Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS最新文献

{"title":"Beyond Comfort: A Review of the Critical Role of Bedding Selection in Rodent Welfare, Microenvironment, and Research Reproducibility.","authors":"Kathryn A O'Connell, Diego Celdran-Bonafonte","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-182","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-182","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review addresses the critical but often underappreciated influence of bedding selection on rodent welfare, cage microenvironment, occupational health, and research outcomes in biomedical studies. Although contact bedding is widely preferred by mice and rats and is the current industry standard, there is considerable variation in bedding type, volume, sterility, and manufacturer practices, with no established universal protocols. We synthesize over 150 publications, evaluating corncob, wood, and cellulose-based beddings with respect to their physical attributes, absorbency, ammonia management, dust and contaminant control, and support of species-typical behaviors. The review highlights methodological challenges and inconsistent results across studies, with absorbency and ammonia accumulation particularly affected by bedding mass, volume, and microbial contamination, rather than material type alone. Occupational health risks, including ergonomic strain and allergen exposure, are impacted by bedding handling frequency and composition. Animal health is generally not strongly influenced by bedding type, although pine shavings and certain corncob products present toxicity and reproductive risks in some studies. Bedding also has documented impacts on hepatic enzyme induction, neurobehavioral development, pain sensitivity assays, and gut microbiome composition, posing substantial risks for experimental confounding and compromised reproducibility. Based on the evidence, cellulose bedding is recommended for minimizing negative outcomes, but the complexity and variability inherent in bedding selection necessitate careful documentation and transparent reporting. We advocate for standardized detail in publications to ensure comparability and rigor across rodent-based research.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086205/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147476755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Letter to the Editor: The Value of a Paired Design Approach as a Strategy for Reduction of Animal Use.","authors":"Isabel Roussoulieres, Cristina Barbosa, Walter Lilenbaum","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-024","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147518055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals: A Vet's Vision for a More Humane Future, 2026, University of California Press, Oakland (ISBN 978-0520403963, 360 Pages, Hardback, 6.1-in. × 9-in., $26.95).","authors":"Stacy Pritt","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-045","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147523435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Rodent Welfare, Cost Savings, and Efficiency: Implementation and Review of Data-Driven Improvements.","authors":"Kerith R Luchins, Jessica L Felgenhauer","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-170","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-170","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>At the University of Chicago, we have implemented multiple practical, data-driven 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) strategies to improve rodent welfare over the past 5 years. As there are limited publications that outline an institutional approach, this work reviews the enhancements in animal welfare and operational practices implemented in our rodent program, offering a resource and reference for other institutions. These measures encompass the use of environmental health monitoring for both colony and quarantine surveillance and housing modifications, as well as advancements in enrichment, including nesting and structural options, adoption of mouse-preferred bedding substrate, and housing room temperature modifications to better support the thermoregulatory needs of the mice. In addition, we implemented cage change modifications, which include a scent transfer and reduced cage change frequency. Finally, the use of animal handling improvements at our institution includes refined handling techniques and transport cart modifications. Ultimately, we have been successful at improving animal welfare while also implementing cost savings and efficiency improvements.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086197/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethical Architecture and Scientific Partnership: The Enduring Role of the Laboratory Animal Veterinarian.","authors":"Mark A Suckow, Daniel D Myers","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-037","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-037","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086219/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147464491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maintaining Welfare While Extending Cage-Change Intervals: A Performance-Based Study in IVC-Housed Mice.","authors":"Alessandro P Lamacchia, Christin Herrmann, Kevin M O'Brien, Ken Cadwell, Blythe H Philips","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-011","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Most animal facilities schedule regular, time-dependent cage changes to manage the microenvironment within mouse cages. A 2-week cage-change frequency is accepted as the industry standard for individually ventilated cages (IVCs). Experiments involving certain enteric viruses may call for longer intervals between full changes to sustain persistent infection. Cage-change frequency is tied to both increases in animal stress and labor costs. Using 8-week-old wild-type C57BL/6J mice housed in IVCs (76.03 sq. in. with approximately 75 air changes per hour), we assessed the ability to extend the full cage-change interval for cages housing either 2 males or 2 females per cage. As an alternative to full cage changes, we also assessed the effect of changing half the bedding every 14 days for cages containing either 2 female, 4 female, or 2 male mice. We monitored microenvironmental parameters (in-cage ammonia, humidity, and temperature) along with visual cleanliness scores, daily health assessments, and histopathology of nasal tissue at study endpoint to determine the maximum acceptable time between full cage changes. We found that both pair-housed males and females could be housed without bedding change for 42 days, reaching exclusion due to soiled bedding accumulation instead of ammonia threshold or animal health concern. Cages with 2 male or 2 female mice that underwent biweekly partial bedding changes could be housed without a complete cage change for 84 days. Cages with 4 female mice on biweekly partial bedding changes maintained appropriate microenvironmental parameters for 62 days. No mice, in any group, exhibited severe histopathologic evidence of ammonia-induced injury or other disease. Our results indicate that, when cage density is reduced or partial bedding changes can be completed, extending the time before full cage change did not exceed predefined action thresholds and did not produce clinically apparent illness or histologic evidence consistent with ammonia-related injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147438705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oxygen Supplemented via Face Mask Counteracts Hypoxemia in Capuchin Monkeys (Sapajus spp.) under Butorphanol-Ketamine-Midazolam Restraint.","authors":"Mariana E Ferreira, André A Justo, Andressa F K T Lima, Juliana R Moncayo, Bruno R Laurito, Silvia R G Cortopassi","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-177","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-177","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This prospective, randomized, complete crossover study evaluated the effects of supplemental oxygen on arterial oxygenation and recovery quality in adult capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.; n = 8; 6 males and 2 females) chemically restrained with intramuscular butorphanol (0.5 mg/kg), ketamine (15 mg/kg), and midazolam (1 mg/kg). Each monkey underwent 2 anesthetic events, separated by a 2-week interval: one breathing room air (GAIR) and one receiving oxygen via face mask at 3 L/min (GOXY), both conducted during dorsal recumbency. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and rectal temperature were registered every 10 minutes for 45 minutes. Arterial blood gases were analyzed at 10 and 30 minutes postrestraint, with oxygen supplementation in GOXY initiated after the 10-minute time point and maintained for 35 minutes. Recovery was continuously video-recorded for later assessment of time to standing and recovery quality by one blinded and one nonblinded observer. At 10 minutes, 14 of 16 monkeys exhibited hypoxemia (partial pressure of arterial oxygen [PaO2] range: 48-81 mm Hg). By 30 minutes, PaO2 and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) increased significantly in GOXY, reaching 298-458 mm Hg and 100%, respectively, whereas GAIR animals remained hypoxemic (47-70 mm Hg and ≤92%, respectively). Pulse oximetry-derived SpO2 consistently overestimated saturation at low SaO2 values. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) rose significantly in GOXY, with hypercapnia (PaCO2 range: 33-57 mm Hg) documented in 6/8 individuals at 30 minutes. In contrast, no cases of hypercapnia were observed in GAIR (PaCO2 range: 22-45 mm Hg) at the same time point. No significant between-group differences were detected in SpO2, HR, RR, or temperature over time. Time to standing and recovery quality were similar between groups. Supplemental oxygen via face mask effectively corrected hypoxemia in Sapajus spp. chemically restrained with butorphanol, ketamine, and midazolam.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086204/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147476742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacokinetics and Analgesic Efficacy of a Novel Extended-Release Buprenorphine Formulation in Mice.","authors":"Stephanie Yang, Christopher D Fry, Laura B Durham, Daniel D Myers, Patrick A Lester","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-192","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-192","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Long-acting buprenorphine formulations present a remarkable refinement for the care and management of postoperative pain in rodents. We describe here the evaluation of a novel extended-release buprenorphine formulation (Bup ER) for use in laboratory mice. The pharmacokinetics of a single subcutaneous dose of Bup ER (5 mg/kg) were characterized in male and female CD-1 mice at 0.5, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 168 hours postinjection. Plasma buprenorphine concentrations exceeded 1 ng/mL within 0.5 hours and were maintained above this threshold for up to 120 hours postadministration. The analgesic efficacy of Bup ER was assessed using a tail flick thermal nociception assay and a plantar incisional hypersensitivity model. Mice received Bup ER (5 mg/kg SC, once) or saline (subcutaneously, once) prior to tail flick nociception testing or plantar incisional surgery with corresponding mechanical (von Frey) and thermal (Hargreaves) hypersensitivity testing. Tail flick thermal nociception testing for male and female CD-1 mice indicated significant differences in maximum possible effect between Bup ER and saline groups from 0.5 to 96 hours. Mechanical hypersensitivity was not observed in male or female Bup ER-treated groups for up to 96 hours. Although thermal hypersensitivity was observed in male and female mice that received Bup ER, mice presented significantly less thermal hypersensitivity (attenuation) compared with the saline group from 1 to 48 hours. No abnormal clinical observations were appreciated. Gross findings revealed mild erythema or alopecia at the injection site, and 3 mice developed skin ulcerations that were attributed to injection technique where use of small-gauge needles led to administration into the intradermal compared with subcutaneous space. Ulcerative lesions were not observed after procedures to confirm injection site administration were implemented. Bup ER provided effective postoperative analgesia for 48-96 hours in mice and demonstrated an extended plasma concentration profile up to 120 hours for long-acting analgesia.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147464422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cage-Side Blood Collections from the Ear Can Be Used for Hematological Evaluations in Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata).","authors":"Gina A Kim, Saniya S Sabnis, Taylor A Sheridan, Grace Chester, Magdalena A Argomaniz, Wayne T Cheng, Sarah H Roberson, Celia L Saney, Mary A McCrackin, Chester J Joyner","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) are used in biomedical research where frequent, small-volume blood sampling for monitoring the animal's health may be required. Femoral blood collected under anesthesia is the standard for obtaining CBC analyses from nonhuman primates to assess their health. However, anesthetizing animals to obtain these collections may not be ideal due to adverse impacts of frequent anesthesia. Cage-side blood sampling from the pinna of the ear is a convenient and less invasive method for blood collection without anesthesia. However, it is unknown whether hematologic parameters from blood collected from the pinna are representative of femoral blood collections. The objective of this study was to determine whether hematologic parameters obtained from blood collected from the pinna of the ear can be used as a surrogate for hematologic parameters from blood collected from the femoral vein in Japanese macaques. Ten male Japanese macaques were trained to present their pinnae for blood collections without anesthesia, after which the macaques were anesthetized for pinna and femoral blood sampling for comparison. Anesthesia, rather than blood sampling site, was responsible for statistically significant differences in leukocyte parameters between pinna and femoral blood samples. In contrast, differences in erythrocyte and platelet parameters between pinna and femoral blood were driven by the collection site, with anesthesia contributing to a lesser degree. While statistical differences were identified, the clinical relevance of these differences was minimal. Taken together, this study indicates that cage-side pinna blood samples collected from conscious Japanese macaques are different than femoral blood samples collected under anesthesia but are suitable for frequent hematologic monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147518045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Hidden Lives of Lab Animals: A Vet's Vision for a More Humane Future, 2026, University of California Press, Oakland (ISBN 978-0520403963, 360 Pages, Hardback, 6.1-in. × 9-in., $26.95).","authors":"Stacy Pritt","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-26-045","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147655551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}