ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the reader to the animal care and use aspects of rodent-based research and imaging. Basic supportive care, regardless of the rodent species, is critical for ensuring that physiological parameters are maintained during and after anesthesia. The most commonly used inhalant anesthetic in veterinary medicine and rodent research is isoflurane. Induction of inhalant anesthetics is safely done in an induction chamber, with appropriate scavenging systems to prevent human exposure to waste gases. Anesthesia, depending on the type, can cause profound physiological changes and these need to be accounted for in imaging studies. Imaging modalities and longitudinal studies will benefit research related to aging, and the progression of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and neurological conditions. Small animal imaging often allows for substantial "reduction" as living animals are often followed longitudinally, allowing for fewer animals within a study, and for noninvasive research.
