Laboratory Mice Cages: Understanding the Impact of Cage Design on Animal Health

The design of laboratory mice cages plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of these tiny creatures. Research has shown that mice in larger cages with more space to move around have lower stress levels.

A study found that mice in cages with a minimum floor area of 22.5 square inches per mouse had significantly lower levels of stress hormones compared to those in smaller cages. This suggests that providing ample space is essential for reducing stress in laboratory mice.

The type of bedding used in cages can also impact animal health. Wood shavings, for example, can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation in mice, while aspen shavings are a safer alternative.

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Our cages are designed to keep your research mice safe and comfortable.

The SMART System IVC rack system features a unique direct exhaust ventilation technology that creates a low-stress environment, free from motors, noise, and vibration.

You can customize your cage with various options, including cage mounted auto water valves, flap grommet for rack mounted valves, and cage link to adjacent cages.

Cages are available in STD Polysulfone or tinted RED, and you can also add an external water bottle or a cage divider kit.

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Polycarbonate is a popular material used in cage construction due to its excellent properties. Polycarbonate mice cages are a great example of this.

One of the key benefits of polycarbonate cages is their autoclavability, which makes them ideal for use in environments where sterilization is crucial. Autoclavable cages can be sterilized using high-pressure steam to kill bacteria and other microorganisms.

Polycarbonate cages also offer excellent transparency, allowing for easy observation of the animals. A fully transparent body makes it easy to see what's going on inside the cage.

The material used in polycarbonate cages is of food-grade quality, ensuring that it's safe for use with animals. This is a big plus for pet owners who want to provide the best possible care for their pets.

Polycarbonate cages have a uniform thickness of 4mm±0.5mm, which provides excellent durability and resistance to impact. This thickness also helps to prevent cracking or breaking of the cage.

For those who need to store cages, polycarbonate cages are stackable, making it easy to keep them organized and out of the way. Excellent stackability for ease of handling and storage is a big advantage for anyone who needs to store multiple cages.

Mouse racks are designed to provide a safe and comfortable environment for laboratory mice. They come in various types, including Optimice IVC rack systems and Ergomice mice cage systems.

The Optimice IVC rack system features an exceptionally small footprint and the highest density housing in the industry. It's based on patented direct exhaust ventilation technology, free from motors, noise, and vibration.

This technology creates a low-stress, non-variable environment ideal for housing and breeding laboratory mice and delicate strains. The Optimice IVC rack system is easy to change, clean, and maintain.

Ergomice is a compact and ergonomic IVC rack system that's a lower-cost alternative to the Optimice IVC rack. It's available in 50-, 70-, or 80-cage capacities and features the same patented direct exhaust ventilation technology.

Both Optimice and Ergomice IVC rack systems contain odors and allergens, protecting both animals and caretakers. They provide an ideal microenvironment for mice, making them trusted by scientists, veterinarians, managers, and technicians worldwide.

Here are some key features of Optimice and Ergomice IVC rack systems:

Conventional cages are associated with poorer health outcomes in laboratory mice, including larger tumours and arterial plaques.

The term CRAMPED (cold, rotund, abnormal, male-biased, poorly surviving, enclosed and distressed) has been coined to describe the occupants of these cages.

Rodents in conventional housing develop larger tumours and arterial plaques on average than those in enriched quarters.

Providing nesting material, running wheels, shelters, and items to alleviate boredom can improve rodent housing and reduce stress.

The thermal comfort zone for mice is between 26 and 34 degrees Celsius, but typical housing rooms are often kept between 21 and 26 °C, leading to cold-stressed mice.

The Optimice and MACS Rotary IVC rack systems provide reliable, trusted microenvironments for mice, creating a low-stress, non-variable environment ideal for housing and breeding research mice.

Thermal Comfort is key to a mouse's well-being, and it's amazing how much of a difference it can make. The mice thermoneutral zone is between 26 and 34 degrees Celsius.

Typical housing rooms are often kept between 21 and 26 °C, which can cause cold-stressed mice to develop dramatic changes in physiology, behavior, and immune function. This can skew experimental results and is not ideal for research.

The SMART System offers 10 heated mouse cage stations with heated comfort under a portion of the cage floor, providing a superior home cage advantage. This can benefit mice that struggle to cope with cold temperatures.

Utilizing secondary technology, such as USB ports with each unit, can also enhance the thermal comfort of mice. This is especially important for delicate strains that require a low-stress environment.

The MACS Rotary Ventilation System is a game-changer for laboratory animal research. It holds up to 120 standard sized Ultra-Air mouse cages, making it an efficient use of space.

This rotary unit is designed to fit into tight spaces within animal rooms, increasing cages per square feet. Its 58 inch turning diameter makes it a great option for facilities with limited space.

Additional reading: Animal Testing Laboratories

Each top has two spring loaded flap doors, providing easy access to the cages for maintenance and cleaning. The vent top is specifically made for the Modular Animal Caging System (M.A.C.S.) and comes with a large filter area and easy-to-replace Reemay filter.

The MACS Rotary can be used with vertical cage stacks of different heights, including 10, 9, or 8 high. This flexibility is ideal for facilities with changing research needs.

The system also allows for auto watering options, making it easier to maintain a healthy and comfortable environment for the animals.

The MACS Ultra-Air Ventilated System is a game-changer for rodent research. It adapts to your animal room needs, allowing you to increase cage density, create space, and improve workflow. With this system, you can easily change from a mouse IVC rack to a rat, large mouse, or hamster IVC system without buying all new equipment.

One of the key features of the MACS Ultra-Air system is its ability to hold standard size cages. The MACS Rotary IVC, for example, can hold up to 120 standard sized Ultra-Air mouse cages. This is ideal for researchers who need to accommodate a large number of animals in a small space.

The MACS Ultra-Air system also features a unique ventilation design that provides heated and HEPA filtered air to each cage. This helps to maintain a healthy and comfortable environment for the animals. The system is also designed to be easy to clean and maintain, with removable top shelves and easy-to-replace filters.

Here are some key benefits of the MACS Ultra-Air system:

Researchers have been studying the impact of cage design on rodent health, and one thing is clear: conventional cages are not ideal. In fact, they're often cramped and can lead to poorer health outcomes for the animals.

The Thoren #1 cage, also known as the "shoebox" cage, has an area of 67.6 square inches. This is one of the cages used in a study that found conventional cages to be associated with poorer health outcomes.

A total of 540 mice of each sex were included in an 8-week study, and 660 mice of each sex were included in a 4-week study. The researchers used various cage densities to see how they affected the animals.

The Thoren #1 cage has a density of 12.9 square inches per mouse, which is one of the higher densities used in the study. In contrast, the Thoren #3 cage has a density of 6.6 square inches per mouse.

The Thoren #2 cage, used for weaning mice, has an area of 112.9 square inches, which is significantly larger than the Thoren #1 cage. This larger space may help to reduce stress and improve health outcomes for the animals.

The duplex cage, Thoren #3, has an area of 51.7 square inches per side, making it another option for researchers. However, its smaller size may still lead to some stress and health issues for the animals.

CO₂ levels in mouse cages typically remain well below the harmful threshold of 15,000 ppm, even after nine days without bedding replacement, so it's generally not the primary concern for mice welfare.

Ammonia, on the other hand, is a major contaminant in cage environments, produced when urease enzymes in bedding or fecal bacteria break down urea from urine. High concentrations of ammonia can damage the nasal mucosa, olfactory tissues, and respiratory system in mice, and it's also an irritant to human researchers.

To establish an optimal cleaning frequency, monitor ammonia levels and set a schedule that ensures levels remain below established thresholds, such as 20-25 ppm.

Key Contaminants in Cage Environments can be broken down into two main gaseous contaminants: carbon dioxide (CO₂) and ammonia (NH₃). These gases can affect mice in enclosed environments.

CO₂ levels in mouse cages typically remain well below the harmful threshold of 15,000 ppm, even after nine days without bedding replacement. This means CO₂ is generally not the primary concern for mice welfare.

Ammonia, on the other hand, is a major concern. It's produced when urease enzymes in bedding or fecal bacteria break down urea from urine. High concentrations of ammonia can damage the nasal mucosa, olfactory tissues, and respiratory system in mice, and it's also an irritant to human researchers.

Here are the key differences between CO₂ and NH₃:

The optimal cleaning frequency for mouse cages is a delicate balance between maintaining hygiene and minimizing stress. Excessive cage cleaning can disrupt the natural behavior and physiology of mice, so it's essential to find a frequency that works.

Mice rely heavily on scent for communication, so frequent cage changes can create an unfamiliar environment and heighten stress. This can lead to stereotypic or aggressive behavior in some mice.

The 2011 Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends cage cleaning at least every two weeks, but acknowledges that the frequency should depend on specific conditions, such as cage type and ammonia accumulation.

To establish an optimal cleaning frequency, it's crucial to monitor ammonia levels in the facility. Measure the rate of ammonia accumulation in the facility under typical housing conditions and set a cleaning schedule that ensures ammonia levels remain below established thresholds, such as 20-25 ppm.

The optimal cleaning frequency also depends on cage type, animal density, and sex of the housed mice. These factors significantly influence ammonia buildup, so it's essential to adjust the cleaning frequency accordingly.

Here's a summary of the key factors to consider when determining the optimal cleaning frequency:

By taking these factors into account, you can establish an optimal cleaning frequency that balances hygiene and minimizes stress for your mice.

Laboratory mice cages are designed to meet the specific needs of mice, with studies showing that they require a minimum of 10 square inches of floor space per mouse.

In a well-designed cage, mice can move freely and engage in natural behaviors like burrowing and climbing.

Researchers have found that mice housed in cages with adequate ventilation and temperature control tend to be healthier and more active than those in poorly ventilated cages.

When working with sensitive research animals, it's essential to create a comfortable and stress-free environment. The SMART System IVC rack system is designed with direct exhaust ventilation technology, eliminating motors, noise, and vibration.

This unique technology creates a low-stress environment ideal for housing and breeding research mice and delicate strains.

To further enhance your research, you can choose from various options. Cage mounted auto water valves can be installed to simplify animal care.

Flap grommet for rack mounted valves is another option available for easy access.

Colours can also be customised to suit your needs, with options including STD Polysulfone or tinted RED.

You can also consider adding an external water bottle for convenient hydration.

Studies have shown that housing mice in certain cage types can have a significant impact on their health and well-being.

The C57BL/6J mouse strain is a popular choice for research, and studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of different cage types on their health.

A study found that 1080 B6 mice survived an 8-week study without any aggressive behavior or injuries.

The incidence of alopecia among B6 female mice was relatively low, ranging from 0 to 6% per treatment group, and was unrelated to cage type or housing density.

Housing density had no effect on urinary testosterone levels of mice housed in any of the three cage types.

However, housing mice in higher densities can lead to increased ammonia levels, which can be detrimental to their health.

A study found that mean ammonia concentrations increased significantly with each increase in housing density, ranging from 12.6 ppm to 139.8 ppm.

Despite the increased ammonia levels, the mice's nasal passages and eyes were found to be normal upon microscopic examination.

The study also found that housing mice in higher densities can lead to increased carbon dioxide concentrations, but this effect was not significant.

Mean urinary testosterone levels were unrelated to housing density, but were higher for males than females.

In fact, male urinary testosterone levels increased from 14.4 ng/mg of creatinine to 26.8 ng/mg of creatinine over the course of the study.

This suggests that housing mice in certain conditions can have a significant impact on their hormone levels.

It's worth noting that the study found no effect of density on the rate of weight gain, and food and water consumption was not different among the densities.

However, the study did find that density affected the incidence of alopecia in female mice, with hair loss occurring in one of six cages at density 4, and five of six cages at density 7.

Overall, the studies suggest that housing mice in certain cage types and densities can have a significant impact on their health and well-being.