Rat

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).

Preference of single housed rats for a solid-bottom or wire-bottom stainless steel cage floor

We modified a stainless steel multiple-animal wire-bottom cage by covering one-half of the floor surface with a solid plate of stainless steel [emphasis added]. .. At night, rats demonstrated a significant (P

Year Published: 2000Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Rock, F. M., Jaslow, B. W., Peterson, A. et al. 2000. Preference of single housed rats for a solid-bottom or wire-bottom stainless steel cage floor. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 79 (Abstract).

50-kHz chirping (laughter?) in response to conditioned and unconditioned tickle-induced reward in rats: effects of social housing and genetic variables

In these studies the incidence of conditioned and unconditioned 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in young rats was measured in response to rewarding manual tickling by an experimenter. We found that isolate-housed animals vocalize much more then socially housed ones, and...

Year Published: 2000Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Panksepp, J., Burgdorf, J. 2000. 50-kHz chirping (laughter?) in response to conditioned and unconditioned tickle-induced reward in rats: effects of social housing and genetic variables. Behavioural Brain Research 115, 25-38.

Housing environment and enrichment for laboratory rats – refinement and reduction outcome

Three kinds of aspen items were used for enrichment: gnawing blocks of two different sizes [1x1x5 cm; 6x6x6 cm with drilled holes] and rectangular tubes [20x12x12 cm, large enough to fulfill the natural tendency of rats for hiding]. The enrichment...

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Mering, S. 2000. Housing environment and enrichment for laboratory rats - refinement and reduction outcome. Natural and Environmental Sciences - Kuopio UniversityPublications C 114, 1-60.

The effects of enrichment on parameters in hypertensive rats

The study showed that male SHR rats who were each housed with another rat were more active and had a higher systolic pressure than did similar animals housed alone. Diastolic blood pressure or heart rate did not differ. .. Separation...

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

Citation: Lawson, D. M., Churchill, P. C., Churchill, P. C. 2000. The effects of enrichment on parameters in hypertensive rats . Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 39(1), 9-13.

A conspecific attenuates prolactin responses to open-field exposure in rats

Acute exposure to a novel environment, such as an open field, generally results in a prolactin surge, while several days of exposure to the open field is often characterized by a decline in prolactin. As exposure to the open field...

Year Published: 2000Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wilson, J. H. 2000. A conspecific attenuates prolactin responses to open-field exposure in rats. Hormones and Behavior 38(1), 39-43.