Animal husbandry – Confining or housing – Animal display or open work enclosure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-06
2001-05-22
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Animal husbandry
Confining or housing
Animal display or open work enclosure
C119S452000, C119S473000, C119S417000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234115
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a nesting box, and more particularly to, a nesting box for use with a metabolism cage to facilitate the collection of excreta from pregnant female laboratory animals or dams through pregnancy, parturition and lactation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Metabolism cages often are used to house animals used in laboratory studies. For example, in kinetic studies using animals, excreta can be analyzed for metabolites or metals. The collection of excreta from laboratory dams, such as mouse dams, through pregnancy, parturition, and lactation to the weaning of the young presents a challenge. The most practical method of fecal collection is to place the animal into a metabolism cage.
FIG. 1
illustrates a prior art arrangement
100
of a metabolism cage
102
together with a collection tray
104
. The bottom
106
of the metabolism cage
102
is a grating that allows the fecal pellets to fall through to the tray for easy collection. However, the grating openings are large enough that the mouse pups from birth to about one week of age will also fall through, resulting in their death from exposure and lack of food.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a nesting box for use with a metabolism cage. Other important objects of the present invention are to provide such nesting box substantially without negative effects and that overcome some of the disadvantages of prior art arrangements.
In brief, a nesting box is provided for use with a metabolism cage. The nesting box comprises an enclosure for receiving a nesting dam. The enclosure has a top wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls. Either the top wall or one of the sidewalls includes an entrance/exit aperture. The entrance/exit aperture has a selected size that is selectively provided relative to a defined size of the nesting dam.
In accordance with features of the invention, the nesting box facilitates the collection of excreta from laboratory dams through pregnancy, parturition and lactation. The nesting box is formed of a substantially transparent material allowing observation of the nesting dam without opening the box. The nesting box is adapted for use with different laboratory animals, such as mice, hamsters, gerbils, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits.
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Bhattacharyya Maryka H.
Blum Carmen A.
Wilson Allison K.
Jordan Charles T.
Mason, Kolehmainen Rathburn & Wyss
Nelson Judith A.
The University of Chicago
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