Morphometrics of <i>Xenopus laevis</i> Kept as Laboratory Animals
Morphometric data that provide information on body conditions can be used to monitor the health and well-being of animals. In laboratory animals, they can help to evaluate the stress due to experiments or treatments, following the 3R principles. The aim of the present study was to obtain morphometri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/2986 |
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| author | Linda F. Böswald Dana Matzek Helen Mohr Ellen Kienzle Bastian Popper |
| author_facet | Linda F. Böswald Dana Matzek Helen Mohr Ellen Kienzle Bastian Popper |
| author_sort | Linda F. Böswald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Morphometric data that provide information on body conditions can be used to monitor the health and well-being of animals. In laboratory animals, they can help to evaluate the stress due to experiments or treatments, following the 3R principles. The aim of the present study was to obtain morphometric data of male and female African clawed frogs, <i>Xenopus laevis</i>, as the bases for body condition evaluations. Adult frogs (<i>n</i> = 198) were weighed and standardized photographs were taken. The photographs were used to determine several measurements (length, cranial width, caudal width, thigh width). In addition, a triangle was drawn to outline each frog’s simplified body form, and the triangle surface was calculated. In conclusion, the triangle surface drawn on the dorsal plane of each frog correlated with the body weight of the females. There were significant differences between the body weights and sizes of male and female frogs, with males being smaller (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Based on the morphometric data, females could be assigned to five groups in which an assessment of the animal’s well-being is feasible. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:20:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f787b25d5cb400f814594df3c0c42b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:20:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f787b25d5cb400f814594df3c0c42b72023-11-24T03:25:06ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-10-011221298610.3390/ani12212986Morphometrics of <i>Xenopus laevis</i> Kept as Laboratory AnimalsLinda F. Böswald0Dana Matzek1Helen Mohr2Ellen Kienzle3Bastian Popper4Chair for Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Schönleutnerstr. 8, 85764 Oberschleißheim, GermanyBiomedical Center, Core Facility Animal Models, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 9, 82152 Martinsried, GermanyBiomedical Center, Core Facility Animal Models, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 9, 82152 Martinsried, GermanyChair for Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Schönleutnerstr. 8, 85764 Oberschleißheim, GermanyBiomedical Center, Core Facility Animal Models, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 9, 82152 Martinsried, GermanyMorphometric data that provide information on body conditions can be used to monitor the health and well-being of animals. In laboratory animals, they can help to evaluate the stress due to experiments or treatments, following the 3R principles. The aim of the present study was to obtain morphometric data of male and female African clawed frogs, <i>Xenopus laevis</i>, as the bases for body condition evaluations. Adult frogs (<i>n</i> = 198) were weighed and standardized photographs were taken. The photographs were used to determine several measurements (length, cranial width, caudal width, thigh width). In addition, a triangle was drawn to outline each frog’s simplified body form, and the triangle surface was calculated. In conclusion, the triangle surface drawn on the dorsal plane of each frog correlated with the body weight of the females. There were significant differences between the body weights and sizes of male and female frogs, with males being smaller (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Based on the morphometric data, females could be assigned to five groups in which an assessment of the animal’s well-being is feasible.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/2986amphibianAfrican clawed frogbody condition score |
| spellingShingle | Linda F. Böswald Dana Matzek Helen Mohr Ellen Kienzle Bastian Popper Morphometrics of <i>Xenopus laevis</i> Kept as Laboratory Animals Animals amphibian African clawed frog body condition score |
| title | Morphometrics of <i>Xenopus laevis</i> Kept as Laboratory Animals |
| title_full | Morphometrics of <i>Xenopus laevis</i> Kept as Laboratory Animals |
| title_fullStr | Morphometrics of <i>Xenopus laevis</i> Kept as Laboratory Animals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphometrics of <i>Xenopus laevis</i> Kept as Laboratory Animals |
| title_short | Morphometrics of <i>Xenopus laevis</i> Kept as Laboratory Animals |
| title_sort | morphometrics of i xenopus laevis i kept as laboratory animals |
| topic | amphibian African clawed frog body condition score |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/2986 |
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