Animal House
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Animal House
The Animal House Facility at C. L. Baid Metha College of Pharmacy serves as an essential infrastructure for conducting preclinical pharmacological and toxicological research. The facility provides a controlled and hygienic environment for housing and maintaining laboratory animals, primarily rats and mice, which are widely used in experimental studies for pharmaceutical research and teaching.
Purpose of the Animal House Facility
The Animal House supports teaching and research activities in pharmacy education, particularly in the areas of pharmacology and toxicology. Laboratory animals are used for:
- Evaluation of pharmacological activity of new drugs
- Toxicity studies
- Behavioral and neurological studies
- Disease model development
- Preclinical screening of herbal and synthetic compounds
The commonly used laboratory animals include:
- Albino Rats (Wistar Rats)
- Albino Mice (Swiss Albino Mice)
These animals are preferred due to their small size, ease of handling, rapid breeding, and well-established experimental models.
Housing and Environmental Conditions
Proper housing conditions are maintained to ensure animal health and reliable experimental outcomes. Separate rooms are available for rats and mice, with a total capacity of approximately 400 animals. Environmental conditions maintained include:
- Temperature: 19–22°C
- Relative Humidity: 40–70%
- Light/Dark Cycle: 12 hours light and 12 hours dark
Ventilation
The facility is equipped with an efficient ventilation system designed to provide 12–15 air changes per hour. Animal housing areas and human occupancy areas are ventilated separately to maintain hygiene and prevent contamination.
Power and Lighting
A time-controlled lighting system is used to maintain a regular diurnal light cycle. Emergency power backup is available to ensure uninterrupted operation in case of power failure. Noise control is also considered in the facility design. Concrete-walled animal rooms help reduce sound transmission and minimize stress to the animals.
Feeding and Water Supply
- Standard pellet diet
- Filtered drinking water (ad libitum)
Food and water are monitored regularly to ensure nutritional adequacy and hygiene.
Sanitation and Hygiene
Maintaining sanitation is a key aspect of animal care. Animal rooms, corridors, storage areas, and equipment are regularly cleaned using appropriate detergents and disinfectants. Key sanitation practices include:
- Cages are sanitized before animals are placed in them.
- Animal cages, racks, feeders, and watering devices are washed and sanitized frequently.
- Cages are disinfected by rinsing with water at 82.2°C (180°F).
- Water bottles, sipper nozzles, stoppers, and watering equipment are also sanitized using water at 82.2°C (180°F).
Animals are housed in polypropylene cages with stainless steel grill tops, containing clean bedding materials such as rice husk.
Veterinary Care
Animals are observed daily for health status. Routine monitoring is carried out by trained staff, while veterinary supervision is provided by a qualified veterinarian. The veterinarian monitors:
- Animal health
- Behavior
- Nutrition
- Sanitation
Waste Disposal
Animal waste is removed through hosing or flushing systems. Waste materials are collected regularly and disposed of safely and hygienically according to institutional guidelines.
Functional Areas of the Animal Facility
The Animal House Facility includes the following functional areas:
- Separate rooms for rat and mice housing
- Quarantine area
- Procedure room
- Storage room for feed, bedding, and cages
- Receiving and storage area for food and bedding
- Washing area for cages and equipment
