| dc.description.abstract | This study investigated the effectiveness of clicker training as a refinement method to reduce stress in mice undergoing minimal-restraint intraperitoneal injections. This minimal-restraint injection method required only for their rear end to be lifted by the base of the tail. 10 mice were trained to stand still during the injection process, without actually undergoing injections. Following training, intraperitoneal injections were administered, and the duration mice stood still during injection and the total injection duration were measured. Post-injection, a reward acceptance test and a voluntary approach test were conducted to assess the durations of contact seeking behaviour towards the researcher and risk assessment behaviours. Results were compared with those of two control groups: the exposed control group (n=10), familiarised with the reward, researcher, and environment but not the injection handling method, and the unexposed control group (n=9). Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between treatment groups for standing still during injection, the total injection duration, contact seeking or risk assessment behaviours. These findings failed to provide conclusive evidence of the efficacy of clicker training regarding stress reduction. However, exposed control mice showed a notable trend of increased touching behaviour towards the researcher, which was categorised as a contact seeking behaviour. This suggests that exposure alone has the potential to decrease aversion towards the researcher. Despite study limitations, including a small sample size, the fact that unexposed control mice were not entirely naive, and the mice’s advanced age, this study serves as a crucial starting point, demonstrating its potential contribution to the ongoing endeavour to enhance the welfare of research animals. | |
