Taming anxiety in laboratory mice
Abstract
Routine laboratory animal handling has profound effects on their anxiety and stress responses, but little is known about the impact of handling method. We found that picking up mice by the tail induced aversion and high anxiety, whereas use of tunnels or open hand led to voluntary approach, low anxiety and acceptance of physical restraint. Using the latter methods, one can minimize a widespread source of anxiety in laboratory mice.
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Animal handling can be a source of stress, and the specific method used can affect research outcomes.
“Animal handling can be a source of stress, and the specific method used (e.g., mice picked up by tail or in cupped hands) can affect research outcomes [61,121,122].”
From Reporting animal research: Explanation and elaboration for the ARRIVE guidelines 2.0 (2020) · cites this paper as [122]
Forceful and coercive handling methods are stressful, and chemical restraint without effective positive reinforcement training beforehand is stressful and frightening from the animal's perspective.
“For example, it is well known that forceful and coercive handling methods are stressful [55,56] and that chemical restraint without effective positive reinforcement training beforehand is stressful and frightening from the animal's perspective.”
From The Concept of Agency, Animal Wellbeing, and the Practical Realities of Ex Situ Breeding Programs in Zoos and Aquariums (2024) · cites this paper as [55]
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- Authors
- Hurst, J. L., & West, R. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hurst, Jane L
- ORCID
- Hurst, Jane L
- Venue
- Nature Methods
- Published
- 2010-09-12
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 825-826
- ISSN
- 1548-7091 (ISSN-L)
- 1548-7105
- OpenAlex
- W2089680506
- Cited by
- 599
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 40 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 40 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 28.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Methods (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (S19816)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal testing and alternatives
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- laboratory mice, animal handling, anxiety, stress response, restraint, aversion, animal welfare
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Anxiety, Behavior, Animal, Female, Handling, Psychological, Male, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Inbred ICR, Restraint, Physical, Species Specificity, Mice
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