Effects of Varied Housing Density on a Hybrid Mouse Strain Followed for 20 Months.

To evaluate the effect of increased housing density in a hybrid mouse strain, we evaluated a panel of physiological and behavioral traits in animals that were housed in groups of 3, 5, 8, or 12, using cages that provide 78.1 in2 of floor space. Such groupings resulted in cage densities that ranged from half to almost twice the density recommended by the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Pitfalls of animal model systems in ageing research.

Often, reports of anti-ageing research using animal models are overly optimistic and incomplete. Without having the details of the study (issues inherent with the animal models, the condition of the animal colony, the replicability of the findings, for example), even the educated public can find it difficult to interpret the reports accurately. This chapter provides background information about ageing research and animal models in general and arms readers with guidelines they can use to assist them when analyzing reports of ageing research using those models.