Liepert Lucas D, Raphel Jordan, Smith Victoria L, Reilly Nicole, Khan Sarah, Dethlefs Christopher, Chapman Sarah, Adusumilli Satish, Leevy W Matthew
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.
Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.
J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019 Jan 1;58(1):65-70. doi: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-18-000037. Epub 2018 Dec 7.
Depilation (that is, hair removal) is a necessary prerequisite for many small animal surgeries and optical imaging experiments. Over-the-counter depilatory creams are widely used, owing to their efficacy, safety, and low rates of skin irritation and infection. However, the use of these creams is generally messy and time-consuming and generates considerable waste. Furthermore, the process itself varies markedly among laboratories. Here we present a 3D-printed device that simplifies the depilation procedure by integrating 3 key elements: 1) a multiple-port, self-scavenging anesthesia manifold, 2) curved animal holders with flow-through slats, and 3) a removable waste collection tray. Reflecting insights gained from an international survey about depilatory lab procedures that highlighted the lack of standardized protocols, this apparatus is designed to improve the neatness, throughput, and safety of mouse depilation, resulting in efficient and repeatable processes that bolster the welfare of both researchers and subjects.
脱毛（即去除毛发）是许多小动物手术和光学成像实验的必要前提。非处方脱毛膏因其有效性、安全性以及低皮肤刺激和感染率而被广泛使用。然而，使用这些脱毛膏通常很麻烦且耗时，还会产生大量废弃物。此外，不同实验室的操作流程差异显著。在此，我们展示一种3D打印设备，该设备通过整合三个关键要素简化了脱毛程序：1）多端口、自清洁麻醉歧管；2）带有流通板条的弯曲动物固定器；3）可移动的废物收集托盘。鉴于从一项关于脱毛实验室程序的国际调查中获得的见解凸显了缺乏标准化方案的问题，该装置旨在提高小鼠脱毛的整洁度、通量和安全性，从而实现高效且可重复的流程，提升研究人员和实验对象的福利。
