Behavioral, clinical, and physiologic analysis of mice used for ascites monoclonal antibody production.
OBJECTIVE
The effects of pristane inoculation, ascites accumulation, peritoneocentesis, and analgesics on the well-being of mice used in monoclonal antibody (MAb) production protocols were investigated.


METHODS
Four experiments, each containing 17 to 21, 6- to 8-week-old male Balb/c mice, were conducted. Each experiment involved a period in which baseline data were collected, followed by intraperitoneal injections of pristane or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) inoculations into each mouse. One week later mice received intraperitoneal inoculations of either hybridoma cells or PBS. Parameters used to assess well-being throughout each of these periods included: wheel-running activity, food and water consumption, open-field box activity, clinical observation, and plasma corticosterone concentration.


RESULTS
Compared to controls, pristane inoculation had slight to no affect on mice. There was no evidence of distress in cell-inoculated mice prior to their gaining 25% of their baseline body weight. The number of times (up to three) that peritoneocentesis was performed did not have a significant impact on mice's well-being, but ascites yields were greater when multiple harvests were performed. Cell-inoculated mice that gained weight slowly or developed high-particulate ascites were at higher risk of being distressed.


CONCLUSIONS
Ascites yields can be maximized by performing multiple harvests; however, the well-being of mice used in such protocols should be closely monitored, as suggested here.
Peterson
N C
NC
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001201:Ascites / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001835:Body Weight; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000502:physiology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal / Q000662:veterinary; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D013729:Terpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002273:Carcinogens; D013729:Terpenes; C009042:pristane; D003345:Corticosterone