Rodents as laboratory animals

Rodents have been employed in biomedical experimentation from the 1650s. Rodent studies up to the early 19th century were mainly physiological or toxicological. The first rodent behavioral study was carried out in 1822, a purely observational study, while quantitative rodent behavioral testing began in the late 19th century. Currently, rodents are commonly used in animal testing for physiological, pathological and behavioral scientific studies, particularly mice and rats, but also guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and others. Mice are the most commonly used vertebrate species, due to their availability, size, low cost, ease of handling, and fast reproduction rate.