9. HANDLING TECHNIQUE
Can be easily handled
• Way 1By using both hands,
calmly grasp it with one
hand under the chest &
use your other hand
to support its hindquarters
10. • Way 2Handle guinea pig with one hand , by
holding its hind quarter
12. Bleeding & I.V injection
• Small quantities from marginal ear vein
• Heart puncture after anaesthesia or
Carotid A after stunning/inducing anaesthesia
• Males penile Vs
15. • Mesocricetus auratus
• Different strains
–Syrian hamsters-most commonly used,rapid
development & short life cycle
–Chinese hamster-lowest number of
chromosomes(22)used for cytogenesis research
–European hamstersuitable for smoke
inhalational studies
–Armenian hamsterspecific for carcinogenic
& mutagenic agents
17. • Cheek pouchcollection & transport of food
materials,lack intact lymphatics.
• Whiskersfound on face & side of the body
to navigate the surroundings & object around
them esp. at night,= “vibrissae”
• Small tail & very loosely packed skin
18. Hamsters as experimental animals
Spontaneous model of human diseases such as
• Diabetes mellitus due to deficiency of β
cells/presence of defective β cells in the
pancreas
• Syrian hamster dystrophy
• Cholesterol cholelithiasis
• Polycystic diseases
• Dental caries
19. • Slow virus type C,Oncovirus,influenza virus,respiratory
syncytial virus studies & vaccine production
• Cheek pouches lack lymphatic drainage, so ideal site for
tissue transplants,such as tumours & grafts,pouch can be
pulled out under anaesthesia & can be stretched over an
illuminated surface for observation
• Strips cut from cheek pouchassay for prostaglandins E & F
• Invivo & invitro diagnostic techniques for infectious agents
i.e Clostridium spp,Leptospirosis spp
20. HANDLING TECHNIQUES
• Way 1Hold the complete body by grabbing
at the nap of neck by thumb & index finger&
grasp the complete body by using rest of
fingers
21. • Way 2Hold the complete
body by grabbing back
by using complete palm
22. RABBIT AS AN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL &
INJECTION TECHNIQUES IN IT
24. Common Strains
• Newzealand white rabbits most
commonly used
• Dutch
• Flemish Giant
• 1916 - WS Preshaw bred first litter of
Newzealand white rabbits
26. ANATOMICAL PECULIARITIES
• Simple cardiac conductive tissueAnimal of
choice for many cardiac studies
• No adrenergic vasodilator nerves No
Vasomotor reversal phenomenon
• Dopamine - fall in BP
• Histamine - rise in BP
• Very sensitive to histamine
27. ANATOMICAL PECULIARITIES
• Cannot vomit
• Genetic relationship b/w atropine esterase &
black pigmentation of the fur
• Wide field of vision
• Long ears-heat regulation
• Cytochrome 3A4 is absent
28. Reproductive cycle
• Non spontaneous ovulation
• Coitus induced Ovulation
• LH release 10 hrs after coitus
• Progesterone inhibits ovulation
• No seasonal anoestrum
• Short gestation period --31 days
• Duration sexual life - 36 months
• No of litters per year - 4
29. Biological Data
PARAMETER DATA
Adult weight 1.5-5 kg
Average life span 4-6 years
Age suitable for experiment 6 months
Age of first mating 6-7 months
Breeding habits (no of females to 1
male)
1
Gestation period 31 days
No of litters per year 4
30. Guidelines for animal handling
• Pet or soothe the animal by slow deliberate
movement on their body.
• Overcrowding near animal cage to be avoided.
• Noise - minimum as possible.
• Do not hold the animal too hard
• Agitation - lead to violent behavior for self
protection
31. Handling techniques----
By using single hand ,hold
the pelvic region
By using both hands ,calmly grasp
it with one hand supporting back of
neck & the other hand supporting
its hindquarters
34. Rabbit as an experimental animal
• Pyrogen testing in IV fluids
• To test toxic effects of cosmetics &
pharmaceuticals
• Good model for production of antibodies &
antiserums
• Study of agents affecting capillary
permeability
35. Contd-
• Screening of drugs for
TB, diabetes, diphtheria, cancer, heart
disease,embryotoxic drugs
• Study of topical irritants
• Insulin & other antidiabetic drugs
• Curare & sex hormones
• Studying circadian rhythmicity -
36. Contd -
• Suitable for research in reproductory
studies
- no seasonal anoestrum
- ovulation non spontaneous
- short gestation period
- semen easily collected
37. Contd -
• Widely used in eye experiments
Underdeveloped tear mechanisms
Very clear eyes , effects easily visualised
• Biomedical research studies
Immunology, Genetics, Nutrition, Toxicology,
Physiology
42. Precautions before injection
1. Injection site to be cleaned with a suitable
disinfectant/antiseptic(75%
alcohol/betadine)
2. Sterile syringes and needles to be used.
3. Always select smallest possible gauge to
limit tissue trauma.
4. Aspiration technique is an important aspect
before pushing injection solution at the site.
5. Ensure no air bubble in syringe
43. Intravenous injection
• Marginal ear vein preferred
• Restrain the rabbit
• Lateral margin of ear is shaved
& swabbed with disinfectant
• 22-24G needle used