BASi
Bioanalytical System Inc.
BASi is a drug development firm providing contract research services and unique products for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries.
BASi Dual Species Cage Kit
Rat Metabolic Cage or Solid Floor Cage for Rat or Mouse
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Rat - Metabolic Cage |
Rat - Solid Floor Cage |
Mouse - Solid Floor Cage |
What Is It?
A new cage was developed in response to customers who requested another solid-bottom cage floor option for rats housed on the Culex APS or Raturn movement-responsive caging system. A coated metal pan was created to replace the grid bottom in the standard Culex metabolic cage during studies in which metabolic wastes were not required. This same pan was then found to be useful for automated blood sampling in mice, when it was moved to a higher position in the same standard cage. This new cage retains the grid floor to provide an option for collecting metabolic wastes (rats) and to provide added stability during washing, or when the pan is raised for use with mice.
Applications
Culex or Raturn users now have the option of using this cage in one of three ways:
- Solid floor for mice (with/without bedding)
- Solid floor for rats (with/without bedding)
- Grid floor for rats (without bedding)
This type of cage is not suitable for studies involving brain microdialysis in rats.
Why Is It Useful?
Prior to the development of the CX-1600 cage, the two cage styles offered for the Culex or Raturn were the grid-bottomed metabolic cage (CX-1300 for rats or CX-1301 for mice) and the MD-1420 round-bottomed bowl cage. Each of these prior cages had a specific purpose: either to collect urine and feces (metabolic cages), or to provide sloping sides which were less likely to contact brain implants (bowl cage). The bowl cage also permitted the use of bedding but did not have food bins. The new cage retains the useful features of the metabolic cage (food bin, water bin, hinged door, options for long term food and water dispensers, cage lid). It also adds the requested solid bottom flooring which will retain small amounts of bedding. The ability to use this cage for two different species (rats or mice) is also a useful feature.
Product Features
- Acrylic cage can be washed in cage washer (Note! temperature for all cycles <185°F)
- Pan insert accommodates small volumes of bedding materials (< 0.5 liter)
- Hinged and removable door for access to study subject
- Polymer coating on metal pan insulates against loss of body heat and provides better traction for animals during high activity periods (e.g. evening)
- Pan can be inserted at two positions in cage
- Grid bottom remains in bottom of cage when pan is raised for infusion or blood sampling studies with mice and provides added stability
- Grid in combination with upper pan can be used when acclimating non-cannulated rats, or collecting urine. Upper pan is then used in lieu of the cage lid.
- Two sizes of water tube provided to accommodate rat and mouse
- Includes two food bins (rat)
- Food for mice distributed among bedding
- Includes special lightweight, short, mouse tether (replaces standard rat tether supplied with Culex or Raturn).
- Includes cage lid
- Includes cutoff plate to seal the hole in cage when the food bin is removed during fasting periods
I already have a metabolic cage - can I just purchase the pan?
Metabolic cages purchased before March 1, 2006 don’t have the upper mounting holes for the pan, the fixtures to hold the mouse watering tube, or the shorter mouse tether line. If you want to do studies with mice, you should purchase the kit. If you are only interested in the solid floor option for rats, and have old cages, you’ll find that there is a conflict with one of the door latches on old cage. Modifications are needed before the pan will fit into old cages.
What’s Included in this Kit?
- CX-1302 Multi-Floor Cage Base
- CX-1214 Mouse Tether (not shown)
- MR-1528 Cage Lid
- CX-1200 Stainless Steel Food Bin (2)
- CX-1203 Sealing Plate
- CX-5000 Standard Polycarbonate Water Tube with Stainless Steel Sipper (rat)
- CX-5010 Short Polycarbonate Water Tube with Stainless Sipper (mouse)
- MR-3061 Maintenance Wrench (to tighten fittings periodically after multiple washings