title: Real-time application of the Rat Grimace Scale as a welfare refinement in laboratory rats.
abstract: Rodent grimace scales have been recently validated for pain assessment, allowing evaluation of facial expressions associated with pain. The standard scoring method is retrospective, limiting its application beyond pain research. This study aimed to assess if real-time application of the Rat Grimace Scale (RGS) could reliably and accurately assess pain in rats when compared to the standard method. Thirty-two male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were block randomized into three treatment groups: buprenorphine (0.03 mg/kg, subcutaneously), multimodal analgesia (buprenorphine [0.03 mg/kg] and meloxicam [2 mg/kg], subcutaneously), or saline, followed by intra-plantar carrageenan. Real-time observations (interval and point) were compared to the standard RGS method using concurrent video-recordings. Real-time interval observations reflected the results from the standard RGS method by successfully discriminating between analgesia and saline treatments. Real-time point observations showed poor discrimination between treatments. Real-time observations showed minimal bias (<0.1) and acceptable limits of agreement. These results indicate that applying the RGS in real-time through an interval scoring method is feasible and effective, allowing refinement of laboratory rat welfare through rapid identification of pain and early intervention.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6 Canada.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6 Canada.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6 Canada.|Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6 Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel Sj
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D003199:Computer Systems; D005149:Facial Expression; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013843:Thiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D002047:Buprenorphine; D002351:Carrageenan; D000077239:Meloxicam