killing mice with 70% ethanol.... - ethical issues... (Mar/29/2006 )
i just learned SCG culture at our lab and was terrified at the fact that newborn mice are killed by immersing them in 70% ethanol....
i heard of ether, anasthesia but never this....am I overreacting?? what do you think of this? i just cant imagine someone making me drawn in ethanol to dye.... 
Is that listed as one way to do it at your institution, or the only approved way?
It sounds pretty rotten to me, but is there any research to support it? Perhaps it's quicker and more painless?
It sounds pretty rotten to me, but is there any research to support it? Perhaps it's quicker and more painless?
Drowning in 70% ABV liquor? Doesn't sound too bad to me. I keep trying to do this myself, but the pub always shuts first.
Seriously though, what rationale do they have for this over, say, cervical dislocation? I use that for my mice and it's very quick and painless. Seems, well, odd. I've never come across it before.
b3ka.
yeah...we used anesthetic overdose when I worked on guinea pigs. very quick, no pain but a small prick and then off to sleep. the etoh method seems very strange to me
Is that listed as one way to do it at your institution, or the only approved way?
It sounds pretty rotten to me, but is there any research to support it? Perhaps it's quicker and more painless?
Drowning in 70% ABV liquor? Doesn't sound too bad to me. I keep trying to do this myself, but the pub always shuts first.
Seriously though, what rationale do they have for this over, say, cervical dislocation? I use that for my mice and it's very quick and painless. Seems, well, odd. I've never come across it before.
b3ka.
It is very difficult to perform cervical dislocation on newborn mice due to its size.
There is a way of killing them, by cutting their head with a pair of scissors.
It is instant and painless, but there is a lot of blood.
Seriously though, what rationale do they have for this over, say, cervical dislocation? I use that for my mice and it's very quick and painless. Seems, well, odd. I've never come across it before.
It is very difficult to perform cervical dislocation on newborn mice due to its size.
There is a way of killing them, by cutting their head with a pair of scissors.
It is instant and painless, but there is a lot of blood.
Makes sense. I don't get them until 3 weeks+.
Hi,
Never heard of using EtOH drowning technique for sacrificing before. I perform cervical dislocation. Easier and pinless. But make sure you master the technique first.
Never heard of using EtOH drowning technique for sacrificing before. I perform cervical dislocation. Easier and pinless. But make sure you master the technique first.
How do you perform cervical dislocation if the mouse is only 1-2days old?
Practices make perfect 
i dont think cervical dislocation is possible with new born pups and neither using alcohol sounds good to me. i think best method is to give excess doses of ether or choroform.