Why Are Lab Rats and Mice Used in Research?
WouterIn the field of science, laboratory rats and mice are commonly used in research experiments. These animals are used to better understand human health and disease, and their use has helped bring great advances to the field of medicine. Their contributions have ranged from cardiovascular medicine to the study of wound healing, diabetes, and neural regeneration. They are also commonly used for testing the safety of drugs.
While some lab rats are killed during the research process, most are terminated by the end of the experiment. While some are euthanized through lethal injection, others are suffocated with carbon dioxide. Both methods involve pain relief. The animals are also often dissected to gain valuable information about the effects of endurance exercise.
Rats have been used in laboratory research since the 16th century. The Wistar Institute developed a model of a laboratory rat in 1906. The species is believed to have originated in Asia. It is now widely found in Europe and was commonly used for neuroanatomy studies in the 1800s. Today, there are over 25 species of rats used for research.
Researchers can also use male mice for experiments. These mice don’t have the same levels of testosterone as female lab rats. In addition to this, male mice may have different levels of certain hormones than female mice. This means that the behavior of male lab rats should not be used as the baseline for any research.
