Rat

Human-animal interactions and animal welfare in conventionally and pen-housed rats

This study shows that housing rats in large groups in an enriched environment did not influence their anticipatory reaction to handling [human approach, capture, restraint].

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Augustsson, H., Lindberg, L., H?glund, A. U. et al. 2002. Human-animal interactions and animal welfare in conventionally and pen-housed rats. Laboratory Animals 36, 271-281.

Environmental enrichment decreases nicotine-induced hyperactivity in rats

Environmental enrichment during development reduces the stimulant effect of nicotine.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Green, T. A., Cain, M. E., Thompson, M. et al. 2003. Environmental enrichment decreases nicotine-induced hyperactivity in rats. Psychopharmacology 170, 235-241.

Shelter enrichment for rats

Nest boxes are a simple and effective form of environmentalenrichment. Rats accept a wide range of nest-box types but have the strongest...preference for enclosed, opaque, thermoplastic boxes. ...Tubes have proven a relatively ineffective enrichment for rats. ... Nesting paper may...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Patterson-Kane, E. G. 2003. Shelter enrichment for rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(2), 46-48.

Laughing rats and the evolutionary antecedents of human joy?

Rapid finger movements across the nape, where rats usually solicit play, followed by tickling of the bellly simulates the rat's own playful interaction. Recent affective neuroscience research has yielded the discovery of play- and tickle-induced ultrasonic vocalization patterns ( approximately...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Panksepp, J., Burgdorf, J. 2003. Laughing rats and the evolutionary antecedents of human joy? Physiology and Behavior 79, 25-38.

Effect of group size on fecal corticosterone levels and variation in rats

Corticosterone levels were significantly higher in groups of five when compared to singly housed animals. Variations of fecal corticosterone were also higher in group-housed animals.

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Nevalainen, T., Hurst, W. J., Guhad, F. A. et al. 2003. Effect of group size on fecal corticosterone levels and variation in rats. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 94 (Abstract).

Using animal preference to develop enriched caging for rats

On average rats preferred the 'vertical cage'.

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Nelson, K., Patterson-Kane, E. G., Love, J. 2003. Using animal preference to develop enriched caging for rats. Animal Technology and Welfare 2, 85-88.

The impact of cage ventilation on rats housed in IVC systems

Rats prefer cages with air changes below 80 times per hour.

Year Published: 2003Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Krohn, T. C., Kornerup-Hansen, A., Dragsted, N. 2003. The impact of cage ventilation on rats housed in IVC systems. Laboratory Animals 37, 85-93.

Telemetry as a method for measuring the impact of housing conditions on rats’ welfare

The study revealed significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature between rats housed in the tree conditions, indicating that both grid floors and plastic floors are more stressful for the animals than bedding. The...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Krohn, T. C., Hansen, A. K., Dragsted, N. 2003. Telemetry as a method for measuring the impact of housing conditions on rats' welfare. Animal Welfare 12, 53-62.

Foraging as environmental enrichment for laboratory rats: A theoretical review

Foraging opportunities are a form of environmental enrichment with great potential to improve the welfare of animals in laboratories. Though commonly used with zoo animals, little evidence exists of their use in laboratories. Technicians or other laboratory staff are unlikely...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Johnson, S. R., Patterson-Kane, E. G. 2003. Foraging as environmental enrichment for laboratory rats: A theoretical review. Animal Technology and Welfare 2, 13-22.

Environmental influence on recovery after brain lesions – experimental andclinical data

Experimental studies on focal cerebral infarcts in the rat have demonstrated that postischemic environmental enrichment significantly improves functional outcome, increases dendrite branching and number of dendritic spines in the contralateral cortex, influences expression of many genes and modifies lesion-induced stem...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Johansson, B. B. 2003. Environmental influence on recovery after brain lesions - experimental andclinical data. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 41(Supplement), 11-16.