Rat

Effect of environmental enrichment on stress related systems in rats

Environmental enrichment leads to pronounced changes in neuroendocrine regulation, including larger adrenals and increased adrenocortical function, which are so far considered to be indication of chronic stress.Animal living in groups of 10 in enriched cages had higher resting corticosterone concentrations...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Moncek, F., Duncko, R., Johansson, B. B. et al. 2004. Effect of environmental enrichment on stress related systems in rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 16, 423-431.

Non-invasively assessing disturbance and stress in laboratory rats by scoring chromodacryorrhoea

Chromodacryorrhoea scoring [porphyrin staining] has real potential for non-invasive stress assessment in rats to monitor subtle changes in housing and husbandry.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Mason, G., Wilson, D., Hampton, C. et al. 2004. Non-invasively assessing disturbance and stress in laboratory rats by scoring chromodacryorrhoea. Alternatives to Laboratory Animals [ATLA] 32(Supplement), 153-159.

Partner’s stress status influences social buffering effects in rats

The relationship between a social partner's stress status and the social buffering effect was examined in adult male Wistar rats. Fear-conditioned rats were exposed to the same context along with either a shocked or nonshocked conspecific partner. Changes in body...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Kiyokawa, Y., Kikusui, T., Takeuchi, Y. et al. 2004. Partner's stress status influences social buffering effects in rats. Behavioral Neuroscience 118, 798-804.

Environmental enrichment options for laboratory rats and mice

Environmental enrichment is the alteration of animals' microenvironment to provide them with the opportunity to perfrom species-specific behaviors that we perceive as positive, while reducing abnormal behaviors. [p. 39] Several interesting products are now available commercially, and I will review...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Key, D. 2004. Environmental enrichment options for laboratory rats and mice. Lab Animal 33(2), 39-44.

Music improves dopaminergic neurotransmission: demonstration based on the effect of music on blood pressure regulation

The mechanism by which music modifies brain function is not clear. Clinical findings indicate that music reduces blood pressure in various patients. We investigated the effect of music on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Previous studies indicated that...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sutoo, D., Akiyama, K. 2004. Music improves dopaminergic neurotransmission: demonstration based on the effect of music on blood pressure regulation. Brain Research 1016, 255-262.

Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals

Includes regulatory compliance, program development and management, common environmental enrichment strategies, program assessment and monitoring. A key component to the enrichment program development is the understanding of the natural behavior and habitat of each species housed in the animal facility....

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General, Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Ferret, Gerbil, Gibbon, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mole Rat, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Sheep, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Stewart, K. L. , Bayne, K. 2004. Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals. In: Laboratory Animal Medicine and Management. Reuter, J. D. , Suckow, M. A. (Eds). International Veterinary Information Service, Ithaca, New York.

Double dissociation of social and environmental stimulation on spatiallearning and reversal learning in rats

These findings strengthen the view that social and inanimate stimulation act, at least in part, upon dissociable neural substrates.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Schrijver, N. C., Pallier, P. N., Brown, V. J. et al. 2004. Double dissociation of social and environmental stimulation on spatiallearning and reversal learning in rats. Behavioral Brain Research 152, 307-314.

Consequences of enhancing environmental complexity for laboratory rodents – a review with emphasis on the rat

Where the behavioural benefits of environmental enrichment justify the use of more animals [increased variabilty], better welfare should be more highly valued than a reduction in the number of animals used.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sorensen, D. B., Ottesen, J. L., Hansen, A. K. 2004. Consequences of enhancing environmental complexity for laboratory rodents - a review with emphasis on the rat. Animal Welfare 13, 193-204.

Rat preferences for commercially available simulated burrows

Rats preferred to spend their time during the light phase in Rodent Retreats compared to Rat Shacks or on open bedding.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Saad, M., Sharp, J., Azar, T. et al. 2004. Rat preferences for commercially available simulated burrows . American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 137 (Abstract).

Rat’s demand for group size

Rats had a preference for groups of 5 animals.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Patterson-Kane, E. G., Hunt, M., Harper, D. 2004. Rat's demand for group size. Applied Animal Welfare Science 7, 267-272.