Experimental animals refer to animals that are artificially bred for the primary purpose of scientific research and are used in scenarios such as bioassays, disease diagnosis, biopharmaceutical development, and teaching. Common types include small experimental animals such as mice, rats, and rabbits; large experimental animals such as dogs, sheep, and pigs; as well as other experimental organisms such as fish, birds, and frogs. In clinical research on the prevention and treatment of human diseases, direct human trials are not feasible due to ethical and practical constraints. Therefore, experimental animals serve as indispensable research vehicles and hold a crucial position in related scientific work.
Animal experimental techniques are essential foundational skills for clinical medical researchers, primarily covering core aspects such as experimental animal selection, handling, and animal model construction. The complete technical system also includes modules such as aseptic techniques, pre-experiment planning and material preparation, and post-experiment animal management. Anesthesia of experimental animals, as well as hair removal and disinfection of the surgical area, are key preparatory steps before animal surgery.
Marking after experimental animal grouping is an important aspect of animal experiment preparation. To distinguish and observe each animal, they must be marked and numbered. The appropriate marking method should be selected based on the species, number of animals, and duration of the experiment. The marking method should ensure clear, durable, simple, easily recognizable, and applicable numbering. Common marking methods include dyeing, tagging, ear notching, branding, cage numbering, and morphological feature marking. Among these, the dyeing method is the most commonly used and operationally simple. The dyeing method involves applying dye to prominent areas of the animal's body, such as the fur or limbs, or using different colors to differentiate animals. This method is commonly used for mouse and rat models. This reagent is intended solely for scientific research purposes and should not be used for clinical diagnosis or other applications.
Instructions for Use
Dip a cotton swab or brush into the staining marker solution and apply it to the corresponding numbered area on the animal. The numbering principle follows "left to right, front to back." Typically, the left forelimb is marked as number 1, the left flank as number 2, the left hind limb as number 3, the top of the head as number 4, the middle back as number 5, the base of the tail as number 6, the right forelimb as number 7, the right flank as number 8, and the right hind limb as number 9. No marking indicates number 10. Thus, a single color can mark up to 10 animals. If the numbering exceeds 10 or larger numbers, two or more colors can be used simultaneously for marking.
Precautions
The dyeing method is commonly used for short-term experiments. It is simple and causes no pain or harm to the animals. However, markings may fade due to factors such as mutual rubbing among animals, licking of fur, urine, water exposure, or fur loss, making it unsuitable for long-term experiments.
If the dye fades during the experiment, it should be reapplied promptly.
After marking animals with dye, they should be allowed to dry completely before being housed together.
Picric acid can be used to mark animals in yellow and is the preferred dyeing solution as it is less prone to fading.
Silver nitrate solution can be used to mark animals in brown, and the applied area should be exposed to light for 10 minutes after application.
Use the reagent as soon as possible after opening to avoid affecting subsequent experimental results.
For your safety and health, please wear a lab coat and disposable gloves during operation.
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