Optimising reliability of mouse performance in behavioural testing: the major role of non-aversive handling.

ABSTRACT: Handling laboratory animals during test procedures is an important source of stress that may impair reliability of test responses. Picking up mice by the tail is aversive, stimulating stress and anxiety. Responses among anxious animals can be confounded further by neophobia towards novel test environments and avoidance of test stimuli in open areas. However, handling stress can be reduced substantially by using a handling tunnel, or cupping mice without restraint on the open hand. Here we establish whether non-aversive handling, brief prior familiarisation with the test arena and alternative stimulus placement could significantly improve performance of mice in behavioural tests. We use a simple habituation-dishabituation paradigm in which animals must discriminate between two urine stimuli

SUBMITTER: Gouveia K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5359560 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature