Mouse

Novel mouse housing system

Keeping mice in interconnected double cages reduced the chance of animals escaping since the cage does not need to be openend during changing. It also provided enrichment by allowing the mice to move about cages more freely.

Year Published: 2004Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Wardwell, K., Soule, J. 2004. Novel mouse housing system. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 127-128 (Abstract).

Preference for social contact versus environmental enrichment in male laboratory mice

Results indicated that when other conditions were similar, male mice preferred to sleep in close proximity to their familiar cage mate. Furthermore, the need to engage in active social behaviour increased with age. Tissues were used to a large extent...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Van de Weerd, H. A., Van Zutphen, L. F. M. et al. 2004. Preference for social contact versus environmental enrichment in male laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals 38, 178-188.

Long-term effects of husbandry procedures on stress-related parameters in male mice of two strains

Long-term provision of nesting material and its transfer during cage cleaning was found to influence several stress-related physiological parameters. Mice housed in cages enriched with nesting material had lower urine corticosterone levels and heavier thymuses, and they consumed less food...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Van der Meer, E., Kruitwagen, C. L. J. J. et al. 2004. Long-term effects of husbandry procedures on stress-related parameters in male mice of two strains. Laboratory Animals 38, 169-177.

Assessment of commercially available environmental enrichment for laboratory mice: Ask the animal! American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 135-136 (Abstract)

Mice of all strains showed a strong preference for paper-based, but not for perspex nest boxes.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Blom, H. J. M., Meijer, M. K. et al. 2004. Assessment of commercially available environmental enrichment for laboratory mice: Ask the animal! American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 135-136 (Abstract).

Short-term effects of a disturbed light-dark cycle and environmental enrichment on aggression and stress-related parameters in male mice

This experiment has shown that disturbed lighting for socially-housed male mice caused physiological and behavioural changes indicative of not only leading to much higher levels of corticosterone [via urine collection] but also to shorter agonistic within the groups. .. No...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van der Meer, E., Van Loo, P. L. P., Baumans, V. 2004. Short-term effects of a disturbed light-dark cycle and environmental enrichment on aggression and stress-related parameters in male mice. Laboratory Animals 38, 376-383.

Environmental enrichment: room for reduction? Alternatives to Laboratory Animals (ATLA) 32(Supplement 2), 69-71

Environmental enrichment strategies are usually regarded as refinement. However, when the welfare of animals is enhanced through successful enrichment programmes, a reduction in the number of animals needed can be expected, because fewer animals might be lost during the course...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General, Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van de Weerd, H. A., Van Loo, P. L., Baumans. V. 2004. Environmental enrichment: room for reduction? Alternatives to Laboratory Animals (ATLA) 32(Supplement 2), 69-71.

Analyzing corticosterone metabolites in fecal samples of mice: a noninvasive technique to monitor stress

In small animals like mice, the monitoring of endocrine functions over time constrained seriously by the adverse effects of blood sampling. Therefore, techniques to monitor, for example, stress hormones in these animals are demanded in laboratory as well as in...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Touma, C., Palme, R., Sachser, N. 2004. Analyzing corticosterone metabolites in fecal samples of mice: a noninvasive technique to monitor stress. Hormones and Behavior 45, 10-22.

Environmental options for laboratory rats and mice

Environmental enrichment is the alteration of animals' microenvironment to provide them with the opportunity to perform species-specific behaviors that we perceive as positive, while reducing abnormal behaviors. [p. 39] From my experience in providing environmental ernichment benefits for the animal,...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Key, D. 2004. Environmental options for laboratory rats and mice. Lab Animal 33(2), 39-44.

Housing, care and environmental factors

General discussion on husbandry and regulatory issues pertaining to the housing and care of laboratory animals.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: All/General, Dog, Guinea Pig, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hansen, A. K. , Baumans, V. 2004. Housing, care and environmental factors. In: The Welfare of Laboratory Animals. Kaliste, E. (ed), 37-50. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Water leakage in rodent cages: A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum

It is not uncommon that malfunctioning in watering valves or leaks of water bottles result in the accumulation of water in rodent cages (especially during holidays and on weekends), a circumstance that can have serious implications for the animals trapped...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Barley, J. B., Cherry, K. A., Garner, J. et al. 2004. Water leakage in rodent cages: A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum. Animal Technology and Welfare 3, 111-114.