How does social isolation impact rodent health, welfare and the validity of research results?

Mice and rats are commonly used in biomedical research to model human diseases. Usually, we house them in “shoebox-sized” cages in small same-sex groups. Since they are social species, we know having social contact is important for their well-being. For example, rodents will choose to spend time with other rodents rather than live alone, and when given a choice, rats will choose to spend time with another rat before eating. However, laboratory rodents are often housed on their own without contact with other rodents. When isolated, rodents show signs of chronic stress, such as increased fearfulness of human handlers. In humans, social isolation can be detrimental to health, elevating the risk of developing disease and leading to an earlier death. In this project, we aim to assess if similar effects occur in rodents. We hypothesize that isolation is so stressful to rodents that it negatively impacts their health. If so, we wonder if using isolated and stressed rodents is suitable for research: are these rodents truly good representations of humans that aren’t socially isolated? This project will shed light on the ethical concerns regarding the commonplace practice of isolating rodents and address whether improving rodent welfare can also improve science.

Faculty Supervisor:

Georgia Mason

Student:

Partner:

Canadian Council on Animal Care

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

University of Guelph

Program: