Essential 10
9. Experimental procedures Why (provide rationale for procedures). examples
For each experimental group, including controls, describe the procedures in enough detail to allow others to replicate them, including:
Essential 10
9. Experimental procedures Where (including detail of any acclimatisation periods). explanation
For each experimental group, including controls, describe the procedures in enough detail to allow others to replicate them, including:
Explanation
Physiological acclimatisation after a stressful event, such as transport (e.g. between supplier, animal facility, operating theatre and laboratory), but before the experiment begins allows stabilisation of physiological responses of the animal [1,2]. Protocols vary depending on species, strain, and outcome; for example physiological acclimatisation following transportation of different animals can take anywhere from 24 hours to more than one week [3].
Essential 10
9. Experimental procedures Where (including detail of any acclimatisation periods). examples
For each experimental group, including controls, describe the procedures in enough detail to allow others to replicate them, including:
Essential 10
9. Experimental procedures When and how often. explanation
For each experimental group, including controls, describe the procedures in enough detail to allow others to replicate them, including:
Explanation
Clearly report the frequency and timing of experimental procedures and measurements, including the light and dark cycle (e.g. 12L:12D), circadian time cues (e.g. lights on at 08:00), and experimental time sequence (e.g. interval between baseline and comparator measurements or interval between procedures and measurements). Along with innate circadian rhythms, these can affect research outcomes such as behavioural, physiological, and immunological parameters [1,2].
Essential 10
9. Experimental procedures When and how often. examples
For each experimental group, including controls, describe the procedures in enough detail to allow others to replicate them, including:
Essential 10
9. Experimental procedures What was done, how it was done, and what was used. explanation
For each experimental group, including controls, describe the procedures in enough detail to allow others to replicate them, including:
Explanation
Essential information to describe in the manuscript includes the procedures used to develop the model (e.g. induction of the pathology), the procedures used to measure the outcomes, and pre- and post-experimental procedures, including animal handling, welfare monitoring and euthanasia. Animal handling can be a source of stress and the specific method used (e.g. mice picked up by tail or in cupped hands) can affect research outcomes [1-3].
Essential 10
9. Experimental procedures What was done, how it was done, and what was used. examples
For each experimental group, including controls, describe the procedures in enough detail to allow others to replicate them, including:
Essential 10
8. Experimental animals Provide further relevant information on the provenance of animals, health/immune status, genetic modification status, genotype, and any previous procedures. explanation
Explanation
The animals’ provenance, their health or immune status and their history of previous testing or procedures, can influence their physiology and behaviour as well as their response to treatments, and thus impact on study outcomes. For example, animals of the same strain, but from different sources, or animals obtained from the same source but at different times, may be genetically different [1].
Essential 10
8. Experimental animals Provide further relevant information on the provenance of animals, health/immune status, genetic modification status, genotype, and any previous procedures. examples
Examples
Essential 10
8. Experimental animals Provide species-appropriate details of the animals used, including species, strain and substrain, sex, age or developmental stage, and, if relevant, weight. explanation
Explanation
The species, strain, substrain, sex, weight, and age of animals are critical factors that can influence most experimental results [1-5]. Reporting the characteristics of all animals used is equivalent to standardised human patient demographic data; these data support both the internal and external validity of the study results. It enables other researchers to repeat the experiment and generalise the findings.