title: A comparison of abdominal and scrotal approach methods of vasectomy and the influence of analgesic treatment in laboratory mice.
abstract: Vasectomized mice are needed in the production of genetically-modified animals. The BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement recommended that vasectomy should be performed via an incision in the scrotal sac, rather than via laparotomy, arguing that the former could be less painful due to minimal tissue trauma. This study was undertaken to assess the validity of this recommendation. Mice underwent vasectomy via either abdominal or scrotal approach surgery. Mice were filmed for 15 min presurgery and at one, 24 and 48 h postsurgery. Data were obtained using automated behaviour recognition software (HomeCageScan). Meloxicam was administered either alone or combined with acetaminophen prior to surgery. A third group received only saline subcutaneously. Postsurgery behaviour changes were compared between groups at each time point. Exploratory behaviours such as rearing, walking and sniffing were most greatly reduced at one hour following surgery whereas the duration of grooming increased. By 48 h these changes had largely subsided. Results indicated mice undergoing scrotal approach surgery fared better at one hour postsurgery, but the magnitude of this was relatively insignificant compared with the overall effects of surgery. If the observed behaviour changes resulted from pain, results suggested there was no significant advantage of scrotal versus abdominal approach vasectomy. These and other recently obtained data on the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in mice suggest considerably larger doses of these or more potent analgesics, more precise monitoring of surgical outcomes, or a combination of these factors are needed to determine the extent of pain experienced by mice undergoing vasectomy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Comparative Biology Centre, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. amy.miller@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Sian L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wright-Williams
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Flecknell
authors.forename: Johnny V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Roughan
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012611:Scrotum / Q000601:surgery; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000379:methods*; D013843:Thiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D014743:Videotape Recording
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000077239:Meloxicam