f6098d8b__and_Use_of_Laboratory_Animals__Comments
[ID] 16 [Entry Date] 03/03/2011 at 03:32:04 PM [Affiliation] Self [Comments] 
Comment 1: The current literature (published since the 1996 revision of the Guide) suggests that mice should actually be housed at higher densities in standard "shoebox" cages than recommended in the 1996 revision of the Guide for increased immune function, decreased mortality, and decreased fighting (Fullwood 1998, Gonder 2007, McGlone 2001, Smith 2004). If modern science suggests that higher housing densities are necessary for the health and welfare of mice, why would the Guide recommend lower housing densities? The space constraints set forth in the new edition of the Guide appear to be specifically intended to disallow trio mating in a standard "shoebox" cage (http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12910&page=57) -- 67 sq in. (floor space of standard cage) - 51 sq in (space requirement for dam plus litter) - 15 sq in (space requirement for sire) = 1 sq in remaining. According to the Jackson Laboratory's Breeding Strategies for Maintaining Colonies of Laboratory Mice in the "Simple Breeding Schemes" section, "Most strains produce more progeny per cage if mated as trios because all adult cage mates generally help care for the young" (http://www.scribd.com/doc/48964381/breeding-strategies-manual). If the intention is to end trio mating, what institution has the expertise in mouse husbandry to outright discount Jackson Laboratory's 82 years of research in the field? Given these issues of revised housing recommendations without scientific backing, the NIH must not adopt the eight edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a basis for evaluation of institutional programs receiving or proposing to receive Public Health Service support for activities involving animals. Fullwood S, Hicks TA, Brown JC, Norman RL, McClone JJ. 1998. Floor space needs for laboratory mice: C57BL/6 males in solid-bottom cages with bedding. ILAR J 39:29-36. Gonder JC, Laber K. 2007. A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management. ILAR J 48:29-36. Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources. 1996. Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources. 2011. Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. Jackson Laboratory. 2009. Breeding strategies for maintaining colonies of laboratory mice. McGlone JJ, Anderson DL, Norman RL. 2001. Floor space needs for laboratory mice: BALB/cJ males or females in solid-bottom cages with bedding. Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci 40:21-25 Smith AL, Mabus SL, Stockwell JD, Muir C. 2004. Effects of housing density and cage floor space on C57BL/6J mice. Comp Med 54:656-663. Comment 2: The current literature (published since the 1996 revision of the Guide) suggests that mice should actually be housed at higher densities in standard "shoebox" cages than recommended in the 1996 revision of the Guide for increased immune function, decreased mortality, and decreased fighting (Fullwood 1998, Gonder 2007, McGlone 2001, Smith 2004). If modern science suggests that higher housing densities are necessary for the health and welfare of mice, why would the Guide recommend lower housing densities? The space constraints set forth in the new edition of the Guide appear to be specifically intended to disallow trio mating in a standard "shoebox" cage (http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12910&page=57) -- 67 sq in. (floor space of standard cage) - 51 sq in (space requirement for dam plus litter) - 15 sq in (space requirement for sire) = 1 sq in remaining. According to the Jackson Laboratory's Breeding Strategies for Maintaining Colonies of Laboratory Mice in the "Simple Breeding Schemes" section, "Most strains produce more progeny per cage if mated as trios because all adult cage mates generally help care for the young" (http://www.scribd.com/doc/48964381/breeding-strategies-manual). If the intention is to end trio mating, what institution has the expertise in mouse husbandry to outright discount Jackson Laboratory's 82 years of research in the field? Given these issues of revised housing recommendations without scientific backing, the NIH must not adopt the eight edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a basis for evaluation of institutional programs receiving or proposing to receive Public Health Service support for activities involving animals. Fullwood S, Hicks TA, Brown JC, Norman RL, McClone JJ. 1998. Floor space needs for laboratory mice: C57BL/6 males in solid-bottom cages with bedding. ILAR J 39:29-36. Gonder JC, Laber K. 2007. A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management. ILAR J 48:29-36. Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources. 1996. Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources. 2011. Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. Jackson Laboratory. 2009. Breeding strategies for maintaining colonies of laboratory mice. McGlone JJ, Anderson DL, Norman RL. 2001. Floor space needs for laboratory mice: BALB/cJ males or females in solid-bottom cages with bedding. Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci 40:21-25 Smith AL, Mabus SL, Stockwell JD, Muir C. 2004. Effects of housing density and cage floor space on C57BL/6J mice. Comp Med 54:656-663.
Listing of Public Comments on Proposed Adoption and Implementation of the Eighth Edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals