Characterization of Reusable and Recyclable Plastic Bedding Materials for Laboratory Mice
The scientific community has placed increasing importance on sustainability, leading to the exploration of alternative bedding materials to the widely used aspen wood chips. Bedding plays a critical role in ensuring the wellbeing of animals and the validity of experimental outcomes. Compared to the...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| author | Dana Matzek Bastian Popper |
| author_facet | Dana Matzek Bastian Popper |
| author_sort | Dana Matzek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The scientific community has placed increasing importance on sustainability, leading to the exploration of alternative bedding materials to the widely used aspen wood chips. Bedding plays a critical role in ensuring the wellbeing of animals and the validity of experimental outcomes. Compared to the frequently evaluated biological materials, such as corncobs or spelts, synthetic materials such as plastic granules have been less investigated. We characterized two thermostable plastic materials as an alternative bedding material in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice. We examined the impact of those bedding alternatives on physiological parameters, behavior, health status, and cage climate in static and digitally ventilated cages as well as the possibility of a reuse cycle after reprocessing. The mouse lines showed different locomotor activity, feeding, and nestbuilding behavior on plastic granules. While ammonia levels were constantly higher in static cages than in ventilated cages, blood parameters were unaltered, and health status was maintained during the reuse procedure. We show the use of plastic granulate as bedding material for mice that has the potential for processing and recycling. Further, we show that the material is accepted differently by the lines in the preference choice test without affecting their health or hygiene status. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ffd3862adbd347079dcabd39aea868fa |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-ffd3862adbd347079dcabd39aea868fa2025-08-20T03:11:18ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-02-0115450110.3390/ani15040501Characterization of Reusable and Recyclable Plastic Bedding Materials for Laboratory MiceDana Matzek0Bastian Popper1Biomedical Center, Core Facility Animal Models, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyBiomedical Center, Core Facility Animal Models, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhaderner Straße 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, GermanyThe scientific community has placed increasing importance on sustainability, leading to the exploration of alternative bedding materials to the widely used aspen wood chips. Bedding plays a critical role in ensuring the wellbeing of animals and the validity of experimental outcomes. Compared to the frequently evaluated biological materials, such as corncobs or spelts, synthetic materials such as plastic granules have been less investigated. We characterized two thermostable plastic materials as an alternative bedding material in C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice. We examined the impact of those bedding alternatives on physiological parameters, behavior, health status, and cage climate in static and digitally ventilated cages as well as the possibility of a reuse cycle after reprocessing. The mouse lines showed different locomotor activity, feeding, and nestbuilding behavior on plastic granules. While ammonia levels were constantly higher in static cages than in ventilated cages, blood parameters were unaltered, and health status was maintained during the reuse procedure. We show the use of plastic granulate as bedding material for mice that has the potential for processing and recycling. Further, we show that the material is accepted differently by the lines in the preference choice test without affecting their health or hygiene status.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/501polycarbonatepolysulfonsynthetic beddingmus musculus |
| spellingShingle | Dana Matzek Bastian Popper Characterization of Reusable and Recyclable Plastic Bedding Materials for Laboratory Mice Animals polycarbonate polysulfon synthetic bedding mus musculus |
| title | Characterization of Reusable and Recyclable Plastic Bedding Materials for Laboratory Mice |
| title_full | Characterization of Reusable and Recyclable Plastic Bedding Materials for Laboratory Mice |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Reusable and Recyclable Plastic Bedding Materials for Laboratory Mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Reusable and Recyclable Plastic Bedding Materials for Laboratory Mice |
| title_short | Characterization of Reusable and Recyclable Plastic Bedding Materials for Laboratory Mice |
| title_sort | characterization of reusable and recyclable plastic bedding materials for laboratory mice |
| topic | polycarbonate polysulfon synthetic bedding mus musculus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/501 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danamatzek characterizationofreusableandrecyclableplasticbeddingmaterialsforlaboratorymice AT bastianpopper characterizationofreusableandrecyclableplasticbeddingmaterialsforlaboratorymice |