Rat

Inexpensive ideas for rabbit and rodent environmental enrichment

Paper towel rolls were successfully used as environmental enrichment objects for rats, mice and rabbits.

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Racciato, J., Noll, L. 1999. Inexpensive ideas for rabbit and rodent environmental enrichment. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 4(1), 3.

Environmental enrichment inhibits spontaneous apoptosis, prevents seizures and is neuroprotective

Here we show that in addition to its effects on neurogenesis, an enriched environment reduces spontaneous apoptotic cell death in the rat hippocampus by 45%.

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Young, D., Lawlor, P. A., Leone, P. et al. 1999. Environmental enrichment inhibits spontaneous apoptosis, preventsseizures and is neuroprotective. Nature Medicine 5, 448-453.

Diet restriction through hopper design

Group-housed rats were induced to 'work' for their food by soldering metal plates over their food hoppers, so that only 3% of the original area remains available. The animals fed for longer periods and rested less during the night, but...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wrightson, D., Dickson, C. 1999. Diet restriction through hopper design. Animal Technology 50, 45-46.

Behavioural and glial changes in old rats following environmental enrichment

Results confirm the aging-related acquisition and memory deficit. EC reduced the slowness of acquisition, reversed the short-term memory deficit and promoted the retention of the short signal (choose short effect).

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Soffie. M., Hahn, K., Terao, E. et al. 1999. Behavioural and glial changes in old rats following environmental enrichment. Behavioral Brain Research 101, 37-49.

Housing familiar male wildtype rats together reduces the long-term adverse behavioural and physiological effects of social defeat

Social stress in rats is known to induce long-lasting, adverse changes in behaviour and physiology, which seem to resemble certain human psychopathologies, such as depression and anxiety. The present experiment was designed to assess the influence of individual or group...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Ruis MA, te Brake JH, Buwalda B et al. 1999. Housing familiar male wildtype rats together reduces the long-term adverse behavioural and physiological effects of social defeat. Psychoneuroendocrinology 24(3), 285-300.

Repetitive backflipping behaviour in captive roof rats (Rattus rattus) and the effect of cage enrichment

Repetitive stereotyped behaviours are often performed by both wild and domestic rodents in small laboratory cages. In this study, a behaviour resembling a backwards somersault or backflip is described and quantified in captive roof rats (ship or black rats, Rattus...

Year Published: 2000Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Callard, M. D., Bursten, S. N., Price, E. O. 2000. Repetitive backflipping behaviour in captive roof rats (Rattus rattus) and the effect of cage enrichment. Animal Welfare 9, 139-152.

Long-term environmental enrichment leads to regional increase in neurotrophin levels in rat brain

These findings demonstrate significant alterations in NGF, and NT-3 protein levels in several brain regions as a result of an enriched versus an isolated environment and thus provide a possible biochemical basis for behavioral and alterations that have been found...

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Ickes, B. R., Pham, T. M., Sanders, L. A. et al. 2000. Long-term environmental enrichment leads to regional increase in neurotrophin levels in rat brain. Experimental Neurology 164, 45-52.

Housing for Laboratory Rats, Mice, Guinea Pigs and Rabbits

General recommendations for the species-adequate housing of rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits

Year Published: 2000Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hargreaves, A. L. 2000. Housing for Laboratory Rats, Mice, Guinea Pigs and Rabbits. Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Testing, Wellington, New Zealand.

Use of PVC conduits by rats of various strains and ages housed singly and in pairs

Adult male Long-Evans rats rarely entered PVC conduits unless housed in pairs. ... Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats entered PVC conduits only during the illuminated portion of the day-night cycle and only if housed on shelves exposed to direct overhead illumination....

Year Published: 2000Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Galef, Jr. B. G., Sorge, R. E. 2000. Use of PVC conduits by rats of various strains and ages housed singly and in pairs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 3, 279-292.

Use of a feeder insert to reduce obesity in rats

By inserting a modified stainless steel plate into the feeder, area of exposed food is reduced, and may result in increased exploratory activity, which may lead to decrease in body weights and food consumption values (all while continuing to provide...

Year Published: 2000Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Van Berkum, L. E. 2000. Use of a feeder insert to reduce obesity in rats. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 125 (Abstract).