Rat

Neural grafting to experimental neocortical infarcts improves behavioral outcome and reduces thalamic atrophy in rats housed in enriched but not in standard environments

Neural grafting enhanced functional outcome and reduced thalamic atrophy only when combined with housing enriched environments.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Mattsson, B., Sorensen, J. C., Zimmer, J. et al. 1997. Neural grafting to experimental neocortical infarcts improves behavioral outcome and reduces thalamic atrophy in rats housed in enriched but not in standard environments. Stroke 28(6), 1225-1231.

Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: Welfare implications of isolation and social contact among caged males

Singly housed males showed reduced activity and a greater incidence of self-directed behaviors, especially tail manipulation and self-grooming than males housed in small groups of three. They also performed behaviors apparently related to escape or seeking social information. ... Exposure...

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hurst, J. L., Barnard, C. J., Nevison, C. M. et al. 1997. Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: Welfare implications of isolation and social contact among caged males. Animal Welfare 6, 327-347.

Oxytocin linked antistress effects–the relaxation and growth response

Stress or noxious stimuli of various kind may induce the fight-flight response. In this situation a number of physiological and behavioural adaptations leading to defense of the organism occur. At a central level increased activity in the noradrenergic locus coeruleus...

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Uvnas-Moberg, K. 1997. Oxytocin linked antistress effects--the relaxation and growth response. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 640(Supplement), 38-42.

Use of in-cage shelters by laboratory rats

Rats with access to an appropriate shelter are more explorative and less timid than those in barren cages.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Townsend, P. 1997. Use of in-cage shelters by laboratory rats. Animal Welfare 6, 95-103.

Effects of experience and environment on the developing and mature brain: Implications of laboratory animal housing

Immune system function appears to be enhanced in environmentally enriched rats relative to controls housed in standard cages.

Year Published: 1998Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Benefiel, A. C., Greenough, W. T. 1998. Effects of experience and environment on the developing and mature brain: Implications of laboratory animal housing. ILAR Journal 39(1), 5-11.

Effects of cage type and gnawing blocks on weight gain, organ weights and open-field behaviour inWistar rats

Two separate experiments were conducted to study the environmental enrichment value of aspen gnawing blocks in solid bottom cages with bedding '(SBC) and in grid floor cages without bedding (GFC), and the effects of housing environments on the physiology and...

Year Published: 1998Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Eskola, S., Kaliste-Korhonen, E. 1998. Effects of cage type and gnawing blocks on weight gain, organ weights and open-field behaviour inWistar rats. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 25(4), 180-193.

Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: The welfare implications of social isolation and social contact among females

Social deprivation seems to have a less adverse impact on females than on males. In particular, singletons showed a less marked increase in self-directed behaviours, particularly tail chasing, and a smaller reduction in undirected movement around the cage. This smaller...

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hurst, J. L., Barnard, C. J., Nevison, C. M. et al. 1998. Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: The welfare implications of social isolation and social contact among females. Animal Welfare 7, 121-136.

Social deprivation of neonatal, adolescent and adult rats has distinct neurochemical and behavioural consequences

This review examines the consequences of social deprivation on brain chemistry and behavior on rats. Although social deprivation produces wide-ranging behavioral and neurochemical effects, it appears that these effects are determined by a number of factors, the most critical factor...

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hall, F. S. 1998. Social deprivation of neonatal, adolescent and adult rats has distinct neurochemical and behavioural consequences. Critical Reviews in Neurobiology 12, 129-162.

Environmental enrichment results in higher levels of nerve growth factor mRNA in the rat visual cortex and hippocampus

Rats housed in groups in a stimulus-rich environment for 30 days had significantly higher levels of NGF mRNA than rats housed individually in single cages without stimulus-enrichment.

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Torasdotter, M., Metsis, M., Henriksson, B. G. et al. 1998. Environmental enrichment results in higher levels of nerve growth factor mRNA in the rat visual cortex and hippocampus. Behavioral Brain Research 93, 83-90.

Comparison of effects of restraint, cage transportation, anaesthesia and repeated bleeding on plamsa glucose levels between mice and rats

Mice showed a fairly consistent rise in levels of blood glucose if unaccustomed to [blood collection procedure] handling or if the cages were transported to an adjacent room. The same procedures when performed in rats seemed to have small or...

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Tabata, H., Kitamura, T., Nagamatsu, N. 1998. Comparison of effects of restraint, cage transportation, anaesthesia and repeated bleeding on plamsa glucose levels between mice and rats. Laboratory Animals 32, 143-148.