Common laboratory animals

Experimental Pharmacology-Common Experimental Animals
Mice
rat
guinea pig
hamster
rabbit
monkey
dog
frog
cat
chicken
pig
pigeon
gerbil
experiemental purpose

1. Common LaboratoryAnimals
-Bhumi

2. Laboratory animals are those animals that can be bred and reared in
laboratory under suitable conditions.
Most common-rat, mice, hamster, guinea pig, rabbit
Large animals-dog, cat, monkey, frog, pigeon, etc.
Depending upon the special characteristics of animal and the study
to be carried out animal is selected.
The animal which is phylogenetically closer to menconsidered
for the experiment
Laboratory animals

3. MOUSE
Biological Name : Mus musculus
Strains
-C57BL/6 mice
-Balb/C mice
-swiss albino mice(most commonly used)
Adult weight : 20-25gm
Suitable age for experiments : 1 month
Balb/C mice

4. Characteristics
-smallest
-cheap
-easy to handle
Advantages
-short gestation period
-short lifespan
-small size
-low maintenance cost
C57BL/6 mice

5. Experimental uses
•toxicological studies(acute & subacute)
•teratogenicity studies
•bioassay of insulin
•screening of analgesics & anticonvulsants
•screening of chemotherapeutic agents
•studies related to genetics and cancer research
•study of drugs acting on central nervous system

6. RAT
Biological Name : Rattus norvegicus
Strains
-Albino
-Sprague-Dawley
-Wistar Kyoto
-Long evans
Adult weight : 200-250gm

7. Characteristics
•small in size
•warm-blooded rodent
•vomiting centre is absent, so oral drugs can be given
•gall bladder & tonsil are absent
•greater sensitivity to most drugs
•because of the absence of gall bladder, there is a continuous
flow of bile into the intestineused to study of drugs
acting on bile, cholesterol reabsorption, etc.
•pancreas is diffusedifficult to produce pancreactomy
•clear lining between fundus & pylorusgastric acid
secretion is continuous

8. Two inbred original strains of albino
rats used
Wistar ratSprague Dawley rat
•Wide head
•Long ear
•Tail length is lesser
than body length
•Resistant to infections
•Longer & narrow head
•Tail is longer than body
length
•Rapidly growing

9. Long Evans rat
black hooded rat
cross between female
albino & wild animal
Spontaneous hypertensive rat
For hypertension study and
CVS disease study

10. Experimental uses
•Psychopharmacological studies
•Study pf analgesics and anticonvulsants
•Bioassay of various hormones such as insulin, oxytocin,
etc.
•Study of estrus cycle, mating behaviour & lactation
•Study on isolated tissue preparation
•Chronic study on blood pressure
•Gastric acid secretion studies
•Study of hepatotoxic compound
•Acute & chronic toxicity studies
•Study on mast cells
•Rat brain tissue is extensively employed in radio-receptor
studies

11. GUINEA PIG
Biological Name : Cavia porcellus
Strains
-Dunkin Hartley
-Starin-13
Adult weight : 400-600gm

12. Characteristics
•Docile animal
•Herbivores
•Requires exogenous ascorbic acid in diet
•Warm blooded rodent
•Sensitive cochlea
•Highly susceptible to tuberculosis & anaphylaxis
•Highly sensitive to histamine & penicillin

13. Experimental uses
•Evaluation of bronchodilators
•Anaphylactic & immunological studies
•Study of histamines & antihistamines
•Bioassay of digitalis
•Study of tuberculosis & ascorbic acid metabolism
•Evaluation of local anaesthetics
•Hearing experiments
•Study on isolated tissues like ileum, trachea, vas
deferens

14. FROG
Biological Name : Rana tigrina
Strains
-Rana esculenta
-Rana pipiens
-Rana temporaria
Adult weight : 50-100gm

15. Characteristics
•Cold blooded amphibian
•3 chambered heart two atrium & one ventricle
•Highly permeable skin(breathe largely through their
skin)
•Camouflagedefensive mechanism
Experimental uses
•Screening of certain drugs like anaesthetics
•To study the effect of drug acting on CNS,
neuromuscular junction & heart
•Study of isolated tissue like rectus, abdominis muscle,
heart, sciatic nerve preparation, etc.

16. RABBIT
Biological Name : Oryctolagus cuniculus
Strains
-New Zealand white(commonly used)
-Himalayan black
Adult weight : 1.5-3kg

17. Characteristics
•Docile animal
•Large ears
•Big eyes
•Warm blooded mammalian
•Some strains are resistant to effective of atropinebecause
they have higher concentration of atropinase enzyme in
their blood
•Skin is sensitive to irritation
•Can’t vomit
•Sensitive to histamine
•Secretion of leutenising hormone(LH) in female
New Zealand white rabbit

18. Experimental uses
•Pyrogen testing
•Bioassay of antidiabetic and sex hormones
•Irritancy tests
•Study of drug used in glaucoma
•Pharmacokinetic studies
•To test toxic effects of cosmetics
•Good model for the production of antibodies & antiserum
•Screening of agents affecting capillary permeability
Himalayan black rabbit

19. HAMSTER
Biological Name : Mesocriceius auratus &
Cricetulus griseus
Species
-Golden or Syrian hamster
-Chinese hamster
-Winter white hamster

20. Characteristics
•Short body
•Short legs and tail
•Loose skin & skin covered with dense short soft fur
•Cheeks pouches are prominent & extend upto shoulder
region
•Cheeks pouches don’t have lymphatic drainageideal
site for tissue transplants

21. Experimental uses
•Research on diabetes mellitus
•Bioassay of prostaglandins
•Research related to virology, immunology & implantation
studies
•Research on carcinogenic & mutagenic agents(Armenian
hamster)
•For highly concentrated & prolonged smoke inhalation
studies( European hamster)
•Chinese hamsters have low chromosome number making it
useful for cytological investigations, genetics, tissue
culture & radiation research

22. MONKEY
Biological Name : Macaca mulatta
Characteristics
•Structurally & functionally similar to men
•Uterus resembles human & exhibiting regular menstrual
periods
Experimental uses
•Psychopharmacological studies
•Pharmacokinetic studies
•Primate model to study drug metabolism
•Study of drugs acting on CNS, CVS, GIT & fertility

23. CAT
Biological Name : Felis catus
Characteristics
•Has distinct nictitating membrane
Experimental uses
•Used in cardiovascular, behavioural & biomedical
research
•Used in screening of ganglionic drugs
•Studying the transmission of vitamins & minerals to
foetus & newborn
•Used in neuropharmacology, toxicology, oncology &
chromosomal abnormality studies

24. GERBIL
Biological Name : Meriones unguiculatus
Also known as “sand rat” & “jirds”
Have length between mice & rats
Characteristics
•Easy to handle
•Mild and quite nature
•Hearing curve similar to human
Experimental uses
•Used in stroke, epilepsy, auditory studies
•Used in bacterial infections, lipid metabolism, heart
disease studies

25. DOG
Biological Name : Canis familiaris
Characteristics
•Small alimentary tract
•Easily get trained
Experimental uses
•Study of anti-arrhythmic, cardiovascular & autonomic
drugs
•Good model for diabetes mellitus, reproduction, ulcerative
colitis, open heart surgery, organ transplantation, CNS

26. Mongrel dog Beagles dog
This both dogs are most preferred for experimental purpose
due to
•Manageable size
•Moderate length of hair coat
•Docile nature
•Easy to handle
•Stomach & intestinal tract resembles human

27. PIG
Biological Name : Sus scrofa domestica
Characteristics
•Less hairy skin
•Susceptible to bronchitis & pneumonia
Experimental uses
•Study of skin related studies
•Important model in cardiovascular research such as
atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, etc.

28. CHICKEN
Biological Name : Gallus domesticus
Characteristics
•Ease of availability
Experimental uses
•Study on toxicology & pharmacology behaviour
•Studying avian diseases
•Important models developed in chicken are chick comb
method, chicken blood pressure measurement, heart rate,
EEG, etc.

29. PIGEON
Biological Name : Columbia livia
Experimental uses
•Study of antiemetics
•Used for standardization of cardiac glycosides
•Bioassay of prolactin
•Used for screening on intravenous anaesthetics

30. THANK YOU