Does the routine handling affect the phenotype of disease model mice?

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Animal Behavior
• Laboratory Animal Science

Background:

• Mouse handling is a common practice in biomedical research.
• The impact of different handling methods on disease models and stress levels is not fully understood.
• Investigating handling effects is crucial for reliable experimental outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of three distinct mouse handling methods (tail, tunnel, open hand) on disease severity.
• To assess the stress response in mice subjected to different handling techniques.
• To determine if handling influences the phenotype of disease model mice.

Main Methods:

• ICGN glomerulonephritis mouse model and normal C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were used.
• Mice were subjected to tail, tunnel, or open hand handling, with a non-handling control group.
• Disease symptom severity and plasma corticosterone levels were measured.

Main Results:

• Handling groups showed a tendency towards more severe disease symptoms compared to controls.
• Female mice handled by their tails exhibited significantly exacerbated symptoms.
• Tail-handled mice displayed elevated plasma corticosterone levels, indicating stress.

Conclusions:

• Mouse handling, particularly by the tail, induces physiological stress.
• Handling stress can significantly affect disease severity and phenotype in mouse models.
• Standardized and gentle handling protocols are essential for reproducible research outcomes.