Handling and estrous cycle monitoring

SS Samantha K. Saland
KW Kathrin Wilczak
EV Edward Voss
TL TuKiet T. Lam
MK Mohamed Kabbaj
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Male and female rats were habituated to basic handling procedures daily for 1 week upon arrival. Following habituation, daily estrous cycle monitoring and stage assignment of intact female rats was performed via vaginal lavage and characterization of cytologic smears as previously detailed27,31,33. Post-mortem smears were also collected to confirm staging assignments. Only rats exhibiting at least two consecutive 4-day cycles were used in the present work. Three female rats not meeting this criterion were excluded prior to group assignment and analysis. To minimize potential handling and stress confounds between sexes, male rats received a similar brief daily handling in parallel.

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