Severity assessment using three common behavioral or locomotor tests after laparotomy in rats: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Animal Welfare Science
• Surgical Research

Background:

• EU Directive 2010/63/EU mandates objective animal distress assessment in research.
• Validated, non-invasive methods are needed for severity scoring in surgical models.
• Behavioral and locomotor tests offer potential for objective, minimally invasive monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Open Field (OF), rotarod (RR), and CatWalk (CW) tests for assessing laparotomy severity in rats.
• To identify the most suitable behavioral test for objective post-surgical distress evaluation.
• To support the development of refined animal welfare protocols in preclinical research.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of moving velocity across OF, RR, and CW tests in rats post-midline laparotomy (n=30).
• Daily severity scoring using a modified score sheet.
• Analysis of corticosterone metabolites in blood and fecal samples.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in analyzed parameters were observed among experimental groups.
• The Open Field test demonstrated superior suitability for assessing post-laparotomy surgical severity.
• Behavioral parameters correlated with physiological stress indicators.

Conclusions:

• The Open Field test is a valuable tool for objective severity assessment following laparotomy in rats.
• This method aids in complying with animal welfare regulations by providing quantifiable distress data.
• Behavioral monitoring offers a practical approach to refine animal experiments and improve welfare.