Rat

Adaptation of the glucocorticosterone response to novelty

Novelty of the environment is a powerful stimulus to activate the pituitary-adrenal axis. With respect to adaptation of the response to the novel environment, the present findings suggest that more than 2 hr and up to 4 hr is required...

Year Published: 1976Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Pfister, H. P., King, M. G. 1976. Adaptation of the glucocorticosterone response to novelty. Physiology and Behavior 17, 43-46.

Incidence of pup mortality in the rat with particular reference to nesting material, maternal age and parity

Better breeding results were obtained when animals had access to woodwool instead of paper tissue as nesting materials. With paper tissues for nesting purposes 60% of the young were lost compared with 18% with woodwool.

Year Published: 1976Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Norris, M. L., Adams, C. E. 1976. Incidence of pup mortality in the rat with particular reference to nesting material, maternal age and parity. Laboratory Animals 10, 165-169.

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.