Laboratory Animals > Volume 29, Number 3 > Pp. 286-293

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Change in locomotor activity pattern in mice: a model for recognition of distress?

C. Jansent van't Land and C. F. M. Hendriksen

Central Animal Laboratory, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Central Animal Laboratory, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands

Recognition and assessment of pain and distress is made by observing common clinical and behavioural signs. Observation usually occurs during a limited period of time and results can be biased by interpretation of an individual observer.

To improve objective assessment of distress we studied the locomotor activity pattern of mice during a 24-h interval. As a reference compound, Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) was used. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with different doses FCA (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 ml) and observed for 5 to 7 days. Animals did not appear to be in pain and seemed to have a normal activity and behaviour pattern at first sight, however FCA induced a dose-dependent decrease of body weight. Open field activity (total distance run) measured during a limited period of time was not altered as a result of FCA. However, nocturnal activity was dose dependently decreased during the first 3 to 4 nights after treatment with FCA. The data presented indicate that using locomotor activity patterns over 24 h might be a useful adjunct and an objective approach to assess distress.

Key Words: LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY PATTERN • DISTRESS • FREUND'S COMPLETE ADJUVANT • MICE

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