Rodents

 

For Custom Diets, scroll down

 

About Rats

About Mice

About Hamsters

Care, Feeding, & Physiology

Care, Feeding, & Physiology

Care, Feeding, & Physiology

 

Researchers conducted the earliest vitamin research on rats in the early 1900's. Rats are popular today in other types of research, such as psychological and biological tests, because they're easy to use. It is possible to evaluate the effects of minute amounts of experimental material on rats—tests that are impractical with larger animals.

 

Physiologically, rats are similar to other single-stomached animals, except for their lack of a gall bladder and their diffuse pancreas, an organ that is well-formed in other monogastric animals. Three bile ducts lead directly from the liver to the duodenum. The best research results are obtained from uniformly sized rats that are produced in closed colonies. By using rats from the same source you can ensure uniformity of size, good reproduction, and fewer genetic variations.

 

Psychological tests have proven that rats are highly intelligent and sensitive. They need attention and will usually come to the front of their cages when a human being approaches. Frequent handling of the animals will make them gentle and easier to control. Handling will permit you to check them for physical defects and the presence of external parasites. A gentle, firm grip around the thoracic cavity is comfortable for the rat, while still restricting movement.

 

 

Strains of inbred mice are a special category of animals for research uses. Usually inbred mice have higher mortality and poorer growth rates than outbred mice. They are subject to cannibalism, uneven temperaments, and some birth defects. But these mice do serve important functions. Various strains are bred to have inborn errors of metabolism and other genetic anomalies that aid the biologist in gaining an in-depth knowledge of abnormal reactions.

 

On arrival at the laboratory, new mouse shipments should be placed in quarantine and the shipping material should be burned. It is best, if possible, to avoid mixing animals that come from different suppliers.

 

Gentle handling of the mouse is important because it affects its disposition. Gloves or forceps should never be used to pick up a mouse. It's easier to catch the active mouse if you use your hand as a dipper and hold the mouse's body gently in the palm of your hand, letting the head stick out between your thumb and forefinger.

 

Individual mice are hard to differentiate in a group. The ear punch method of marking is a practical way to identify up to 100 mice. If more than 100 are in a colony, toe clipping and fur dyeing can be used as alternative methods.

 

Three types of hamsters are commonly used in laboratory research:

The Golden hamster (a/k/a Syrian Golden hamster) is the most popular. This breed's name may be misleading, since its color may range from albino to dark brown with a light gray belly. The Golden hamster has twice as many chromosomes as the other breeds, with 44. It has a friendly, gentle disposition and it more easily adapts to captivity than the European or Chinese hamsters, making it preferred among breeders and researchers.

The European hamster is also known as a black-bellied hamster for a good reason; it has a black belly and brown back.

The Chinese hamster has striped sides, thus is sometimes referred to as a striped hamster.

 

Hamsters are docile if treated kindly and given a comfortable cage. During the day they often sleep, but at night they are very active and require room in which to exercise.

 

Anatomically, the hamster is more like the rat than any other member of the rodent family. Its large cheek pouches and short stubby tail clearly distinguish it from other lab rodents. The pouches are valuable to researchers interested in studying circulation because part of the circulatory system is very near the surface in this area.

 

Care, Feeding, & Physiology

Rats

Mice

Hamsters

 

Custom Diets

Thousands of custom diets have been formulated for rodents; we can repeat or modify any existing diet or create new formulas for your specific research requirements.

 

Several examples of custom rodent diets—

Commonly known as:

Description

Grain-Based = G

or

Purified = P

TestDiet® Formula # or Product #

5700-B

Modified Rodent LabDiet® 5001 with no added NaCl (0.14% total sodium)

G

570B

5700-C

Modified Rodent LabDiet® 5001 with 2% added NaCl (1.17% total sodium)

G

5TXA

5001-3

Modified Rodent LabDiet® 5001 with 4% added NaCl (1.95% total sodium)

G

5G03

5001-2

Modified Rodent LabDiet® 5001 with 8% added NaCl (3.5% total sodium)

G

57BQ

5703-K

Modified Rodent LabDiet® 5001 with 4% Cholesterol; 1% Sodium Cholate

G

5703-K

5705-I

Modified Rodent LabDiet® 5001 with 5% Cholesterol; 2% Sodium Cholate

G

5705-I

5705-J

Modified Rodent LabDiet® 5001 with 1% Cholesterol

G

57BU

5709-7

Modified Rodent LabDiet® 5001 with 4% Cholesterol; 2% Sodium Cholate

G

5709-7

5755

Basal Diet

P

5755

5759

Fiber-Free Diet

P

5759

5759-1

6% Fiber Diet

P

5759-1

5759-5

12% Fiber Diet

P

5759-5

5759-7

10% Fiber Diet

P

5759-7

5759-9

3% Fiber Diet

P

5759-9

5765

Protein-Free TestDiet®

P

5765

5767

5% Protein

P

5767

5769

8.5% Protein

P

5769

5771

12.5% Protein

P

5771

5773

16.5% Protein

P

5773

5775

20.5% Protein

P

5775

5776

23.5% Protein

P

5776

5779

40% Protein

P

5779

5787

High Protein 60%

P

5787

5787-9

Low Carbohydrate Diet (1.9%)

P

590N

5791

High Fat Diet 25%

P

5791

5793

High Fat Diet 30%

P

5793

5795

Cholesterol Free

P

5795

5797

0.5% Cholesterol Diet

P

5797

5799

2% Cholesterol Diet

P

5799

5800

AIN-76 - Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet (original 1976 version)

P

57I2

5800-B

AIN-76A - Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet (1977 revision)

P

58B0

5801

5% Cholesterol Diet

P

5801

5801-G

AIN-93G - Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet-Growth & Gestation (1993)

P

57W5

5801-M

AIN-93M - Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet-Mature & Maintenance (1993)

P

58M1

5803

Low Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) Diet

P

5803

5810

High Carbohydrate Diet (70%)

P

5810

5821

Nicotinic Acid Deficient Diet (0.8 ppm)

P

5821

5822-5

Vitamin A Deficient Diet

P

5T2P

5826-5

Vitamin D Deficient Diet

P

5B7Q

5827

Vitamin E Deficient Diet (<0.001%)

P

5B9G

5829

Ascorbic Acid Deficient Diet

P

58M1

5831

Folic Acid Deficient Diet (<0.14 ppm)

P

5T0F

5831-2 or 58C3

Folic Acid Deficient Diet (<0.05 ppm) with 1% succinylsulfathiozole added

P

5T2L

5833

Thiamin Deficient Diet (0.06 ppm)

P

5A8H

5835

Vitamin B12 Deficient Diet

P

5835

5836

Biotin Deficient Diet

P

5836

5837

Pantothenic Acid Deficient Diet

P

5837

5838

Riboflavin Deficient Diet

P

5A8P

5839

Pyridoxine Deficient Diet (0.5 ppm)

P

5839

5850

Low Potassium Diet (0.01%)

P

58TE

5855

Low Calcium Diet (0.02%)

P

5855

5857

Low Phosphate Diet (0 .2%)

P

5857

5857-2

Low Phosphate Diet with Blood Fibrin (0.07%)

P

5857-2

5859

Low Iron Diet (20-25 ppm)

P

5859

5861

Low Fluoride Diet (< 2 ppm)

P

5861

5863

Low Manganese Diet

P

5863

5865

Low Magnesium Diet (80 ppm)

P

5865

5880

Low Chloride Diet

P

5880

5881

Low Sodium Diet (0.03% Na)

P

5881

5881

Low Sodium (0.03% Na)

P

5881

5882-5

Low Sodium/Low Chloride (0.03% Na; 0.05% Cl)

P

5882-5

5882-5

Low Sodium/Low Chloride Diet (0.03% Na; 0.055% Cl)

P

5882-5

5883

High Sodium Diet (3.15% Na)

P

5883

5883

High Sodium (3.15% Na)

P

5883

5884

Low Selenium Diet (< 0.035 ppm)

P

5884

5886

Low Zinc Diet (8-10 ppm)--Casein Base

P

5886

5887

Zinc Control Diet (20 ppm)--Egg White Base

P

5887

5888

Low Zinc Diet (1-2 ppm)--Egg White Base

P

5888

5890

Low Copper Diet (< 2 ppm)

P

5890

58G6

Ultra-high fat purified diet in a "cookie dough" consistency. 70& kcal fat.

P

58G6

58G7

TestDiet® DIO diet - 12% kcal fat - control - pellet or powder

P

58G7

58G8

TestDiet® DIO diet - 45% kcal fat - high-fat - pellet or powder

P

58G8

58G9

TestDiet® DIO diet - 60% kcal fat - very-high-fat - pellet or powder

P

58G9

58H0

TestDiet® DIO diet - 70% kcal fat - ultra-high fat - "cookie dough" consistency.

P

58H0

58V8

Purified, high-fat diet for obesity research. 45% kcal fat.

P

58V8

58Y1

Very-high-fat purified diet in an easy to use pellet form. 60% kcal Fat

P

58Y1

58Y2

Purified, low-fat control diet. 10% kcal fat

P

58Y2

5K92

Pico-Vac Rodent Soft Mix

G

5K92

5K96

Casein Based Diet

G

5K96

9267

TestDiet Purified Reward Tablet, Primate & Rodent, 45 mg

P

9267

9268

TestDiet Purified Reward Tablet, Primate & Rodent, 120 mg

P

9268

9269

TestDiet Purified Reward Tablet, Primate & Rodent, 190 mg

P

9269

AIN-76

Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet (1976)

P

57I2

AIN-76A

Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet (1977 revision)

P

58B0

AIN-93G

Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet-Growth & Gestation (1993)

P

57W5

AIN-93M

Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet-Mature & Maintenance (1993)

P

58M1

C11024

Non-Purified Sweetened Condensed Milk diet.

G

Please Inquire

C13002

Paigen's Atherogenic, Semi-Purified Rodent Diet.

G

Please Inquire

D10001

Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet-Mature & Maintenance (1993)

P

58B0

D10012G

Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet-Growth & Gestation (1993)

P

57W5

D10012M

Am. Inst. of Nutrition Rodent Diet-Mature & Maintenance (1993)

P

58M1

D11724

Purified, low fat diet with corn starch.

P