Rat

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.

The visible burrow system as a model of chronic social stress: Behavioural and neuroendocrine correlates

In mixed-sex rat groups maintained in visible burrow systems (VBS), consistent asymmetries in offensive and defensive behaviors of male dyads are associated with the development of dominance hierarchies. Subordinate males are characterized by particular wound patterns, severe weight loss, and...

Year Published: 1995Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Blanchard, D. C., Spencer, R., Weiss, S. M. et al. 1995. The visible burrow system as a model of chronic social stress: Behavioural and neuroendocrine correlates. Psychoneuroendocrinology 20, 117-134.

An investigation into the effects of solid or grid cage flooring on the welfare of laboratory rats

Preference testing revealed that rats chose to dwell on solid floors rather than grids, regardless of previous housing experience. This preference for solid floors was particularly marked (88%) when the animals were resting and much less during activity (55.4%). Since...

Year Published: 1995Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Manser, C. E., Morris, T. H., Broom, D. M. 1995. An investigation into the effects of solid or grid cage flooring on the welfare of laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 29, 353-363.

Effects of gnawing material, group size and cage level in rack on Wistar rats

Han:Wist rats were housed after weaning in groups of one, two, three or four in stainless steel cages with aspen chip bedding, with or without wooden gnawing blocks. The use of the blocks was assessed by Video recording and by...

Year Published: 1995Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Kaliste-Korhonen, E., Eskola, S., Rekilä, T. et al. 1995. Effects of gnawing material, group size and cage level in rack on Wistar rats. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 22(4), 291-299.

Gentled and nonhandled Wistar rats in a mildly novel open-field situation

Open-field behaviour of individually gentled and nonhandled adult male Wistar rats was studied in a mildly novel test situation. The gentled rats were more active and showed fewer signs of fear on the first trial. This difference gradually descended on...

Year Published: 1995Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hirsjärvi, P. A., Väliaho, T. 1995. Gentled and nonhandled Wistar rats in a mildly novel open-field situation. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 22(3), 265-269.

Influence of an enriched environment and cortical grafting on functional outcome in brain infarcts of adult rats

The right middle cerebral artery (MCA) was ligated in 34 inbred, spontaneously hypertensive male rats, which were then randomly divided into three groups.Groups A and B were transferred to an enriched environment, i.e., a large cage with opportunities for various...

Year Published: 1995Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Grabowski, M., Sorensen, J. C., Mattsson, B. et al. 1995. Influence of an enriched environment and cortical grafting on functional outcome in brain infarcts of adult rats. Experimental Neurology 133, 96-102.