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Related Experiment Videos

Aversion to gaseous euthanasia agents in rats and mice.

Matthew C Leach1, Verity A Bowell, Teresa F Allan

  • 1Biomedical Services Unit, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, United Kingdom.

Comparative Medicine
|July 10, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Carbon dioxide and argon mixtures cause distress in rodents during euthanasia. Researchers found these gases, especially carbon dioxide, are aversive, suggesting more humane alternatives are needed for laboratory animals.

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Area of Science:

  • Veterinary science
  • Animal welfare science
  • Laboratory animal science

Background:

  • Euthanasia is common in laboratory animals.
  • Gaseous agents are frequently used for animal euthanasia.
  • Concerns are rising regarding the humaneness of carbon dioxide euthanasia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distress caused by carbon dioxide, argon, and their mixtures in rats and mice.
  • To assess the aversion of laboratory rodents to different concentrations of these euthanasia agents.
  • To compare the aversiveness of carbon dioxide and argon-based euthanasia methods.

Main Methods:

  • Rodents (rats and mice) were exposed to varying concentrations of carbon dioxide, argon, and carbon dioxide-argon mixtures in a freely accessible test chamber.

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  • Aversion was measured by recording initial withdrawal time and total dwelling time in the test chamber.
  • Gas concentrations were compared against a control (air) exposure.

    • Main Results:

    • Recommended euthanasia concentrations of carbon dioxide and argon mixtures induced noticeable aversion in rodents.
    • Carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide-argon mixtures were found to be more aversive than argon alone.
    • Both rats and mice exhibited avoidance behaviors, indicating distress.

    Conclusions:

    • The use of carbon dioxide, alone or with argon, for rodent euthanasia is likely to cause significant distress prior to unconsciousness.
    • Current recommended concentrations of these agents may not be humane.
    • The findings highlight the need for and availability of more humane euthanasia alternatives for laboratory rodents.