title: Breeding, husbandry, veterinary care, and hematology of marsh rice rats (Oryzomys palustris), a small animal model for periodontitis.
abstract: Rice rats (Oryzomys palustris) are a recognized animal model for studying periodontal disease and the photoperiodic regulation of reproduction. Here we share information regarding the breeding, husbandry, veterinary care, and hematologic findings about this animal species to facilitate its use in studies at other research institutions. Rice rats initially were quarantined and monitored for excluded pathogens by using microbiologic, parasitologic, and serologic methods with adult female Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus sentinel animals. Breeders were paired in a monogamous, continuous-breeding system. Rats were housed in static filter-top cages, maintained on commercial chow under 14:10-h light:dark cycles at 68 to 79 °F (20.0 to 26.1 °C) and 30% to 70% humidity. Rice rats apparently adapt relatively well to standard laboratory conditions, despite their aggressive behavior toward conspecifics and humans. Our analysis of 97 litters revealed that dams gave birth to an average of 5.2 pups per dam and weaned 4.2 pups per dam. Several procedures and biologic reagents normally used in standard laboratory rodents (mice and rats) can be used with rice rats. In addition, we present hematologic and serum chemistry values that can be used as preliminary reference values for future studies involving rice rats.
authors: Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. aguirrej@ufl.edu.
authors: J Ignacio
authors: JI
authors: Aguirre
authors: Department of Biology, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Indiana, USA.
authors: Kent
authors: K
authors: Edmonds
authors: Animal Care Services, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors: Bernadette
authors: B
authors: Zamora
authors: Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Pingel
authors: Animal Care Services, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Thomas
authors: Animal Care Services, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors: Denisse
authors: D
authors: Cancel
authors: Animal Care Services, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Schneider
authors: Animal Care Services, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors: Mary K
authors: MK
authors: Reinhard
authors: Animal Care Services, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors: August H
authors: AH
authors: Battles
authors: Osteoporosis Research Center, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
authors: Mohammed P
authors: MP
authors: Akhter
authors: Osteoporosis Research Center, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
authors: Donald B
authors: DB
authors: Kimmel
authors: Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors: Thomas J
authors: TJ
authors: Wronski
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000473:pathology; D016205:Sigmodontinae / Q000502:physiology*
references: Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1977 Dec;44(6):939-48
references: 271931
references: J Mammal. 1967 Nov;48(4):557-63
references: 6063703
references: Lab Anim Sci. 1993 Oct;43(5):481-7
references: 8277731
references: Am J Pathol. 1979 Aug;96(2):643-6
references: 474713
references: Vet Clin Pathol. 2012 Dec;41(4):441-53
references: 23240820
references: Metabolism. 1987 Nov;36(11):1013-20
references: 3670072
references: Oral Dis. 2012 Jul;18(5):459-68
references: 22233442
references: J Periodontal Res. 1980 Sep;15(5):502-15
references: 6449583
references: Acta Morphol Neerl Scand. 1976 Feb;14(1):39-60
references: 1274681
references: Lab Anim (NY). 2008 Jun;37(6):256-61
references: 18496544
references: Lab Anim (NY). 2001 May;30(5):45-50
references: 11385734
references: Open Dent J. 2010 Apr 29;4:37-47
references: 20556202
references: Jikken Dobutsu. 1982 Jul;31(3):175-83
references: 6754391
references: J Pineal Res. 1995 Apr;18(3):148-53
references: 7562372
references: Pediatr Res. 1994 Jul;36(1 Pt 1):95-101
references: 7936845
references: Zoolog Sci. 2005 Jul;22(7):763-74
references: 16082165
references: Front Oral Biol. 2012;15:117-32
references: 22142960
references: Lab Anim. 2002 Apr;36(2):188-92
references: 11943084
references: Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1956 Jun;9(6):592-603
references: 13322421
references: Am J Clin Nutr. 1979 Apr;32(4):787-93
references: 433810
references: J Nutr. 1972 Mar;102(3):337-42
references: 5061027
references: Am J Hypertens. 1991 Jul;4(7 Pt 1):610-4
references: 1873016
references: Metabolism. 1996 Dec;45(12):1527-32
references: 8969287
references: Lab Anim. 1992 Jan;26(1):38-46
references: 1548845
references: J Nutr. 1998 Aug;128(8):1283-8
references: 9687545
references: J Bone Miner Res. 2007 Oct;22(10):1479-91
references: 17663640
references: J Periodontal Res. 1981 Jul;16(4):441-55
references: 6459441
references: J Biomed Biotechnol. 2011;2011:754857
references: 21331345
references: Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1993 Nov;92(2):281-91
references: 8282176
references: J Pineal Res. 1994 Sep;17(2):86-93
references: 7869231
references: Vital Health Stat 11. 2007 Apr;(248):1-92
references: 17633507
references: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2001 Apr;280(4):R1249-55
references: 11247851
references: J Nutr. 1956 Nov 10;60(3):311-22
references: 13377222
references: Clin Chem. 1998 Mar;44(3):622-31
references: 9510871
references: J Periodontal Res. 1981 May;16(3):275-91
references: 6458677
references: Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1956 Jul;9(7):727-35
references: 13349101
references: Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci. 2000 May;39(3):9-12
references: 11178318
references: J Nutr. 1957 Nov 10;63(3):325-43
references: 13481772
references: J Hyg (Lond). 1951 Dec;49(4):427-9
references: 14908050
references: J Nutr. 2007 Dec;137(12):2616-21
references: 18029473
references: ILAR J. 1998 Sep;39(4):322-330
references: 11406688
references: J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2009 May;67(5 Suppl):2-12
references: 19371809