53-650: A laboratory rat is a rat of the species Rattus norvegicus which is bred and kept for scientific research. Labrat , lab rat , or lab rats may also refer to: Laboratory rat Laboratory rats or lab rats are strains of the rat subspecies Rattus norvegicus domestica (Domestic Norwegian rat) which are bred and kept for scientific research . While less commonly used for research than laboratory mice , rats have served as an important animal model for research in psychology and biomedical science . In 18th-century Europe , wild brown rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) ran rampant and this infestation fueled
106-453: A domesticated pet during the Edo period and in the 18th century guidebooks on keeping domestic rats were published by Youso Tamanokakehashi (1775) and Chingan Sodategusa (1787). Genetic analysis of 117 albino rat strains collected from all parts of the world carried out by a team led by Takashi Kuramoto at Kyoto University in 2012 showed that the albinos descended from hooded rats and all
159-452: A foundational level is referred to as basic research and is intended to clarify scientific principles and mechanisms. Translational research aims to elucidate mechanisms of cancer development and progression and transform basic scientific findings into concepts that can be applicable to the treatment and prevention of cancer. Clinical research is devoted to the development of pharmaceuticals, surgical procedures, and medical technologies for
212-451: A high (and very variable) rate, the study was considered flawed in design and its findings unsubstantiated. The biobreeding rat (a.k.a. the biobreeding diabetes-prone rat or BBDP rat) is an inbred strain that spontaneously develops autoimmune type 1 diabetes . Like NOD mice , biobreeding rats are used as an animal model for Type 1 diabetes. The strain re-capitulates many of the features of human type 1 diabetes and has contributed greatly to
265-626: A much higher rate compared to other strains, thus require less time for these behavioral studies. The Sprague Dawley is an outbred, multipurpose breed of albino rat used extensively in medical and nutritional research. Its main advantage is its calmness and ease of handling. This breed of rat was first produced by the Sprague Dawley farms (later to become the Sprague Dawley Animal Company ) in Madison, Wisconsin , in 1925. The name
318-542: A population with genetic variation is required, and these rats are usually referred to as "stocks" rather than "strains". The Wistar rat is an outbred albino rat. This breed was developed at the Wistar Institute in 1906 for use in biological and medical research, and is notably the first rat developed to serve as a model organism at a time when laboratories primarily used the house mouse ( Mus musculus ). More than half of all laboratory rat strains are descended from
371-571: A project called Help Defeat Cancer . Other related projects include the Folding@home and Rosetta@home projects, which focus on groundbreaking protein folding and protein structure prediction research. Vodafone has also partnered with the Garvan Institute to create the DreamLab Project, which uses distributed computing via an app on cellphones to perform cancer research. Members of
424-558: Is a related effort investigating the genomic changes associated with cancer, while the COSMIC cancer database documents acquired genetic mutations from hundreds of thousands of human cancer samples. These large scale projects, involving about 350 different types of cancer, have identified ~130,000 mutations in ~3000 genes that have been mutated in the tumors. The majority occurred in 319 genes, of which 286 were tumor suppressor genes and 33 oncogenes. Several hereditary factors can increase
477-544: Is estimated that with further research cancer death rates could be reduced by 70% around the world even without the development of any new therapies. Cancer prevention research receives only 2–9% of global cancer research funding, albeit many of the options for prevention are already well-known without further cancer-specific research but are not reflected in economics and policy. Mutational signatures of various cancers, for example, could reveal further causes of cancer and support causal attribution. Prompt detection of cancer
530-442: Is important to understand tumor progression and treatment success. The role of a given gene in cancer progression may vary tremendously, depending on the stage and type of cancer involved. Many dietary recommendations have been proposed to reduce the risk of cancer, few have significant supporting scientific evidence. Obesity and drinking alcohol have been correlated with the incidence and progression of some cancers. Lowering
583-420: Is important, since it is usually more difficult to treat in later stages. Accurate detection of cancer is also important because false positives can cause harm from unnecessary medical procedures. Some screening protocols are currently not accurate (such as prostate-specific antigen testing). Others such as a colonoscopy or mammogram are unpleasant and as a result some patients may opt out. Active research
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#1732894693245636-471: Is more common in Japan due to its high-salt diet. Periods of intermittent fasting (time-restricted feeding which may not include caloric restriction ) is investigated for potential usefulness in cancer prevention and treatment and as of 2021 additional trials are needed to elucidate the risks and benefits. In some cases, "caloric restrictions could hinder both cancer growth and progression, besides enhancing
689-782: Is reflected by the amount of literature on it: roughly 50% more than that on laboratory mice . Laboratory rats are frequently subject to dissection or microdialysis to study internal effects on organs and the brain, such as for cancer or pharmacological research. Laboratory rats not sacrificed may be euthanized or, in some cases, become pets . Domestic rats differ from wild rats (various spp. of Rodentia ) in many ways: they are calmer and significantly less likely to bite, they can tolerate greater crowding, they breed earlier and produce more offspring, and their brains , livers , kidneys , adrenal glands , and hearts are smaller. Scientists have bred many strains or "lines" of rats specifically for experimentation. Most are derived from
742-471: Is research into cancer to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. Cancer research ranges from epidemiology, molecular bioscience to the performance of clinical trials to evaluate and compare applications of the various cancer treatments. These applications include surgery, radiation therapy , chemotherapy , hormone therapy , immunotherapy and combined treatment modalities such as chemo-radiotherapy. Starting in
795-483: Is the first known animal with inherited retinal degeneration. Although the genetic defect was not known for many years, it was identified in the year 2000 as a mutation in the gene MERTK. This mutation results in defective retinal pigment epithelium phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments. The shaking rat Kawasaki (SRK) is an autosomal recessive mutant that has a short deletion in the RELN (reelin) gene. This results in
848-487: Is to identify new oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes that may provide new insights into cancer diagnosis, predicting clinical outcome of cancers, and new targets for cancer therapies. As the Cancer Genome Project stated in a 2004 review article, "a central aim of cancer research has been to identify the mutated genes that are causally implicated in oncogenesis ( cancer genes )." The Cancer Genome Atlas project
901-414: Is underway to address all these problems, to develop novel ways of cancer screening and to increase detection rates. For example: Emerging topics of cancer treatment research include: Research into the cause of cancer involves many different disciplines including genetics, diet, environmental factors (i.e. chemical carcinogens ). In regard to investigation of causes and potential targets for therapy,
954-634: The American Association for Cancer Research and American Society of Clinical Oncology , and as foundations for public awareness or raising funds for cancer research, such as Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society . Supporters of different types of cancer have adopted different colored awareness ribbons and promote months of the year as being dedicated to the support of specific types of cancer. The American Cancer Society began promoting October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in
1007-487: The Lewis are other well-known stocks developed from Wistars. The Long–Evans rat is an outbred rat developed by Long and Evans in 1915 by crossbreeding several Wistar females with a wild gray male. Long-Evans rats are white with a black hood, or occasionally white with a brown hood. They are utilized as a multipurpose model organism , frequently in behavioral research, especially in alcohol research. Long-Evans consume alcohol in
1060-617: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) via the Rat Genome Sequencing Project Consortium , and work accomplished by the members of the Knock Out Rat Consortium (KORC). Knockout rat disease models for Parkinson's disease , Alzheimer's disease , hypertension , and diabetes , using zinc-finger nuclease technology, are being commercialized by SAGE Labs . Cancer research Cancer research
1113-409: The albino and hooded varieties. The first time one of these albino mutants was brought into a laboratory for a study was in 1828 for an experiment on fasting . Over the next 30 years, rats were used for several more experiments and eventually the laboratory rat became the first animal domesticated for purely scientific reasons. In Japan , there was a widespread practice of keeping rats as
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#17328946932451166-690: The size and number of fat cells . Obesity in Zucker rats is primarily linked to their hyperphagic nature and excessive hunger; however, food intake does not fully explain the hyperlipidemia or overall body composition. A knockout rat (also spelled knock out or knock-out ) is a genetically engineered rat with a single gene turned off through a targeted mutation . Knockout rats can mimic human diseases, and are important tools for studying gene function and for drug discovery and development. The production of knockout rats became technically feasible in 2008, through work financed by $ 120 million in funding from
1219-622: The testicular tumors occurred in the rats from a single supplier. The researchers found that the incidence of tumors in Sprague Dawleys from different suppliers varied as much from each other as from the other strains of rats. The authors of the study "stressed the need for extreme caution in evaluation of carcinogenicity studies conducted at different laboratories and/or on rats from different sources." During food rationing due to World War II , British biologists had eaten laboratory rats, creamed. Scientists have also spent time studying
1272-427: The thermoregulation of the rat's tail in research. The rat's tail works as a variable heat exchanger. The tail's blood flow allows for thermoregulation to take place because it is under control of sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves. Vasodilation occurs when the tail temperature increases, causing heat loss. Vasoconstriction occurs when the tail temperature decreases allowing heat to be conserved. Thermoregulation in
1325-619: The 15 countries that were full members of the European Union. As a percentage of GDP, the non-commercial funding of cancer research in the US was four times the amount dedicated to cancer research in Europe. Half of Europe's non-commercial cancer research is funded by charitable organizations. The National Cancer Institute is the major funding institution in the United States. In the 2023 fiscal year,
1378-644: The NCI funded $ 7.1 billion in cancer research. Difficulties inherent to cancer research are shared with many types of biomedical research . Cancer research processes have been criticised. These include, especially in the US, for the financial resources and positions required to conduct research. Other consequences of competition for research resources appear to be a substantial number of research publications whose results cannot be replicated. One can share computer time for distributed cancer research projects like Help Conquer Cancer . World Community Grid also had
1431-495: The albino Wistar rat , which is still widely used. Other common strains are the Sprague Dawley , Fischer 344 , Holtzman albino strains, Long–Evans , and Lister black hooded rats. Inbred strains are also available, but are not as commonly used as inbred mice. Much of the genome of Rattus norvegicus has been sequenced . In October 2003, researchers succeeded in cloning two laboratory rats by nuclear transfer . This
1484-553: The albinos descended from a single ancestor. As there is evidence that the hooded rat was known as the "Japanese rat" in the early 20th century, Kuramoto concluded that one or more Japanese hooded rats might have been brought to Europe or the Americas and an albino rat that emerged as a product of the breeding of these hooded rats was the common ancestor of all the albino laboratory rats in use today. The rat found early use in laboratory research in five areas: W. S. Small suggested that
1537-446: The chance of cancer-causing mutations, including the activation of oncogenes or the inhibition of tumor suppressor genes. The functions of various onco- and tumor suppressor genes can be disrupted at different stages of tumor progression. Mutations in such genes can be used to classify the malignancy of a tumor. In later stages, tumors can develop a resistance to cancer treatment. The identification of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
1590-457: The consumption of sweetened beverages is recommended as a measure to address obesity. Some specific foods are linked to specific cancers. There is strong evidence that processed meat and red meat intake increases risk of colorectal cancer . Aflatoxin B 1 , a frequent food contaminant, increases risk of liver cancer , while drinking coffee is associated with a reduced risk. Betel nut chewing causes oral cancer . Stomach cancer
1643-425: The development of genetic research techniques applicable to rats. A 1972 study compared neoplasms in Sprague Dawleys from six different commercial suppliers and found highly significant differences in the incidences of endocrine and mammary tumors. There were even significant variations in the incidences of adrenal medulla tumors among rats from the same source raised in different laboratories. All but one of
Lab rat (disambiguation) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1696-474: The early 1950s. Characteristics include albino coloring, docile behavior, and low fertility. The Lewis rat suffers from several spontaneous pathologies: first, they can suffer from high incidences of neoplasms, with the rat's lifespan mainly determined by this. The most common are adenomas of the pituitary and adenomas/adenocarcinomas of the adrenal cortex in both sexes, mammary gland tumors and endometrial carcinomas in females, and C-cell adenomas/adenocarcinomas of
1749-402: The early 2000s, most funding for cancer research came from taxpayers and charities, rather than from corporations. In the US, less than 30% of all cancer research was funded by commercial researchers such as pharmaceutical companies. Per capita, public spending on cancer research by taxpayers and charities in the US was five times as much in 2002–03 as public spending by taxpayers and charities in
1802-508: The efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation therapy". Caloric restriction mimetics , including some present in foods like spermidine , are also investigated for these or similar reasons. Such and similar dietary supplements may contribute to prevention or treatment, with candidate substances including apigenin , berberine , jiaogulan , and rhodiola rosea . Cancer research is funded by government grants , charitable foundations and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In
1855-608: The eventual treatment of patients. Epidemiologic analysis indicates that at least 35% of all cancer deaths in the world could now be avoided by primary prevention. According to a newer GBD systematic analysis , in 2019, ~44% of all cancer deaths — or ~4.5 million deaths or ~105 million lost disability-adjusted life years — were due to known clearly preventable risk factors , led by smoking, alcohol use and high BMI . However, one 2015 study suggested that between ~70% and ~90% of cancers are due to environmental factors and therefore potentially preventable. Furthermore, it
1908-406: The first environmental trigger (chimney soot) for cancer in 1775 and cigarette smoking was identified as a cause of lung cancer in 1950. Early cancer treatment focused on improving surgical techniques for removing tumors. Radiation therapy took hold in the 1900s. Chemotherapeutics were developed and refined throughout the 20th century. The U.S. declared a " War on Cancer " in the 1970s, and increased
1961-436: The funding and support for cancer research. Some of the most highly cited and most influential research reports include: Cancer research encompasses a variety of types and interdisciplinary areas of research. Scientists involved in cancer research may be trained in areas such as chemistry , biochemistry , molecular biology , physiology , medical physics , epidemiology , and biomedical engineering . Research performed on
2014-400: The industry of rat-catching. Rat-catchers would not only make money by trapping the rodents, but also by selling them for food or, more commonly, for rat-baiting . Rat-baiting was a popular sport, which involved filling a pit with rats and timing how long it took for a terrier to kill them all. Over time, breeding the rats for these contests may have produced variations in color, notably
2067-437: The litter of 17 drank and urinated excessively. Hairless laboratory rats provide researchers with valuable data regarding compromised immune systems and genetic kidney diseases. It is estimated that there are over 25 genes that cause recessive hairlessness in laboratory rats. The more common ones are denoted as rnu (Rowett nude), fz (fuzzy), and shn (shorn). The Lewis rat was developed by Margaret Lewis from Wistar stock in
2120-525: The lowered expression of reelin protein, essential for proper cortex lamination and cerebellum development. Its phenotype is similar to the widely researched reeler mouse. Shaking rat Kawasaki was first described in 1988. This and the Lewis rat are well-known stocks developed from Wistar rats. The Zucker rat was bred to be a genetic model for research on obesity and hypertension. They are named after Lois M. Zucker and Theodore F. Zucker, pioneer researchers in
2173-421: The mid-1990s, the emphasis in clinical cancer research shifted towards therapies derived from biotechnology research, such as cancer immunotherapy and gene therapy . Cancer research is done in academia, research institutes, and corporate environments, and is largely government funded. Cancer research has been ongoing for centuries. Early research focused on the causes of cancer. Percivall Pott identified
Lab rat (disambiguation) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2226-539: The original colony established by physiologist Henry Herbert Donaldson , scientific administrator Milton J. Greenman , and genetic researcher/embryologist Helen Dean King . The Wistar rat is currently one of the most popular rats used for laboratory research. It is characterized by its wide head, long ears, and a tail length that is always less than its body length. The Sprague Dawley and Long–Evans were developed from Wistars. Wistars are more active than others like Sprague Dawleys. The spontaneously hypertensive rat and
2279-416: The potential mechanisms of carcinogenesis, in regard to the types of genetic and epigenetic changes that are associated with cancer development. The mouse is often used as a mammalian model for manipulation of the function of genes that play a role in tumor formation, while basic aspects of tumor initiation, such as mutagenesis, are assayed on cultures of bacteria and mammalian cells. The goal of oncogenomics
2332-445: The public can also join clinical trials as healthy control subjects or for methods of cancer detection. There could be software and data-related procedures that increase participation in trials and make them faster and less expensive. One open source platform matches genomically profiled cancer patients to precision medicine drug trials. Organizations exist as associations for scientists participating in cancer research, such as
2385-484: The rat tail has been used to study metabolism. A " strain ", in reference to rodents, is a group in which all members are, as nearly as possible, genetically identical. In rats, this is accomplished through inbreeding . By having this kind of population, it is possible to conduct experiments on the roles of genes, or conduct experiments that exclude variations in genetics as a factor. By contrast, " outbred " populations are used when identical genotypes are unnecessary or
2438-533: The rate of learning could be measured by rats in a maze ; a suggestion employed by John B. Watson for his Ph.D. dissertation in 1903. The first rat colony in America used for nutrition research was started in January 1908 by Elmer McCollum and then, nutritive requirements of rats were used by Thomas Burr Osborne and Lafayette Mendel to determine the details of protein nutrition . The reproductive function of rats
2491-537: The research of T1DM pathogenesis. The Brattleboro rat is a strain that was developed by Henry A. Schroeder and technician Tim Vinton in West Brattleboro , Vermont, beginning in 1961, for Dartmouth Medical School . It has a naturally occurring genetic mutation that makes specimens unable to produce the hormone vasopressin , which helps control kidney function. The rats were being raised for laboratory use by Henry Schroeder and technician Tim Vinton, who noticed that
2544-407: The route used starts with data obtained from clinical observations, enters basic research, and, once convincing and independently confirmed results are obtained, proceeds with clinical research, involving appropriately designed trials on consenting human subjects, with the aim to test safety and efficiency of the therapeutic intervention method. An important part of basic research is characterization of
2597-591: The study of the genetics of obesity. There are two types of Zucker rat: a lean Zucker rat, denoted as the dominant trait (Fa/Fa) or (Fa/fa); and the characteristically obese (or fatty) Zucker rat or Zucker diabetic fatty rat (ZDF rat), which is actually a recessive trait (fa/fa) of the leptin receptor , capable of weighing up to 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) — more than twice the average weight. Obese Zucker rats have high levels of lipids and cholesterol in their bloodstream, are resistant to insulin without being hyperglycemic , and gain weight from an increase in both
2650-453: The thyroid gland and tumors of the hematopoietic system in males. Second, Lewis rats are prone to develop a spontaneous transplantable lymphatic leukaemia. Lastly, when in advanced age, they sometimes develop spontaneous glomerular sclerosis. Research applications include transplantation research, induced arthritis and inflammation, experimental allergic encephalitis, and STZ-induced diabetes. The Royal College of Surgeons rat (or RCS rat)
2703-505: Was originally hyphenated, although the brand styling today (Sprague Dawley, the trademark used by Inotiv ) is not. The average litter size of the Sprague Dawley rat is 11.0. These rats typically have a longer tail in proportion to their body length than Wistars. They were used in the Séralini affair , where the herbicide RoundUp was claimed to increase the occurrence of tumor in these rats. However, since these rats are known to grow tumors at
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#17328946932452756-679: Was studied at the Institute for Experimental Biology at the University of California, Berkeley by Herbert McLean Evans and Joseph A. Long. The genetics of rats was studied by William Ernest Castle at the Bussey Institute of Harvard University until it closed in 1994. Rats have long been used in cancer research ; for instance at the Crocker Institute for Cancer Research . The historical importance of this species to scientific research
2809-477: Was the first in a series of developments that have begun to make rats tractable as genetic research subjects, although they still lag behind mice, which lend themselves better to the embryonic stem cell techniques typically used for genetic manipulation . Many investigators who wish to trace observations on behavior and physiology to underlying genes regard aspects of these in rats as more relevant to humans and easier to observe than in mice, giving impetus to
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