A Study on Morphological Growth and Development of Swiss Albino Mice, Wistar Rat and Dunkin Hartley Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Background: Baseline information on the morphological development of laboratory animals is very scanty. Hence the present study was undertaken to understand the morphological development of experimental animals. Methods: An experiment was conducted at Biogen animal facility, Bangalore in the year 2018 to study the morphological changes with regard to growth and developmental parameters in Swiss albino mice and Wistar rats and body weight in guinea pigs. Ten Swiss albino mice and Wistar rats in advanced pregnancy of similar age groups and comparable litter sizes in the previous kindlings were selected for the experiment, where as five guinea pigs males and females each were selected with same age group. During the study period, litter weight and size at birth and at weaning, time of initiation and completion (full growth of hair) of hair growth, time of opening of eyes and ears recorded in Swiss albino mice and Wistar rats whereas body weight at birth, 3rd day, 6th day, 9th day, 12th day and 15th were recorded in Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs. Result: The results of Swiss albino mice indicated that the average litter weight (grams) and litter size at birth ranged from 1.39 and 7.50 respectively. The average time taken from initiation and full growth of hair covering on body was 7.50 to 15.30 days. Eyes and ears opened at 7.90 and 8.20 days respectively. Average weight of male and female recorded at weaning (25 days) 19.38 and 15.12 respectively and the litter size at the weaning was 9.70 whereas, livability percent was recorded 87.81 at the end of the trial. The results of Wistar rats indicated that the average litter weight (grams) and litter size at birth ranged from 5.07 and 11 respectively. The average time taken from initiation to full growth of hair covering on body was 9 to 16.20 days. Eyes and ears opened at 12.20 days, average weight (grams) of male and female recorded at weaning (25 days) 78.03 and 63.09 respectively. The litter size at the weaning was 9.70. The livability percent was recorded 88.02 at the end of the trial. The results of Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs indicated that the average body weight (grams) of female at birth, 3rd day, 6th day, 9th day, 12th day, 15th (Weaning period) ranged from 94.88, 109.34, 123.94, 139.74, 152.14 and 166.66, respectively. On the other hand, average body weight (grams) of male at birth, 3rd day, 6th day, 9th day, 12th day, 15th (Weaning period) ranged from 145.38, 155.42, 170.50, 185.54, 200.64 and 215.7, respectively.