This Review examines the role of the gut mycobiome in health and disease states, based on findings from rodent models.

This study assesses various methods and timings for perfusion of fixatives to enhance brain histology, addressing ethical dilemmas associated with ante-mortem transcardiac perfusion and the lack of data on tissue quality using different techniques.

Many scientific breakthroughs have depended on animal research, yet the ethical concerns surrounding the use of animals in experimentation have long prompted discussions about humane treatment and responsible scientific practice. First articulated by Russell and Burch, the 3Rs Principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement have gained widespread recognition as basic guidelines for animal research. Over time, the 3Rs have transcended the research community, influencing policy decisions, animal welfare advocacy and public perception of animal experimentation. Despite their broad acceptance, interpretations of the 3Rs vary substantially, shaping statutory frameworks at various levels, with both technical and practical impacts.

A mouse model shows that Twist1 overexpression accelerates Kras^G12D-driven pancreatic cancer and promotes squamous differentiation, providing a platform for the preclinical testing of therapies for aggressive disease.

Using a pig model, the authors evaluated the impact of septic shock on free flap vitality and further investigated the effects of different fluid resuscitation strategies on flap viability and metabolic responses.

This study examines sex-specific metabolic responses to a standardized ketogenic diet in mice, finding marked systemic differences but stable brain metabolism across sexes, underscoring the need to include both males and females in studies.

The authors evaluated two alternative antibiotic regimens to refine gut bacterial depletion in mice. Although both regimens were better tolerated than the standard cocktail, only enrofloxacin–ampicillin reduced bacterial load.

The authors report that the high urine osmolarity of mice impacts key aspects of Escherichia coli urinary tract infection (UTI), including bacterial filamentation and infectious potential, with important consequences for modeling human UTI in mice.

The authors describe a mouse model combining N-diethylnitrosamine, CCl₄ and chronic alcohol exposure that recapitulates key features of alcohol‑induced hepatocellular carcinoma in patients, including tumor progression, fibrosis, immune suppression and gut dysbiosis.

Micropipette-guided drug administration (MDA) is a voluntary oral drug delivery method for rodents designed to minimise stress and the risk of injury, in contrast to traditional oral gavage, which remains the most widely used technique. By allowing animals to voluntarily consume drugs without restraint, MDA improves animal welfare while maintaining experimental accuracy and represent a refinement with the 3R framework. The method has been applied across multiple research fields, including neuroscience, oncology, infections, and behavioural studies. As interest in alternatives to gavage increases, preserving the principles of voluntary intake and minimal restraint is essential to maintain the refinement benefits of MDA and ensure reliable scientific outcome.