Evaluation of reproductive indices in rats (Rattus norvegicus) housed under an intracage ventilation system.
A cabinet with an intracage ventilation system (ICV) was developed, and rats (Rattus norvegicus) were exposed to five air-speed levels (ICV 1, 0.03 to 0.12 m/s; ICV 2, 0.13 to 0.18 m/s; ICV 3, 0.19 to 0.33 m/s; ICV 4, 0.34 to 0.51 m/s, and ICV 5, 0.52 to 0.80 m/s) to evaluate optimal rates for ventilation and to assess whether reproductive performance differed at the various air speeds. Our results showed that rats housed under ICV conditions tolerate a continuous air flow into the cage. This condition did not impair the reproductive performance in any of the groups. In fact, air-speed levels ranging from 0.19 to 0.51 m/s (ICV3 and ICV4 conditions) led to a greater number of and more uniform litters with decreased mortality rates compared with those of the control group.
Chaguri
L C
LC
Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, n. 1.500, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil,CEP 05503-000.
Souza
N L
NL
Teixeira
M A
MA
Mori
C M
CM
Carissimi
A S
AS
Merusse
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction; D013696:Temperature; D014691:Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation*