Undergraduate Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Lab Anim (NY). 2022 Aug;51(8):219-226. doi: 10.1038/s41684-022-01017-9. Epub 2022 Jul 27.
Acoustic noise and other environmental variables represent potential confounds for animal research. Of relevance to auditory research, sustained high levels of ambient noise may modify hearing sensitivity and decrease well-being among laboratory animals. The present study was conducted to assess environmental conditions in an animal facility that houses nonhuman primates used for auditory research at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Sound levels, vibration, temperature, humidity and luminance were recorded using an environmental monitoring device placed inside of an empty cage in a macaque housing room. Recordings lasted 1 week each, at three different locations within the room. Vibration, temperature, humidity and luminance all varied within recommended levels for nonhuman primates, with one exception of low luminance levels in the bottom cage location. Sound levels at each cage location were characterized by a low baseline of 58-62 dB sound pressure level, with transient peaks up to 109 dB sound pressure level. Sound levels differed significantly across locations, but only by about 1.5 dB. The transient peaks beyond recommended sound levels reflected a very low noise dose, but exceeded startle-inducing levels, which could elicit stress responses. Based on these findings, ambient noise levels in the housing rooms in this primate facility are within acceptable levels and unlikely to contribute to hearing deficits in the nonhuman primates. Our results establish normative values for environmental conditions in a primate facility, can be used to inform best practices for nonhuman primate research and care, and form a baseline for future studies of aging and chronic noise exposure.
声噪声和其他环境变量是动物研究的潜在混杂因素。与听觉研究相关的是,持续的高水平环境噪声可能会改变听力灵敏度,并降低实验室动物的幸福感。本研究旨在评估范德比尔特大学医学中心用于听觉研究的非人类灵长类动物饲养设施的环境条件。使用放置在猕猴饲养室空笼内的环境监测设备记录声级、振动、温度、湿度和照度。记录持续 1 周,在房间内三个不同位置进行。除了底层笼位的照度水平较低外,振动、温度、湿度和照度均在非人类灵长类动物的推荐范围内变化。每个笼位的声级以 58-62dB 声压级的低基线为特征,瞬态峰值高达 109dB 声压级。声级在不同位置差异显著,但仅相差约 1.5dB。超过推荐声级的瞬态峰值反映了非常低的噪声剂量,但超过了引起惊吓的水平,这可能会引起应激反应。根据这些发现,该灵长类动物设施的饲养室环境噪声水平处于可接受水平,不太可能导致非人类灵长类动物听力缺陷。我们的研究结果为灵长类动物设施的环境条件建立了正常值,可以为非人类灵长类动物研究和护理提供最佳实践信息,并为未来的衰老和慢性噪声暴露研究提供基线。