Keeping track of rodents with RFID technology

Rodents are social animals, and current welfare standards recommend that they be housed in pairs or groups whenever possible. But mixing mice risks mixing results. Radiofrequency identification, or RFID, technology is proving increasingly useful in both the vivarium and the laboratory. Implantable chips can help staff easily and accurately identify individual animals and link important data, from implantation to death, and even beyond. Chips with tracking capabilities can offer new insights into natural rodent behavior, without the pesky presence of people. This month's Technology Feature details RFID technology and the ways it is improving rodent research.

See page 427

Checking if chew toys are put to good use

Enrichment devices are important welfare tools for laboratory animals. Rodents are especially predisposed to gnaw on whatever they can get their paws on, but if they are given devices impervious to tooth marks, such as those made from hard plastics, it may not be clear if they are adequately engaged. The presence of saliva can help solve that uncertainty, and Anjali Prakash, Sarah Lewis, and Debra Hickman from Indiana University describe the use of the Phadebas amylase test to detect otherwise invisible signs of chewing in a new Clinical Technique.

See page 433