The little changes
can make a big difference:
Handle mice with care.
Traditionally laboratory mice are handled by picking them up by the tail, yet increasing evidence suggests that this is bad, both for the mice themselves and the quality of the science they are being used for. The evidence for this started building from Hurst and West’s 2010 study which demonstrated that handling by the tail resulted in increased aversion and anxiety.
The researchers proposed two alternative methods for handling laboratory mice: holding the mice cupped in the hands or using tunnels that the mice can crawl into and be transported by carrying the tunnels. These novel methods of handling led to the mice approaching the handler voluntarily, being more accepting of physical restraint and showing lower levels of anxiety.
In science it’s rare to tell a complete story through the findings of a single research paper, click here for the next chapter of this tale/tail!
Original research: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.1500