Sex Differences in Physiological Acclimatization after Transfer in Wistar Rats
Most laboratory animals used in research are vendor-bred and transferred to research facilities. Transfer procedures might have considerable and unintended effects on research results. In the present study we compared physiological and behavioral parameters before and after external and internal tra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-10-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/4/4/693 |
| _version_ | 1831770806753951744 |
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| author | Johanna W. M. Arts Klaas Kramer Saskia S. Arndt Frauke Ohl |
| author_facet | Johanna W. M. Arts Klaas Kramer Saskia S. Arndt Frauke Ohl |
| author_sort | Johanna W. M. Arts |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Most laboratory animals used in research are vendor-bred and transferred to research facilities. Transfer procedures might have considerable and unintended effects on research results. In the present study we compared physiological and behavioral parameters before and after external and internal transfer, as well as between transferred and non-transferred Wistar rats. The impact of both external and internal transfer on body weight, plasma corticosterone levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and locomotor activity was studied in both male and female Wistar rats, taking into account the sex differences in stress responsivity. External transfer was found to decrease body weight, increase plasma corticosterone, increase activity, increase heart rate in female rats, but decrease heart rate in male rats. Parameters showed differences between the sexes and light phases. This study shows that acclimatization after transfer is sex-specific and researchers should take the sex into consideration when determining the acclimatization period. It is recommended to allow for acclimatization of at least 8 days in males and two weeks in females after external transfer and timely (2 days before starting experiments) transfer the animals internally to the testing room. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:47:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc2e29d98ef1481d81a7f70009d66ab3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:47:26Z |
| publishDate | 2014-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc2e29d98ef1481d81a7f70009d66ab32022-12-21T18:33:36ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152014-10-014469371110.3390/ani4040693ani4040693Sex Differences in Physiological Acclimatization after Transfer in Wistar RatsJohanna W. M. Arts0Klaas Kramer1Saskia S. Arndt2Frauke Ohl3Department of Animals in Science & Society, Division of Animal Welfare & Laboratory Animal Science, Veterinary Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CM, The NetherlandsDepartment of Animals in Science & Society, Division of Animal Welfare & Laboratory Animal Science, Veterinary Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CM, The NetherlandsDepartment of Animals in Science & Society, Division of Animal Welfare & Laboratory Animal Science, Veterinary Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CM, The NetherlandsDepartment of Animals in Science & Society, Division of Animal Welfare & Laboratory Animal Science, Veterinary Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CM, The NetherlandsMost laboratory animals used in research are vendor-bred and transferred to research facilities. Transfer procedures might have considerable and unintended effects on research results. In the present study we compared physiological and behavioral parameters before and after external and internal transfer, as well as between transferred and non-transferred Wistar rats. The impact of both external and internal transfer on body weight, plasma corticosterone levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and locomotor activity was studied in both male and female Wistar rats, taking into account the sex differences in stress responsivity. External transfer was found to decrease body weight, increase plasma corticosterone, increase activity, increase heart rate in female rats, but decrease heart rate in male rats. Parameters showed differences between the sexes and light phases. This study shows that acclimatization after transfer is sex-specific and researchers should take the sex into consideration when determining the acclimatization period. It is recommended to allow for acclimatization of at least 8 days in males and two weeks in females after external transfer and timely (2 days before starting experiments) transfer the animals internally to the testing room.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/4/4/693transportationtransferacclimatizationheart rateblood pressurelocomotor activitycorticosteronerat |
| spellingShingle | Johanna W. M. Arts Klaas Kramer Saskia S. Arndt Frauke Ohl Sex Differences in Physiological Acclimatization after Transfer in Wistar Rats Animals transportation transfer acclimatization heart rate blood pressure locomotor activity corticosterone rat |
| title | Sex Differences in Physiological Acclimatization after Transfer in Wistar Rats |
| title_full | Sex Differences in Physiological Acclimatization after Transfer in Wistar Rats |
| title_fullStr | Sex Differences in Physiological Acclimatization after Transfer in Wistar Rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex Differences in Physiological Acclimatization after Transfer in Wistar Rats |
| title_short | Sex Differences in Physiological Acclimatization after Transfer in Wistar Rats |
| title_sort | sex differences in physiological acclimatization after transfer in wistar rats |
| topic | transportation transfer acclimatization heart rate blood pressure locomotor activity corticosterone rat |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/4/4/693 |
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