Rat

Sound levels in rooms housing laboratory animals: An uncontrolled daily variable

It is clear that the acoustic environment of laboratory animals is a daily variable that is usually uncontrolled and that may have important implications for behavioural and physiological experiments and for animal welfare.

Year Published: 1993Animal Type: All/General, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Milligan, S. R., Sales, G. D., Khirnykh, K. 1993. Sound levels in rooms housing laboratory animals: An uncontrolled daily variable. Physiology and Behavior 53, 1067-1076.

The rest/activity rhythm of the laboratory rat housed under different systems

The mean activity during the hours of darkness for all housing situations was in the region of 50%, while during the day this was reduced to between 14-19%. No matter what housing system [single versus double commune box] and enrichment...

Year Published: 1994Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Batchelor, G. R. 1994. The rest/activity rhythm of the laboratory rat housed under different systems. Animal Technology 45, 181-187.

The antinociceptive effect of non-noxious sensory stimulation is mediated partly through oxytocinergic mechanisms

The release of opiate peptides is stimulated by oxytocin neurotransmission. Oxytocin treament has an anti-stress and analgetic effect.

Year Published: 1993Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Uvnas-Moberg, K., Bruzelius, G., Alster, P. et al. 1993. The antinociceptive effect of non-noxious sensory stimulation is mediated partly through oxytocinergic mechanisms. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 149, 199-204.

Effect of cage height and environmental enrichment on rat’s behaviour

Rats housed in the high cages [20 cm] showed more interest in the [gnawing] sticks than rats housed in the low cages [15 cm]. Rats in the high cages had more contact with the paper. .. Unlike the observation of...

Year Published: 1994Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hirsjarvi, P. A. 1994. Effect of cage height and environmental enrichment on rat's behaviour. In: Proceedings of the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations [FELASA] Symposium. Bunyan, J. (ed), 343-344. Royal Society of Medicine Press, London, UK.

Individual housing modulates daily rhythms of hypothalamic catecholaminergic system and circulating hormones in adult male rats

Male rats housed individually had higher levels of corticosterone and prolactin than did those housed six per cage.

Year Published: 1994Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Cambardella, P., Greco, A. M., Sticchi, R. et al. 1994. Individual housing modulates daily rhythms of hypothalamic catecholaminergic system and circulating hormones in adult male rats. Chronobiology International 11, 213-221.

Responses of rats (Rattus norvegicus) to enrichment objects

The [conventional] rat box is a two dimensional environment in which the rats can only move within the horizontal plane ... This captive environment, chosen because of ease of husbandry, hygiene and economy leads to boredom and monotony with ensuing...

Year Published: 1994Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Orok-Edem, E., Key, D. 1994. Responses of rats (Rattus norvegicus) to enrichment objects. Animal Technology 45, 25-30.

Influence of environmental enrichment and sex on predator stress response in rats

The findings of the present study suggest that an enriched environment decreases predator-induced defensive/anxiety behaviors in rats. Also, in agreement with prior research females were more defensive than males.

Year Published: 1994Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Klein, S. L., Lambert, K. G., Durr, D. et al. 1994. Influence of environmental enrichment and sex on predator stress response in rats. Physiology and Behavior 56, 291-297.

Increasing welfare of laboratory rats with the help of spatially enhanced cages

Rats tend to 'shy away' from the center of barren cages. Instead they prefer to spend most their time in contact with surrounding walls of the cage, seldom using the floor space available in the center. A cage equipped with...

Year Published: 1994Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Anzaldo, A. J., Harrison, P. C., Riskowski, G. L. et al. 1994. Increasing welfare of laboratory rats with the help of spatially enhanced cages. Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) Newsletter 5(3), 1-2 & 5.

Effects of housing on male and female rats: Crowding stresses males but calms females

Male rats had higher plasma corticosterone levels when housed in groups than when housed individually. Corticosterone levels increased with decreasing space allowance for the group. Females on the other hand had highest corticosterone when housed alone, and increasing social density...

Year Published: 1995Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Brown, K. J., Grunberg, N. E. 1995. Effects of housing on male and female rats: Crowding stresses males but calms females. Physiology and Behavior 58, 1085-1089.

Development and application of a preference test system to evaluate housing conditions for laboratory rats

Both albino and pigmented rats preferred cages with relatively low light intensities (100 lx are aversive to rats, and may be experienced as unpleasant.

Year Published: 1995Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Blom, H. J. M., van Tintelen, G., Baumans, V. et al. 1995. Development and application of a preference test system to evaluate housing conditions for laboratory rats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 44, 279-290.