Mouse

Effects of environmental enrichment for mice: Variation in experimental results

Mice from enriched conditions [sawdust bedding, paper, nest box, climbing gird, gnawing blocks, tubes] weight more and consumed more food than mice from standard housing conditions. ... Mice from standard housing conditions were more active in an open field, suggesting...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van de Weerd, H. A., Aarsen, E. L., Mulder, A. et al. 2002. Effects of environmental enrichment for mice: Variation in experimental results. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 5, 87-109.

Rodent environmental enrichment – animal welfare or human feel-good factor

This article discusses environmental enrichment for rodents, mainly mice and rats housed in conventional caging, in U.K. research facilities. Environmental enrichment should allow and encourage animals to perform normal behavioural patterns. Cage furniture cannot be a substitute for poor quality...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Applebee, K. A. 2002. Rodent environmental enrichment - animal welfare or human feel-good factor. Animal Technology and Welfare 1(2), 65-69.

Preferences for paper bedding material of the laboratory mice

In order to identify indicators of the preferences for bedding materials, the paper bedding material preferences of laboratory mice were investigated in the present study. Four cages, each containing a different structure of paper bedding material were connected to allow...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ago, A., Gonda, T., Takechi, M. et al. 2002. Preferences for paper bedding material of the laboratory mice. Experimental Animals 51, 157-161.

Effects of different forms of environmental enrichment on behavioral, endocrinological, and immunological parameters in male mice

Animals were kept in groups of four males under three different housing conditions: (A) nonstructured Makrolon type III laboratory cages ( standard-housing = S); (B) equivalent laboratory cages that were enriched with a box and a scaffolding ( enriched-housing =...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Marashi, V., Barnekow, A., Ossendorf, E. et al. 2003. Effects of different forms of environmental enrichment on behavioral, endocrinological, and immunological parameters in male mice. Hormones and Behavior 43, 281-292.

Effects of housing density on C57BL/6J mice housed in three cage types

This 8-week study was initiated to investigate the impact of floor space on the health and well being of C57BL/6J (B6) mice, a strain commonly used by the scientific community. Male and female 4-week-old mice (sexes housed separately) were maintained...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Housing, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mabus, S., Smith, E., Basso, C. et al. 2003. Effects of housing density on C57BL/6J mice housed in three cage types. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 93 (Abstract).

Barbering (whisker trimming) in laboratory mice involves the same brain systems as compulsive behaviors in trichotillomania, autism and other obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders

Barbering appears to involve poor prefrontal cortex function.

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Garner, J. P., Wayne, C. M., W?rbel, H. et al. 2003. Barbering (whisker trimming) in laboratory mice involves the same brain systems as compulsive behaviors in trichotillomania, autism and other obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. In: Proceedings of the International Congress on Applied Ethology. Ferrante, V. (ed), 75. Fondazione Iniziative Zooprofilattiche e Zootecniche, Abano Terme, Italy.

Enrichment enhances spatial memory and increases synaptophysin levels in aged female mice

Female C57BL/6 mice, (4 or 27-28 months), were tested in spatial and cued Morris water maze tasks. Prior to (14 days) and during testing, a subset of aged females was exposed to rodent toys and running wheels for 3h per...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Frick, K. M., Fernandez, S. M. 2003. Enrichment enhances spatial memory and increases synaptophysin levels in aged female mice. Neurobiology of Aging 24, 615-626.

Social conflict reduction program for male mice

At our Center, two observation periods were set aside daily in order to identify, according to previously described behaviors, dominant [aggressive] mice and separate these when indicated. By reducing or eliminating the number of aggressive acts between group members in...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Emond, M., Faubert, S., Perkins, M. 2003. Social conflict reduction program for male mice. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(5), 24-26.

Regional effects of wheel running and environmental enrichment on cell genesis and microglia proliferation in the adult murine neocortex

Voluntary wheel running, in contrast, caused an induction in the proliferation of microglia in superficial cortical layers of several brain regions.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ehninger, D., Kempermann, G. 2003. Regional effects of wheel running and environmental enrichment on cell genesis and microglia proliferation in the adult murine neocortex. Cerebral Cortex 13, 845-851.

Alterations of neocortical pyramidal cell phenotype in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome: effects of environmental enrichment

Pyramidal cells in environmentally enriched control animals were significantly more branched and more spinous than non-enriched controls. However, environmental enrichment had little effect on pyramidal cell structure in Ts65Dn mice.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Dierssen, M., Benavides-Piccione, R., Martinez-Cue, C. et al. 2003. Alterations of neocortical pyramidal cell phenotype in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome: effects of environmental enrichment. Cerebral Cortex 13, 758-765.