Mouse

Adaptation of a ladder beam walking task to assess locomotor recovery in mice following spinal cord injury

Locomotor impairments after spinal cord injury (SCI) are often assessed using open-field rating scales. These tasks have the advantage of spanning the range from complete paralysis to normal walking; however, they lack sensitivity at specific levels of recovery. Additionally, most...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Cummings, B. J., Engesser-Cesar, C., Cadena, G. et al. 2007. Adaptation of a ladder beam walking task to assess locomotor recovery in mice following spinal cord injury. Behavioral Brain Research 177, 232-241.

Anxiolytic effect of music depends on ovarian steroid in female mice

Mice exposed to music showed less anxiety than those exposed to white noise or silence.

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Chikahisa, S., Sano, A., Kitaoka, K. et al. 2007. Anxiolytic effect of music depends on ovarian steroid in female mice. Behavioural Brain Research 179, 50-59.

Comparison of doxycycline delivery methods for tet-inducible gene expression ina subcutaneous xenograft model

Doxycycline (Dox) controlled Tet systems provide a powerful and commonly used method for functional studies on the consequences of gene overexpression/downregulation. However, whereas Dox delivery in tissue culture in vitro is relatively simple, the situation in vivo is more complex....

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Cawthorne, C., Swindell, R., Stratford, I. J. et al. 2007. Comparison of doxycycline delivery methods for tet-inducible gene expression ina subcutaneous xenograft model. Journal of Biomolecular Techniques 18, 120-123.

The importance of exposure to other male scents in determining competitive behaviour among inbred male mice

We investigated the effect of repeated exposure to soiled bedding from males of either the same or different strain on competitive urine counter-marking and investigation and on aggressive behaviour within same-strain pairs of BALB/c and C57BL/6 males. Males pre-exposed to...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Lacey, J. C., Beynon, R. J., Hurst, J. L. 2007. The importance of exposure to other male scents in determining competitive behaviour among inbred male mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 104(1-2), 130-142.

The influence of the location of a nest box in an individually ventilated cage on the preference of mice to use it

The study concluded that the location of the nest boxes in the individually ventilated cage (on the cage floor or hung from the cage lid) can give animals a choice to modify their environment and to choose what to use...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kostomitsopoulos, N. G., Paronis, E., Alexakos, P. et al. 2007. The influence of the location of a nest box in an individually ventilated cage on the preference of mice to use it. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 10(2), 111-121.

The effects of enrichment with music or colorful light on the welfare of restrained mice

Objective: To investigate the positive effects of four different forms of environmental enrichment on the welfare of mice subjected to restraint stress with the purpose of screening suitable enrichment. Method: Mice undergoing poor welfare due to repeated restraint were kept...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hu, Y., Xu, L., Yang, F. et al. 2007. The effects of enrichment with music or colorful light on the welfare of restrained mice. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 27(2), 71-76.

A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management

In this article, recent publications are examined to determine the potential impact of new scientific evidence on current practices for the housing and care of laboratory rodents. The discussion points out recent advances in technology and new knowledge of the...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gonder, J. C., Laber, K. 2007. A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management. ILAR Journal 48(1), 29-46.

Environmental enrichment:Running wheels; burrows for rats and gerbils

Running wheels provide suitable enrichment rodents.The need to dig a burrow is probably not as strong in rats as it seems to be in mice. In sharp contrast to rats - who are very curious - mice are reluctant to...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Gerbil, Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment:Running wheels; burrows for rats and gerbils. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 72-74. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Environmental enrichment: Shelter and nesting material for rodents and rabbits; bedding for rodents

The needs for a shelter and nesting material of mice and rats are quite different. Building their own nests is almost a must for mice, and the nest will then also be used as a retreat. For rats, access to...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment:Shelter and nesting material for rodents and rabbits; bedding for rodents. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 74-79. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Capture of group-housed animals

Rats, mice and rabbits can be induced to come forward and be picked up by luring them with a food reward. Guinea pigs tend to be more timid but will run into a shelter in which they can then be...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Cat, Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Capture of group-housed animals. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 104-106. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.