Comparison of murine retroorbital plexus and facial vein blood collection to mitigate animal ethics issues

• Published in: Laboratory animal research Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 12 - 9
• Main Authors: Jo, Eun Jung, Bae, Eunjin, Yoon, Jeong-Hwan, Kim, Ji Yeon, Han, Jin Soo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 06.05.2021; BMC; 한국실험동물학회
• Subjects: Anesthesia; Animal ethics; Animal welfare; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Collections; Corticosterone; Ethics; Facial vein; Granulocytes; Hematology; Inflammation; Leukocytes (granulocytic); Life Sciences; Lymphocytes; Macrophages; Methods; Monocytes; Pain; Peripheral blood; Researchers; Retroorbital plexus; Serial blood collection method; Skills; Spleen; Veins & arteries; 수의학; Facial vein; Animal ethics; Serial blood collection method; Retroorbital plexus
• ISSN: 2233-7660; 1738-6055; 2233-7660
• DOI: 10.1186/s42826-021-00090-4

Background Blood collection is an important procedure used in animal experiments. Blood collection methods that reduce pain, injury, and stress in experimental animals are important with regard to animal ethics. Various comparative studies of blood collection methods have been reported; however, there are no comparative studies on serial blood collection considering animal ethics. To suggest simple methods that minimize pain during serial blood collection, we compared the retroorbital plexus (RP) and facial vein (FV) blood collection methods performed by both experienced and novice groups. The experienced and novice groups collected up to 0.4 mL of blood via the RP and FV methods every second day for 2 weeks. After blood collection, all mice were evaluated by corticosterone concentrations for stress, hematological, immunological, and histological analyses. Results We found that the FV methods reduced the collection time, pain, distress, tissue damage and lasting harms without anesthesia. Corticosterone concentrations in the peripheral blood were decreased in mice subjected FV methods compare with those subjected to RP methods. The proportion of granulocytes and monocytes, such as macrophages in the peripheral blood and spleen, was decreased in mice subjected to FV methods compared with that in mice subjected to RP methods in both experienced and novice groups. White blood cells were infiltrated in RP areas with severe tissue damage and inflammation. Conclusions With respect to animal ethics, we suggest that the FV method, a simple and fast technique that can easily be performed by both experienced and novice researchers, is suitable for serial blood collection.