Bleeding Diathesis in Fawn Hooded Rats-Possible Implications for Invasive Procedures and Refinement Strategies.

Manon Schaap,Saskia Arndt,Ludo Hellebrekers,Hugo Van Oostrom

doi:10.3390/ani5020270

Manon Schaap, Saskia Arndt + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani5020270

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Abstract

Simple SummaryThe Fawn Hooded (FH) rat population is commonly used in biomedical research. It is widely acknowledged that the FH rat has a bleeding disorder, which may lead to abundant bleeding. However, the clinical consequences of this bleeding disorder have not been described in current literature. During our study, surgical procedures on FH rats led to an unanticipated loss of animals due to abundant bleeding. Adjustments made to minimize the impact of this disorder in animals undergoing invasive procedures are described. It is strongly recommended to take the bleeding diathesis into account when performing invasive procedures in FH rats and to apply the described refinements.The Fawn hooded (FH) rat is commonly used in biomedical research. It is widely acknowledged that the FH rat has a bleeding disorder; leading to abundant bleedings. Although this bleeding disorder is investigated to model the storage pool defect; its impact on commonly performed invasive laboratory procedures has not yet been described. Our research group experienced clinically significant consequences of this bleeding disorder following invasive procedures (including intraperitoneal injections and neurocranial surgery) in the Rjlbm: FH stock. The clinical consequences of the surgical and anesthetic protocols applied; are described including the subsequent procedural refinements applied to minimize the impact of this disorder. It is strongly recommended to take the bleeding diathesis into account when performing invasive procedures in FH rats and to apply the suggested refinement of procedures.

Highlights

The Fawn hooded (FH) rat is widely used in biomedical research, e.g., as a model for various psychiatric disorders [1,2,3,4], hypertension-associated renal failure [5,6], and blood factor studies
These FH rats are commonly subjected to invasive procedures, varying from injections to surgical interventions
It has been described that the platelets of FH rats have a defective secretion of coagulation mediators, which may lead to abundant bleeding in several inbred substrains [8,10,11]

Summary

Introduction

The Fawn hooded (FH) rat is widely used in biomedical research, e.g., as a model for various psychiatric disorders [1,2,3,4], (spontaneous) hypertension-associated renal failure [5,6], and blood factor studies (i.e., atherosclerosis and coagulation [7,8]) These FH rats are commonly subjected to invasive procedures, varying from injections to surgical interventions. It has been described that the platelets of FH rats have a defective secretion of coagulation mediators, which may lead to abundant bleeding in several inbred substrains [8,10,11] This bleeding disorder of several FH populations has been investigated in the context of translational research (i.e., to model the storage pool defect [8,12]), its (potential) impact on commonly performed invasive procedures has not been described in the literature. In accordance with the principle of the 3Rs (refinement, reduction, replacement) of Russell and Burch [13], we feel that it is important to publish this experience and to describe our refinement strategy

Materials and Methods

Observations

Refinement of the Surgical and Anesthetic Protocol

Findings

Conclusions and Recommendation