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Improving the practicality of using non-aversive handling methods to reduce background stress and anxiety in laboratory mice
Gouveia, Kelly Hurst, Jane
Gouveia, Kelly
Hurst, Jane
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2019-12-30
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Abstract
Handling can stimulate stress and anxiety in laboratory animals that negatively impacts welfare
and introduces a confounding factor in many areas of research. Picking up mice by the tail is a major
source of handling stress that results in strong aversion to the handler, while mice familiarised with
being picked up in a tunnel or cupped on the open hand show low stress and anxiety, and actively seek
interaction with their handlers. Here we investigate the duration and frequency of handling required for
effective familiarisation with these non-aversive handling methods, and test whether this is sufficient
to prevent aversion and anxiety when animals then experience immobilisation and a mild procedure
(subcutaneous injection). Very brief handling (2 s) was sufficient to familiarise mice with tunnel
handling, even when experienced only during cage cleaning. Brief but more frequent handling was
needed for familiarisation with cup handling, while pick up by tail induced strong aversion even when
handling was brief and infrequent. Experience of repeated immobilisation and subcutaneous injection
did not reverse the positive effects of tunnel handling. Our findings demonstrate that replacing tail with
tunnel handling during routine cage cleaning and procedures provides a major refinement with little if
any cost for familiarisation.
Citation
Gouveia, K. & Hurst, J. L. (2019). Improving the practicality of using non-aversive handling methods to reduce background stress and anxiety in laboratory mice. Scientific Reports, 9, 20305. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56860-7
Publisher
Nature
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Scientific Reports
Research Unit
DOI
10.1038/s41598-019-56860-7
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Article
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2045-2322