The Laboratory Rat

Mark A. Suckow is a private consultant in laboratory animal medicine and Professor (Emeritus) in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Kentucky where he previously served as Attending Veterinarian and Associate Vice President for Research. He received his DVM from the University of Wisconsin and subsequently completed a post-doctoral residency in laboratory animal medicine at the University of Michigan. Dr. Suckow has 35 years of experience in laboratory animal medicine, regulatory compliance, and animal facility management. With an interest in the use of animal models for cancer research, vaccinology, and biomaterials development, Dr. Suckow has published greater than 115 papers in refereed journals and has seven issued patents related to vaccine adjuvants and cancer vaccines. He has written or edited over 20 books on topics related to research and laboratory animal medicine. Further, he served as the 2006 President of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science and the 2011 President of the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners; and he currently serves as an emeritus member of the Council on Accreditation of AAALAC, International and as Editor in Chief for the Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. F. Claire Hankenson, DVM, MS, is the Director of MSU Campus Animal Resources and Attending Veterinarian at the Michigan State University. Research interests are refinements in the case and use of animals involved in research studies, particularly rodent clinical medicine, tail biopsy evaluations and humane endpoints. Ronald P. Wilson, VMA, MS, DACLAM, is the Professor and Chair of Comparative Medicine at Pennsylvania State University. Research interests are related to experimental surgery, pain, analgesia and anesthesia of laboratory animals. Patricia L. Foley, DVM, DCLAM, is the Director, Division of Comparative Medicine at Georgetown University.

• Background of the laboratory rat1. Historical Foundations2. Taxonomy and Stocks and Strains3. Translational Potential of Rats in ResearchBiology and care4. Functional Anatomy and Physiology5. Clinical Pathology of the Rat6. Reproduction and Breeding7. Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Genetic Modification in Rats8. Analysis of Behavior in Laboratory Rats9. Nutrition10. Housing and EnvironmentClinical care and disease11. Medical Management and Diagnostic Approaches12. Bacterial, Mycoplasmal, and Mycotic Infections13. Viral Disease14. Parasitic Diseases15. Neoplastic Disease16. Metabolic, Traumatic, and Miscellaneous Diseases17. Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Euthanasia18. Care of Surgical and Other Fragile ModelsRats as research models19. General Experimental Techniques20. Integrating Biology with Rat Genomic Tools21. Gnotobiotics and the Microbiome22. Toxicology23. Embryology and Teratology24. Rat Immunology25. Cardiovascular Research26. Rat Models of Alcohol Use Disorder27. Rat Models of Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Diabetes28. The Rate in Neuroscience Research29. Rat Models of Central Nervous System Injury30. Use of the Rat as a Model in Regenerative Medicine31. Rat Models of Infectious Disease