This document discusses common laboratory animals used in experimental pharmacology. It describes mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. For each animal, it provides details on strains, biological data, physiological data, blood collection methods, handling techniques, and their common experimental uses. The animals discussed - mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs - are routinely used due to their availability, ease of handling, and physiological similarities to humans. Each provides a means to study various therapeutic agents and disease processes.

1. LABORATORY ANIMALS
BY
SADHANA.G
1ST YEAR M.PHARM
DEPARMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY
ARULMIGU KALASALINGAM COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

2. EXPERIMENTAL
PHARMACOLOGY
• Deals with effect of various pharmacological
agents studied on different species.
AIMS
Find out the therapeutic agent suitable for the human use.
Study the toxicity of the drugs
Study the mechanism and the site of action of the drugs

3. LABORATORY ANIMAL
Laboratory animal are generally defined as any vertebrate
animal produced for [or] used in research, testing or teaching.
C0MMON LABORATORY ANIMAL
Rabbit
Guinea pig
Rat
Mouse

4. MOUSE [MICE] MUS MUSCULUS
• Smallest
• Easy to handle
• Can be easily maintain
• Small dose drug required
STRAIN:
 SWISS ALBINO MICE
 BALB /C
 C-57
Swiss albino mice
C-57
Balb/C

5. BIOLOGICAL DATA
i. Typical adult weight: 20-40g
ii. Average life span: 1.5-2.5 years
iii. Gestation period: 19-21 days
iv. Average litter size: 5-7
PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA
i. Heart rate: 330-780 beats/min
ii. Respiratory rate: 84-230/min
iii. Tidal volume: 0.1 -0.23ml
iv. Daily food intake: 4-5g

6. NUDE MOUSE:
Hairless genetic mutant
Thymus absent
T-Lymphocyte- Tissue immunity and transplantation research
BLOOD COLLECTION
Blood collection requiring anesthesia
Tail vein
Tail snip
Orbital sinus
Jugular vein
Blood collection not requiring anesthesia
Saphenous vein
Dorsal pedal vein

7. HANDLING OF MICE
• An assistant take a grip on the middle of tail of the animal with the left hand and
gently raises the hind limbs floor of the cage.
• A Mouse held in the position cannot turns around the bite.
• Then the finger and the thumb a fold of skin is taken up dose as possible to the
head.
• The animal can now be lifted into Your text here
• inconvenient position for the operator to carry simple inoculation procedure.
• Place the animals in a rough surface and hold it by tail with right hand.
• Then pick up loose skin at the base of neck with left forefinger and thumb.
• Lift and turn the left hand palm uppermost at the same time catching the tail and
pressing it against the palm with left finger.
• Right hand is free to pick up the syringe.

8. EXPERIMENTAL USES
Teratogenicity studies
Bioassay of insulin
Screening of
Analgesic activity
Anti convulsant activity
Chemotherapeutic agents
Studies related to genetics and cancer research
Toxicological studies

9. RAT [RATTUS NORVEGIUS]
• Albino rat
STRAINS:
Wistar rat
Long Evans rat
Sprague dawely
Zucker rat

10. WISTAR RAT
 Resistant to infection
 Low incidence of tumour
 Wide head
 Long ears
 Tail length is smaller then
body weight
SPRAGUE DAWLEY
 Rapidly growing
 Longer and narrower
 Long tail
 Low respiratory infection

11. BIOLOGICAL DATA
• Typical adult weight: 250g
• Average life span: 2-3 years
• Gestation period: 21-23 days
• Average litter size: 8-10 days
• Estrous cycle: 4-5 days
PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA
• Heart rate: 300-500 beats
• Respiratory rate: 65-180/min
• Tidal volume: 1-5ml
• Daily food intake: 10-20g

12. BLOOD COLLECTION
Blood collection requiring anesthesia
Tail vein
Orbital sinus
Jugular vein
Blood vessel cannulation
Blood collection not requiring anesthesia
Saphenous vein
Dorsal pedal vein

13. EXPERIMENTAL USES
Study of analgesic and anti convulsant activity.
Study of oestrous cycle, mating behaviour and lactation.
Gastric acid secretion
Hepatoxicity studies
Study of mast cells
Bio assay of hormones
Insulin
oxytocin
Vasopressin

14. RABBIT[ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS]
Docile animal
New zealand white strain
Large, Broad and muscular body.
BIOLOGICAL DATA
Typical adult weight: 1500-5000g
Average life span: 4-6 years
Gestation period: 31 days
Average litter size: 6-8

15. PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA
Daily food intake: 150-300g
Heart rate: 130-300 beats/min
Respiratory rate:38-60 min
Tidal volume :19-24ml
Blood volume: 4-5[%Bw]
BLOOD COLLECTION
• Marginal vein
• Jugular vein
• Orbital sinus
• Cardiac puncture of anesthetized rabbit

16. HANDLING OF RABBIT
• Smooth ear of rabbit on the back.
• Pick up the ears and loose the skin at the back of the neck
with one hand in the firm grip.
• Place the other hand under the hind quarter the weight and
lift gently.
• Should be placed on non slippery surface.
• It restraint is required during anesthesia [or] inoculation ,
should be wrapped in roller towel and placed in special box.

17. EXPERIMENTAL USES
Pyrogen testing
Pharmacokinetic studies
Drug used in Glaucoma
Screening of agents affecting capillary permeability.
Bio assay of Anti diabetic, curve from drugs and sex hormones.
Teratogenicity studies
Study of miotic and mydriatics.
COSMETIC TEST [DRAIZE TEST]
Drug Rabbit eye [or] skin Redness, Irritation and damage

18. GUINEA PIG[CAVIA PORCELLUS]
• Docile animals
• Susceptible to TB and anaphylaxis.
• Highly sensitive to histamine and penicillin.
• Requires exogenous vit c diet.
BIOLOGICAL DATA
Typical adult weight: 800g
Average life span: 3-5 years
Gestation period: 68 days
Average litter size: 3-4

19. PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA
Daily food intake: 40-50g
Heart rate: 260-400 beats/min
Respiratory rate: 70-104/min
Blood volume: 6-12[%BW]
BLOOD COLLECTION
 Simple venesection of marginal vein
 Cardiac puncture and metatarsal veins of anesthetized guinea pig.

20. HANDLING OF GUINEA PIG
• Place one hand across the back of the animal with thumb behind the shoulder and
the other fingers well forward on the opposite side.
• Lift the animal gently and support its weight with other hand placed palm
uppermost under the hind quarters.
EXPERIMENTAL USES
Evaluation of bronchodilators
Anaphylactic and immunological studies
Study of histamine and anti histamine and TB
Bio assay of digitalis
Evaluation of local anesthesia
Hearing experiment study