title: Reducing the stress of drug administration: implications for the 3Rs.
abstract: Restraint in animals is known to cause stress but is used during almost all scientific procedures in rodents, representing a major welfare and scientific issue. Administration of substances, a key part of most scientific procedures, almost always involves physical restraint of the animal. In this study, we developed a method to inject substances to rats using a non-restrained technique. We then compared the physiological, behavioral and emotional impacts of restrained versus non-restrained injection procedures. Our results highlight the negative welfare implications associated with physical restraint and demonstrate a method which can be used to avoid this. Our work shows how adopting strategies that avoid restraint can minimize a widespread source of stress in laboratory animals and improve welfare through refinement.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emma S J
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D007267:Injections / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*