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

{"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}

{"title":"Determination of Cardiac Troponin I in Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) under Different Restraint Methods and Using a Point-of-Care Assay or Laboratory Analyzer.","authors":"Amanda L Day, Kelly S Santangelo, Sarah M Ozawa, João Brandão, Miranda J Sadar","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-181","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Guinea pigs are a commonly used model for laboratory research, as well as being housed in zoological institutions and kept as pets. These animals can develop cardiac disease, and additional diagnostic modalities are needed to help expediently and accurately diagnose it. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a cardiac-specific biomarker associated with myocyte damage. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the utility of a point-of-care (POC) cTnI assay in guinea pigs via cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue homogenates serially diluted in saline; (2) compare this POC assay to a high-sensitivity assay; and (3) determine the effect of restraint method (awake, isoflurane, and ketamine-xylazine) on cTnI measurements. A total of 45 guinea pigs were used in this study. Homogenates of cardiac muscle produced detectable concentrations of cTnI, while skeletal muscle homogenates did not. There was a significant difference between the POC (cTnI median 0.000 [range 0.000-0.0450] ng/mL) and the high-sensitivity (cTnI 0.025 [range 0.010-0.042] ng/mL) assays, suggesting that the former may require its own reference interval. There were no significant differences detected among the order of treatments (P = 0.66320), the method of restraint (P = 0.2315), or the interaction between the treatments (P = 0.9755); however, there were more nonzero values obtained for cTnI 7 days after anesthesia with ketamine-xylazine. These results suggest that this POC assay may be useful in the detection of cTnI in guinea pigs using a variety of restraint methods, although a high-sensitivity assay is recommended when low concentrations or small variations in concentration need to be detected.</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":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147367778","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":"A Pharmacokinetic and Efficacy Study of FDA-Indexed Pharmaceutical-Grade Extended-Release Buprenorphine and Compounded Sustained-Release Buprenorphine in African Green Monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops).","authors":"Tracy J Brown, Trinity Rudd, Robert C diTargiani, Jeffrey L Langston, Todd M Myers, Elliot Ramos-Rivera, Laura E Riddle, Amy E Field, Hilary McCarren","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-163","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Compounded sustained-release buprenorphine (SRB) has historically been used at our institution for postoperative analgesia in African green monkeys (AGMs), but it is not FDA approved and lacks species-specific data. With the recent FDA indexing of pharmaceutical-grade extended-release buprenorphine (EXR; Ethiqa XR; Fidelis), we aimed to compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile using serial plasma sampling up to 96 hours and postoperative analgesic efficacy of EXR compared with SRB. A total of 10 AGMs (n = 5 per test article) received 0.2 mg/kg SC of either EXR or SRB to complete the PK study. For the efficacy study, 20 animals (n = 10 per test article) were monitored for 3 days postoperatively after EEG telemetry surgery with femoral artery catheterization for behavioral indicators of pain and adverse effects. Plasma buprenorphine levels were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. PK study observations included appetite, fecal output, and injection site reactions. Both formulations achieved plasma concentrations above the presumed therapeutic threshold (0.1 ng/mL) for up to 96 hours. SRB produced higher mean plasma levels at early time points (30 minutes, 4 hours), but the overall PK profiles were similar. Injection site reactions were minimal and resolved spontaneously. For the efficacy assessment, clinical observations were evaluated using a postoperative score sheet. No significant differences were observed in postoperative pain scores between groups. Both EXR and SRB at 0.2 mg/kg SC provided sustained therapeutic plasma levels up to 96 hours and were well tolerated in AGMs, with comparable efficacy in postoperative pain control. EXR offers a compliant and effective alternative to compounded SRB for analgesia in AGMs, supporting its use in laboratory settings and regulatory compliance with current guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086206/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146121360","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":"Enhancing Laboratory Animal Welfare through Motivational Training of Facility Personnel: A One Welfare Approach.","authors":"Bianca Franzoni Ribeiro, Luisa Maria Gomes de Macedo Braga, Thiago Zaqueu de Lima, Luis Gabriel Alves Santos, Marta Lorena Speck da Silva, Vitor Barbosa Fialho Martins, Lauriene Luiza de Souza Munhoz, Patricia Reginato Facciotti, Daniele Dos Santos Martins, Vera Letticie de Azevedo Ruiz","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-169","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Measuring the effect of laboratory animal facilities employees' motivational training on laboratory animal welfare is essential to study the impact of the human factor on experimental results. To test this, 15 volunteers were initially recruited, with 14 completing the motivational training, and its impact on animal welfare was evaluated in 174 Swiss mice, specifically primiparous pregnant females. The mice were grouped into a control group (n = 90), observed before the motivational training, and a treated group (n = 84), observed immediately after training. Animal welfare was assessed through various measures, including nesting ability, scored from 0 to 5, time to integrate into nest test, and maternal behavior (considering rates of maternal care such as licking/grooming and staying with the pups). Each volunteer's motivational level was evaluated using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, PERMA (positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment) Profiler, and The Authentic Happiness Inventory. The motivational training was based on Yale University's course \"The Science of Well-Being,\" the book The How of Happiness, and \"Motivation and Action.\" Results indicated that the methods used to assess mouse welfare might have been influenced by environmental differences at each research center, resulting in a lack of reproducibility. The motivational training effect varied across research centers, suggesting context-dependent outcomes potentially influenced by environmental or institutional factors for nesting scores and maternal behavior tests. However, no effect of motivational training was observed on the time to integrate into nest test, although facility-related differences were significant. The questionnaires revealed improvements in personnel well-being, although the effect on happiness was attenuated in one facility, indicating possible institutional barriers to intervention efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086186/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147319353","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":"The Effect of Capromorelin and Extended-Release Buprenorphine on Body Weight in Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus).","authors":"Jennifer K Silvers, Sarah L W Norris, Elizabeth M Punger, Amanda Chisty","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are widely used in biomedical research and are sensitive to stress-induced anorexia and weight loss. Buprenorphine extended release (XR) is commonly used for analgesia in laboratory animals but has been associated with decreased appetite and weight loss. Capromorelin, a ghrelin receptor agonist, is FDA-approved to stimulate appetite in dogs and cats. However, its utility in mitigating opioid-associated weight loss in guinea pigs has not been evaluated. This study's primary objective was to evaluate the effects of capromorelin on body weight in guinea pigs, both independently and in conjunction with buprenorphine XR administration, and whether oral capromorelin mitigates the weight loss associated with buprenorphine administration. A secondary objective was to evaluate habituation to voluntary consumption of an oral delivery puree and continued consumption of the puree with capromorelin added. Forty-eight female guinea pigs were randomized into 4 groups (n = 12/group) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Animals were acclimated for 5 days to receive oral treatments, and all received either oral capromorelin (5 mg/kg) or sham treatment daily for 3 days, combined with either a single subcutaneous dose of buprenorphine XR (0.48 mg/kg) or saline. Body weights were recorded days -7 through -3 and days 0 through 5. All animals accepted oral treatments without the need for oral gavage. Guinea pigs receiving buprenorphine XR experienced significant weight loss compared with controls and were significantly less likely to return to baseline weight. Capromorelin treatment did not significantly affect weight change, and no interaction between capromorelin and buprenorphine XR was observed. Therefore, capromorelin at 5 mg/kg once a day for 3 days did not mitigate weight loss associated with buprenorphine XR administration in guinea pigs. These findings emphasize the need for species-specific evaluation of appetite stimulants and support the value of extended monitoring following administration of long-acting analgesics.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147319284","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":"Efficacy and Pharmacokinetics of 3 Sustained-Release Buprenorphine Formulations in Cairo Spiny Mice (Acomys cahirinus).","authors":"Diana E Hasler, Lorna M Dunn, Christopher D Fry, Tara L Martin, Gerry Hish, Patrick A Lester","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-141","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-141","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>African spiny mice (Acomys spp.) are an emerging animal model for regeneration due to their remarkable healing capabilities. Defining characteristics of these species include fragile skin that sloughs easily and shedding of the tail skin when grabbed, making handling and administration of parenteral drugs difficult in conscious animals. In addition, many studies in spiny mice involve painful procedures. To our knowledge, there are no reports regarding analgesia in Acomys spp. This prospective study aimed to assess 3 sustained-release buprenorphine formulations-lipid-bound extended-release buprenorphine (XRB), polymeric sustained-release buprenorphine (SRB), and long-acting transdermal buprenorphine (TB)-in spiny mice. Adult male and female Cairo spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) were included and administered 1 of the 3 treatments (XRB 3.25 mg/kg, SRB 1 mg/kg, or TB 20 mg/kg). Tail flick assays to assess nociception and terminal blood collection for pharmacokinetic analysis were performed at baseline and a set timepoint following treatment administration (1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours) (n = 3 of each sex per timepoint per treatment group). Additional animals underwent repeated serial tail flick assays at 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours following the administration of treatment or sterile saline (n = 5-8 of each sex per treatment group). XRB displayed the longest duration at which mean plasma buprenorphine concentrations were >1 ng/mL, with the drug remaining above this level for 48-72 hours, compared with 24-48 hours in spiny mice receiving TB and 8 hours in those receiving SRB. On serial tail flick assays, the mean percentage of maximum possible efficacy was highest at all timepoints up to 72 hours in the TB group, followed by the XRB group, suggestive of greater analgesic efficacy. Several spiny mice receiving SRB developed ulcerative skin lesions within 24 hours of administration, so this treatment is not recommended in Acomys without additional evaluation. XRB and TB are promising analgesic therapies in spiny mice, and treatment selection should be based on whether duration of action or ease of application is the priority.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13091606/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147319345","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":"Cuprizone in Peanut Butter: An Alternative Method of Cuprizone Administration to Model Demyelination of the Central Nervous System.","authors":"Brooke Hawker, Ethan Chiddicks, Jack Flanagan, Bronwen Connor, Amy McCaughey-Chapman","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-151","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Modeling disease in rodents is essential for preclinical research, particularly in the development of drugs and therapies. Traditional disease modeling approaches often rely on invasive and stressful procedures such as repeated injections and/or surgical approaches. These methods raise welfare concerns and can introduce stress-related variables that compromise model reliability. Cuprizone (CPZ) is a copper-chelating compound widely used to induce CNS demyelination in mice over a 6-week period via incorporation into ground rodent chow. However, the presumed adverse taste of CPZ reduces food intake, resulting in weight loss, inconsistent consumption, and variable levels of demyelination, complicating disease comparison. To address this, we proposed that mixing CPZ into peanut butter (CPZ-PB) would promote voluntary intake, standardize daily dosing, and minimize weight loss, while maintaining effective demyelination. Thirty mice were divided into control, CPZ-PB, or CPZ-chow groups and received treatment daily for 6 weeks. Body weight and CPZ intake were recorded daily. The effect of demyelination through mechanical allodynia was assessed via the dynamic plantar aesthesiometer. Immunohistochemical analysis of myelin proteins and astrocyte activation was conducted on the brain and spinal cord after 6 weeks of treatment. Voluntary consumption of CPZ-PB successfully ameliorated weight loss concerns and achieved consistent daily CPZ dosing. Behavioral and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed effective demyelination comparable to traditional CPZ-chow methods. This study introduces an improved CPZ administration strategy that enhances animal welfare and provides a more reliable model for demyelination research.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086187/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146204277","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 Paw Withdraw Pressure in Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Treated with Transdermal Buprenorphine.","authors":"Shawn Kozlov, Selena M Guerrero-Martin, Grace Payne, Lon V Kendall","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of effective analgesia is a cornerstone of laboratory animal care, one that minimizes pain and distress while optimizing care and welfare. Guinea pigs are often used in biomedical research requiring appropriate pain management. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of transdermal buprenorphine (Zorbium), a commercial product labeled for use in cats. Guinea pigs (n = 12) received a transdermal dose of buprenorphine (2.7 mg per guinea pig), an average dose of 3.4 mg/kg, applied topically to the interscapular area. Plasma concentration, paw withdraw pressure (PWP) response, sedation scores, and body temperature were collected at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 120 hours after application. Plasma concentrations peaked at 77.8 ng/mL at 1 hour and remained greater than the targeted 1.0 ng/mL for up to 120 hours, with a half-life of 46.7 hours. PWP peaked at 24 hours with 671.2 g of pressure, remained elevated through 48 hours at 364 g, and returned to baseline by 72 hours. Sedation scores (posture, ambulation, resistance to handling) were slightly elevated at 12 hours, body weight did not significantly change, and rectal temperatures remained normal at all time points. These results suggest that transdermal buprenorphine maintains a prolonged therapeutic plasma level and is an effective analgesic for up to 48 hours in guinea pigs, with minimal side effects. This formulation is an alternative to other buprenorphine formulations that would require less handling for guinea pigs.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146204315","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":"Analysis of Gross and Histopathologic Changes from Repeated Celiotomies in African Clawed Frogs (Xenopus laevis).","authors":"Darya Mailhiot, Rebecca Turcios, Genevieve Remmers, Jennifer Brazzell, George P Langan, Bridget M Clancy, Kelly Kries, Kerith R Luchins","doi":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-24-097","DOIUrl":"10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-24-097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Repeated survival surgical oocyte collection in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) is commonly performed to access high-quality, viable oocytes for research procedures and to reduce the number of animals used in research. Despite this common practice, there is no evidence-based limit for the total number of survival celiotomies that can be performed. To provide an improved reference, a retired colony of experimental frogs (n = 31) was euthanized for gross and histopathologic evaluation and then compared with 4 experimentally naive age-matched controls (n = 4). Experimental animals underwent 4-11 celiotomies (average 6 ± 2) and were between 180 and 1,646 days (average 448 ± 245.2 days) from their last surgery. Body weight, residual skin, and coelomic wall sutures were counted. Surgically incised skin and coelomic wall musculature were collected for histopathology. A cumulative skin score and a coelomic wall score were developed to reflect all histopathologic evidence of acute and chronic inflammation. The cumulative skin score was significantly predicted by the number of surgeries (P = 0.003), but not predicted by the number of skin sutures remaining (P = 0.14). The coelomic wall score was significantly predicted by the number of coelomic sutures placed (P < 0.001) and the number of surgeries (P < 0.001). Neither one of the histopathology scores correlated to the number of days since the last surgery (P > 0.2). As one would expect, increasing the number of surgeries and coelomic sutures correlated with the histopathologic finding of a chronic inflammatory process in the skin. Although a specific recommendation for a maximum number of surgeries could not be discerned, this study provides an improved reference for Xenopus survival surgical oocyte collection underscoring the recommendation to use absorbable sutures within the body cavity and to remove all external nonabsorbable sutures 10-14 days postoperatively.</p>","PeriodicalId":94111,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13086188/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146204488","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}