Rat

Discrimination of odours from stressed rats by non-stressed rats

Placing a rat into a new cage triggers release of corticosterones. This endocrine response is augmented if the new environment is one in which other rats had previously been subjected to stress.

Year Published: 1980Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Mackay-Sim, A., Laing, D. G. 1980. Discrimination of odours from stressed rats by non-stressed rats. Physiology and Behavior 24, 699-704.

Specific hormonal and neurochemical responses to different stressors

The neuroendocrine and neurochemical responses of rats to 5 min of cold exposure versus 5 min of forced immobilization were determined and compared. We found that plasma hormones and brain neurochemical systems responded differently to the two different stressors. Plasma...

Year Published: 1980Topics: RestraintAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Lenox, R. H., Kant, G. J., Sessions, G. R. et al. 1980. Specific hormonal and neurochemical responses to different stressors. Neuroendocrinology 30(5), 300-308.

Stress response of rats to handling and experimental procedures

Serum corticosterone levels increased significantly within four minutes, reached a peak at 15 minutes and were back to control values 60 minutes after cage displacement. Prolactin, TSH, LH and FSH serum concentrations were also affected by cage movement. The results...

Year Published: 1980Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gartner, K., Buttner, D., Dohler, R. et al. 1980. Stress response of rats to handling and experimental procedures. Laboratory Animals 14, 267-274.

Peripheral nerve abnormalities in aging rats

Rats kept on wire-mesh flooring for a long time develop striking morphological changes in the distal sciatic/tibial/plantar never complex.

Year Published: 1981Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Grover-Johnson, N., Spencer, P. S. 1981. Peripheral nerve abnormalities in aging rats. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 40, 155-165.

Endogenous opioids and social behavior

Evidence for the hypothesis that brain-opioids mediate social affect and social attachments is summarized. Opiates and opioids are very effective in reducing social separation-induced distress vocalizations (DVs), in puppies, young guinea pigs and chicks, while opiate antagonists can increase DVs....

Year Published: 1980Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken, Dog, Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Panksepp, J., Herman, B. H., Vilberg, T. et al. 1980. Endogenous opioids and social behavior. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 4(4), 473-487.

The experimental production of Renaut bodies

Describes structural changes in plantar nerves suggesting excessive mechnical compression.

Year Published: 1981Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Ortman, J. A., Sahenk, J., Mendell, J. R. 1981. The experimental production of Renaut bodies. Journal of the Neurological Sciences 62, 233-241.

Fear and affiliation in domesticated male rats

Unfamiliar conspecifics were just as effective in allaying fear as familiar animals. Even the individually reared rats, unused to other rats, were less fearful with conspecifics than when they were stressed alone. These findings simply attest to the strength of...

Year Published: 1981Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Taylor, G. T. 1981. Fear and affiliation in domesticated male rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 95, 685-693.

Conditioned and unconditioned influences on body temperature and ethanol hypothermia in laboratory rats

An increase in body temperature occurred in animals who's individual cages were removed from their usual position. After one hour at the new location body temperature had increased 1.3C. Movement of an entire cage rack, with the cages remaining in...

Year Published: 1982Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: York, J. L., Regan, S. G. 1982. Conditioned and unconditioned influences on body temperature and ethanol hypothermia in laboratory rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 17, 119-124.

Psychological stress enhances noradrenaline turnover in specific brain regions in rats

Exposure [visual, auditory and olfactory] to stressed conspecifics was accompanied by an increase in cortisol levels.

Year Published: 1982Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Iimori, K., Tanka, M., Kohno, Y. 1982. Psychological stress enhances noradrenaline turnover in specific brain regions in rats. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 16, 637-640.

Sound and its significance for laboratory animals

Several methods of varying accuracy have been used to assess what sounds small laboratory animals such as rodents are capable of hearing. Most rodents can detect sounds from 1000 Hz (the frequency of the Greenwich Time Signal) up to 100000...

Year Published: 1982Animal Type: Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mole Rat, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gamble, M. R. 1982. Sound and its significance for laboratory animals. Biological Reviews 57, 395-421.