Behavioral, clinical, and physiologic analysis of mice used for ascites monoclonal antibody production

The effects of pristane inoculation, ascites accumulation, peritoneocentesis, and analgesics on the well-being of mice used in monoclonal antibody (MAb) production protocols were investigated.

Four experiments, each containing 17 to 21, 6- to 8-week-old male Balb/c mice, were conducted. Each experiment involved a period in which baseline data were collected, followed by intraperitoneal injections of pristane or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) inoculations into each mouse. One week later mice received intraperitoneal inoculations of either hybridoma cells or PBS. Parameters used to assess well-being throughout each of these periods included: wheel-running activity, food and water consumption, open-field box activity, clinical observation, and plasma corticosterone concentration.

Compared to controls, pristane inoculation had slight to no affect on mice. There was no evidence of distress in cell-inoculated mice prior to their gaining 25% of their baseline body weight. The number of times (up to three) that peritoneocentesis was performed did not have a significant impact on mice's well-being, but ascites yields were greater when multiple harvests were performed. Cell-inoculated mice that gained weight slowly or developed high-particulate ascites were at higher risk of being distressed.

Ascites yields can be maximized by performing multiple harvests; however, the well-being of mice used in such protocols should be closely monitored, as suggested here.