Rat

Behaviour of rats in their home cages: daytime variations and effects of routine husbandry procedures analysed by time sampling techniques

Single-caged male rates were studied. The cleaning regime [cages cleaned out and fresh sawdust with shredded paper provided] appeared to have a greater effect on behaviour [increased defecation and activity] than did time of day and the effects of cleaning...

Year Published: 1996Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Saibaba, P., Sales, G. D., Stodulski, G. et al. 1996. Behaviour of rats in their home cages: daytime variations and effects of routine husbandry procedures analysed by time sampling techniques. Laboratory Animals 30, 13-31.

Oxytocin causes a long-term decrease of blood pressure in female and male rats

Oxytocin causes blood pressure decrease.

Year Published: 1996Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Petersson, M., Alster, P., Lundeberg, T. et al. 1996. Oxytocin causes a long-term decrease of blood pressure in female and male rats. Physiology and Behavior 60, 1311-1315.

The use of a novel operant test to determine the strength of preference for flooring in laboratory rats

Both studies indicated that rats prefer to rest on solid floor. The experiments reported in this paper also show that rats are prepared to make considerable efforts to reach a solid floor when they wish to rest. Thus there is...

Year Published: 1996Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Manser, C. E., Elliott, H., Morris, T. H. et al. 1996. The use of a novel operant test to determine the strength of preference for flooring in laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 30, 1-6.

Effect of group housing and oral corticosterone administration on weight gain and locomotor development in neonatal rats

The stress response of rats induced by transfer from communal housing to single housing prior to parturition has a negative influence of the offspring. This is manifested by slower growth rate and a retardation in locomotor development.

Year Published: 1996Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Young, L. A., Pavlovska-Teglia, G., Stodulski, G. et al. 1996. Effect of group housing and oral corticosterone administration on weight gain and locomotor development in neonatal rats. Animal Welfare 5, 167-176.

Preference for different types of flooring in two rat strains

The rats showed a significant preference for the cages with wood shavings and paper bedding, both consisting of large particles. ... The cages with sawdust and wire mesh floor were relatively avoided. Rats slept in the cages with large-particles bedding,...

Year Published: 1996Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Van de Weerd, H. A., van den Broek, F. A. R., Baumans, V. 1996. Preference for different types of flooring in two rat strains. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 46, 251-261.

Comparative studies on housing conditions

The presence of cage furniture and/or deep litter may increase aggression among group-housed male mice, though subordinates have a better chance of escaping injurious fights. Group-housed rats tend to play longer on grid floor, but when given the choice prefer...

Year Published: 1996Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Stauffacher, M. 1996. Comparative studies on housing conditions. In: Harmonization of Laboratory Animal Husbandry. O'Donoghue, P. N. (ed), 5-9. Royal Society of Medince Press, London, UK.

The effects of routine animal husbandry and experimental procedures upon physiological parameters of rats

Conducting these same procedures in an animal's home room did not alter the monitored parameters.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Doerning, B. J., Cruze, C. 1997. The effects of routine animal husbandry and experimental procedures upon physiological parameters of rats. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Abstracts and Scientific Papers, 1-2 (Abstract).

Preference for familiar humans by rats

24 of the 26 subjects correctly chose the handler with whom they had previously interacted [for 10 min]. Rats prefer contact with an individual with whom they have safely interacted versus a strange individual. Their preference for a familiar human...

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Davis, H., Taylor, A., Norris, C. 1997. Preference for familiar humans by rats. Psychological Bulletin Review 4, 118-120.

Studies on the influence of enriched-environment housing combined with systemic administration of an alpha2-adrenergic antagonist on spatial learning and hyperactivity after global ischemia in rats

Housing in an enriched environment facilitates the rate of spatial learning in rats with global ischemia.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Puurunen, K., Sirvio, J., Koistinaho, J. et al. 1997. Studies on the influence of enriched-environment housing combined with systemic administration of an alpha2-adrenergic antagonist on spatial learning and hyperactivity after global ischemia in rats. Stroke 28, 623-631.

Individual housing influences certain biochemical parameters in the rat

Individual as opposed to group-housing of female rats provoked variations in certain biochemical parameters [glucose, triglycerides, food intake]. It was concluded that this circumstance could make scientific data unreliable or even dubious.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Perez, C., Canal, J. R., Dominguez, E. et al. 1997. Individual housing influences certain biochemical parameters in the rat. Laboratory Animals 31, 357-361.