Rat

Habituation of object contact in socially-reared and isolated rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Rats reared in social isolation were found to contact fewer novel objects in an open-field than their socially reared litter mates. They also contacted a smaller variety of objects, and contacted them in different ways. Social animals showed more manipulatory...

Year Published: 1976Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Einon, D., Morgan, M. 1976. Habituation of object contact in socially-reared and isolated rats (Rattus norvegicus). Animal Behaviour 24, 415-420.

The effects of short-term isolation on systolic blood pressure and heart rate in rats

Rats in metabolic cages develop hypertension within five days.

Year Published: 1977Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gardiner, S. M., Bennett, T. 1977. The effects of short-term isolation on systolic blood pressure and heart rate in rats. Medical Biology 55, 325-329.

Impoverished rats weigh more than enriched rats because they eat more

Rats housed in barren environments consume more food due to boredom and are heavier than enriched rats.

Year Published: 1977Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Fiala, B., Snow, F. M., Greenough, W. T. 1977. Impoverished rats weigh more than enriched rats because they eat more. Developmental Psychobiology 10, 537-541.

Activation of anterior pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands in rats after disturbance stress

Cortisol levels increased within 5 minutes after the entry of an investigator - who moved the cages - and reached peak levels after 15 minutes.

Year Published: 1977Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Dohler, K. D., Gartner, K., Muhlen, A. V. et al. 1977. Activation of anterior pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands in rats after disturbance stress. Acta Endocrinologica 86, 489-497.

Burrows of wild and albino rats: Effects of domestication, outdoor raising, age, experience, and maternal state

Rats spend most of their time in burrows if given the choice.

Year Published: 1977Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Boice, R. 1977. Burrows of wild and albino rats: Effects of domestication, outdoor raising, age, experience, and maternal state. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 91, 649-661.

Factors affecting the development of isolation-induced hypertension in rats

Housing rats in groups seems to be less stressful for the animals than housing them alone.

Year Published: 1978Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gardiner, S. M., Bennet, T. 1978. Factors affecting the development of isolation-induced hypertension in rats. Medical Biology 56, 277-281.

Genetics, Environment and Intelligence

Social grouping versus isolation aids subsequent learning and retention. ... Enriched-experienced rats perform better than colony - or impoverished-experience rats.

Year Published: 1977Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Oliverio, A. 1977. Genetics, Environment and Intelligence. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Effect of handling and forced immobilization on rat plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase

Forced immobilization of rats triggers activation of adrenal-medullary discharge of ephinephrine (EPI) [ and adrenocortical secretion of cortisol] and sympathetic neuronal release of norepinephrine (NE). Plasma levels of EPI reach peak values, which are about 40-fold greater than undisturbed rats,...

Year Published: 1978Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Kvetnansky, R., Sun, C. L., Lake, C. R. et al. 1978. Effect of handling and forced immobilization on rat plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. Endocrinology 103, 1868-1874.

Lighting in the animal environment

What we basically have done to date is to provide lighting suitable to our needs and assumed it was all right for the animal. [p. 441] Light intensities in stacked cages vary substantially.

Year Published: 1980Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bellhorn, R. W. 1980. Lighting in the animal environment. Laboratory Animal Science 30, 440-450.

Reversibility of reinforcement between eating and running by schedule changes: a comparison of hypotheses and models

Rats increase feeding time if wheel-running is contingent.

Year Published: 1979Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Timberlake, W., Wozny, M. 1979. Reversibility of reinforcement between eating and running by schedule changes: a comparison of hypotheses and models. Animal Learning and Behavior 7, 461-469.