric transmitters to collect electrocardiograms, blood pressure, core body temperature and activity data. Single-housed mice in the MC at 23 °C had lower core body temperatures and higher heart and respiratory rates than mice in the MC30 group. Mice housed in MCs at 23 °C exhibited increased food consumption and weight loss, combined with significantly increased expression of messenger RNAs of key molecules in brown fat compared with mice housed in MCs at 30 °C. They also showed increased corticosterone levels. Some male mice of the MC23 and accMC23 groups exhibited episodes of reduced core body temperature and reduced blood pressure and heart rate. Our study demonstrates that housing mice in MCs at 23 °C has a substantial impact on their physiology and welfare due to a substantial cold stress. MC housing at thermoneutrality (30 °C) provides a simple solution to improve mouse welfare. Furthermore, the results showed that a single acclimatization period had the same effect as repeated exposure to the MCs and, therefore, provided no additional benefit. The study compares acclimatization protocols for metabolic cages and found that the standard housing at 23 °C impacts mice’s physiology and welfare owing to cold stress. However, thermoneutral housing provides a simple solution to improve mouse welfare.","PeriodicalId":17936,"journal":{"name":"Lab Animal","volume":"54 11","pages":"303-312"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41684-025-01618-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145261272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-08DOI: 10.1038/s41684-025-01615-3
Tim Schreiber, Sandra Lange, Steven R. Talbot, Jakob Brandstetter, Emily Leitner, Christian Junghanss, Brigitte Vollmar, Rupert Palme, Anna Richter, Simone Kumstel
Despite ongoing research, realistic in vitro models for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that can mimic the complex pathology are still not available, highlighting the need for continuous animal-based investigation. As part of the 3R principles, constant refinement of animal experiments is mandatory. Therefore, reviewing the effectiveness of used analgesics is essential for animal model-specific refinement. Here we evaluate whether metamizole—previously used in our institute—or tramadol is more suitable as on-demand analgesia in mouse models of ALL. The murine orthotopic xenograft models were induced by intravenous injection of either the human precursor ALL cell lines RS4;11 or SEM into immune-deficient male and female NSG mice. Mice were weighed and checked daily for basic behavior and well-being, while detailed welfare parameters, such as burrowing behavior, nesting activity, perianal temperature, liquid intake, fecal corticosterone metabolites, mouse grimace scale and tumor cell proliferation were monitored weekly. Upon leukemic progression, when signs of pain or discomfort were observed, metamizole (3 mg/ml) or tramadol (1 mg/ml) was administered via drinking water for analgesic treatment, and detailed welfare parameters were assessed daily. Following the initiation of treatment, mice receiving either metamizole or tramadol continued to show a decline in body weight, liquid intake and other welfare parameters, suggesting that neither drug was sufficient to fully counteract the effects of late-stage ALL. Combining the data with the relative severity assessment algorithm revealed that metamizole treatment appeared less effective than tramadol in mitigating the detrimental effects of the disease. Therefore, the opioid tramadol should replace metamizole as the analgesic compound of choice for hematological xenograft models to improve animal welfare in future studies. By assessing different clinical, behavioral and welfare parameters, the authors demonstrate that the oral administration of tramadol is more suitable than metamizole as on-demand analgesia in mouse models of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
{"title":"Improving pain management for murine orthotopic xenograft models of acute lymphoblastic leukemia","authors":"Tim Schreiber, Sandra Lange, Steven R. Talbot, Jakob Brandstetter, Emily Leitner, Christian Junghanss, Brigitte Vollmar, Rupert Palme, Anna Richter, Simone Kumstel","doi":"10.1038/s41684-025-01615-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41684-025-01615-3","url":null,"abstract":"Despite ongoing research, realistic in vitro models for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that can mimic the complex pathology are still not available, highlighting the need for continuous animal-based investigation. As part of the 3R principles, constant refinement of animal experiments is mandatory. Therefore, reviewing the effectiveness of used analgesics is essential for animal model-specific refinement. Here we evaluate whether metamizole—previously used in our institute—or tramadol is more suitable as on-demand analgesia in mouse models of ALL. The murine orthotopic xenograft models were induced by intravenous injection of either the human precursor ALL cell lines RS4;11 or SEM into immune-deficient male and female NSG mice. Mice were weighed and checked daily for basic behavior and well-being, while detailed welfare parameters, such as burrowing behavior, nesting activity, perianal temperature, liquid intake, fecal corticosterone metabolites, mouse grimace scale and tumor cell proliferation were monitored weekly. Upon leukemic progression, when signs of pain or discomfort were observed, metamizole (3 mg/ml) or tramadol (1 mg/ml) was administered via drinking water for analgesic treatment, and detailed welfare parameters were assessed daily. Following the initiation of treatment, mice receiving either metamizole or tramadol continued to show a decline in body weight, liquid intake and other welfare parameters, suggesting that neither drug was sufficient to fully counteract the effects of late-stage ALL. Combining the data with the relative severity assessment algorithm revealed that metamizole treatment appeared less effective than tramadol in mitigating the detrimental effects of the disease. Therefore, the opioid tramadol should replace metamizole as the analgesic compound of choice for hematological xenograft models to improve animal welfare in future studies. By assessing different clinical, behavioral and welfare parameters, the authors demonstrate that the oral administration of tramadol is more suitable than metamizole as on-demand analgesia in mouse models of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.","PeriodicalId":17936,"journal":{"name":"Lab Animal","volume":"54 11","pages":"313-320"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41684-025-01615-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145246671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-07DOI: 10.1038/s41684-025-01632-2
Yan Guo, Chang-ye Hui
Recent advancements in mercury bioremediation highlight the potential of engineered organisms to transform toxic mercury into less harmful forms. Two pioneering studies demonstrate the ability of genetically modified animals and bacteria to mitigate mercury toxicity. However, these approaches face challenges, including intracellular toxicity and limited bioconversion efficiency.
{"title":"From passive defense to proactive detoxification: transformative strategies in mercury bioremediation","authors":"Yan Guo, Chang-ye Hui","doi":"10.1038/s41684-025-01632-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41684-025-01632-2","url":null,"abstract":"Recent advancements in mercury bioremediation highlight the potential of engineered organisms to transform toxic mercury into less harmful forms. Two pioneering studies demonstrate the ability of genetically modified animals and bacteria to mitigate mercury toxicity. However, these approaches face challenges, including intracellular toxicity and limited bioconversion efficiency.","PeriodicalId":17936,"journal":{"name":"Lab Animal","volume":"54 11","pages":"293-294"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145241111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1038/s41684-025-01627-z
Alexandra Le Bras
{"title":"Strain differences in endometriosis models","authors":"Alexandra Le Bras","doi":"10.1038/s41684-025-01627-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41684-025-01627-z","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17936,"journal":{"name":"Lab Animal","volume":"54 10","pages":"255-255"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1038/s41684-025-01629-x
Jorge Ferreira
{"title":"Context blindness in a mouse model of autism","authors":"Jorge Ferreira","doi":"10.1038/s41684-025-01629-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41684-025-01629-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17936,"journal":{"name":"Lab Animal","volume":"54 10","pages":"256-256"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41684-025-01629-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1038/s41684-025-01616-2
Lauren Danridge, Bill Greer, Pamela Lanford, Coralie Zegre Cannon, Amanda Rhoads, Emily Weston, Louis DiVincenti, Axel Wolff
In this new scenario, we have invited experts from the University of Maryland (Pamela Lanford) and from Becton Dickinson (Coralie Zegre Cannon, Amanda Rhoads and Emily Weston), along with USDA and OLAW representatives (Louis DiVincenti and Axel Wolff), to respond to a scenario about the regulatory requirements for semi-annual inspections in remote or select agent facilities.
{"title":"Necessary innovation for semiannual inspections?","authors":"Lauren Danridge, Bill Greer, Pamela Lanford, Coralie Zegre Cannon, Amanda Rhoads, Emily Weston, Louis DiVincenti, Axel Wolff","doi":"10.1038/s41684-025-01616-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41684-025-01616-2","url":null,"abstract":"In this new scenario, we have invited experts from the University of Maryland (Pamela Lanford) and from Becton Dickinson (Coralie Zegre Cannon, Amanda Rhoads and Emily Weston), along with USDA and OLAW representatives (Louis DiVincenti and Axel Wolff), to respond to a scenario about the regulatory requirements for semi-annual inspections in remote or select agent facilities.","PeriodicalId":17936,"journal":{"name":"Lab Animal","volume":"54 10","pages":"247-249"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1038/s41684-025-01630-4
Alexandra Le Bras
{"title":"Mind the tag","authors":"Alexandra Le Bras","doi":"10.1038/s41684-025-01630-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41684-025-01630-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17936,"journal":{"name":"Lab Animal","volume":"54 10","pages":"257-257"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41684-025-01630-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-30DOI: 10.1038/s41684-025-01631-3
Alexandra Le Bras
{"title":"The mechanics of tumor plasticity","authors":"Alexandra Le Bras","doi":"10.1038/s41684-025-01631-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41684-025-01631-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17936,"journal":{"name":"Lab Animal","volume":"54 10","pages":"258-258"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41684-025-01631-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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