Manual versus automated blood sampling: impact of repeated blood sampling on stress parameters and behavior in male NMRI mice

Abstract

Facial vein (cheek blood) and caudal vein (tail blood) phlebotomy are two commonly used techniques for obtaining blood samples from laboratory mice, while automated blood sampling through a permanent catheter is a relatively new technique in mice. The present study compared physiological parameters, glucocorticoid dynamics as well as the behavior of mice sampled repeatedly for 24 h by cheek blood, tail blood or automated blood sampling from the carotid artery. Mice subjected to cheek blood sampling lost significantly more body weight, had elevated levels of plasma corticosterone, excreted more fecal corticosterone metabolites, and expressed more anxious behavior than did the mice of the other groups. Plasma corticosterone levels of mice subjected to tail blood sampling were also elevated, although less significantly. Mice subjected to automated blood sampling were less affected with regard to the parameters measured, and expressed less anxious behavior. We conclude that repeated blood sampling by automated blood sampling and from the tail vein is less stressful than cheek blood sampling. The choice between automated blood sampling and tail blood sampling should be based on the study requirements, the resources of the laboratory and skills of the staff.

Carotid Catheterization and Automated Blood Sampling Induce Systemic IL-6 Secretion and Local Tissue Damage and Inflammation in the Heart, Kidneys, Liver and Salivary Glands in NMRI Mice

“…A novel computer assisted system for serial automated blood sampling (ABS) minimizes handling stress and potential difficulties associated with blood collection from mice [1–4]. However, few studies have evaluated the physiological effects of long-term catheterization and ABS in mice, and these have focused on stress parameters [5–7]. …”

Physiological and Pathological Impact of Blood Sampling by Retro-Bulbar Sinus Puncture and Facial Vein Phlebotomy in Laboratory Mice

“…Despite its widespread use few studies have investigated the potential impact of this technique in mice [16]. The method has the potential of damaging the inner ear as well as the major masticatory muscles, thereby causing significant stress and pain as well as functional impairment of mastication.…”

Guidelines for pre-clinical animal and cellular models of MuSK-myasthenia gravis

“…Active immunization protocols permit the evaluation of immunomodulatory agents as potential therapeutics for anti-MuSK MG. To this end blood samples should be collected from mice using an established protocol (Teilmann et al, 2014) and tested by radioimmunoassay (Viegas et al, 2012) or ELISA (Jha et al, 2006;Mori et al, 2012b) to determine the titer of anti-MuSK IgG.…”