Rat

Environmental enrichment facilitates amygdala kindling but reduces kindling-induced fear in male rats

Sixty male rats were housed either in an enriched environment or in isolation, starting immediately after weaning. As adults, they were subjected to either 50 amygdala-kindling stimulations or sham stimulations, followed by testing in an unfamiliar open field. The kindled-enriched...

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

Citation: Young, N. A., Wintink, A. J., Kalynchuk, L. E. 2004. Environmental enrichment facilitates amygdala kindling but reduces kindling-induced fear in male rats. Behavioral Neuroscience 118, 1128-1133.

Laboratory routines cause animal stress

Based on a literature review the conclusion was drawn that routine handling, venipuncture, and orogastic gavage lead to elevations of heart rate, blood pressure, and glucocorticoid concentrations that persist for 30 to 60 min or more following the event, suggesting...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: All/General, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Balcombe, J. P., Barnard, N. D., Sandusky, C. 2004. Laboratory routines cause animal stress. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 43(6), 42-51.

New neurons in the dentate gyrus are involved in the expression of enhanced long-term memory following environmental enrichment

Although thousands of new neurons are continuously produced in the dentate gyrus of rodents each day, the function of these newborn cells remains unclear. An increasing number of reports have provided correlational evidence that adult hippocampal neurogenesis is involved in...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bruel-Jungerman, E., Laroche, S., Rampon, C. 2005. New neurons in the dentate gyrus are involved in the expression of enhanced long-term memory following environmental enrichment. European Journal of Neuroscience 21, 513-521.

The welfare impact of gavaging laboratory rats

A significant correlation between heart rate and dosage was observed until 10 min after gavaging.

Year Published: 2005Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bonnichsen, M., Dragsted, N., Hansen, A. K. 2005. The welfare impact of gavaging laboratory rats. Animal Welfare 14, 223-227.

Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents and rabbits: Requirements of rodents, rabbits, and research

Environmental conditions such as housing and husbandry have a major impact on the laboratory animal throughout its life and will thereby influence the outcome of animal experiments. However, housing systems for laboratory animals have often been designed on the basis...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Baumans, V. 2005. Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents and rabbits: Requirements of rodents, rabbits, and research. ILAR Journal 46(2), 162-170.

Potential for unintended consequences of environmental enrihment for laboratory animals and research results

Many aspects of the research animal's housing environment are controlled for quality and/or standardization. Of recent interest is the potential for environmental enrichment to have unexpected consequences such as unintended harm to the animal, or the introduction of variability into...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Hamster, Macaque, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bayne, K. 2005. Potential for unintended consequences of environmental enrihment for laboratory animals and research results. ILAR Journal 46(2), 129-139.

Foot sore development comparison data and the use of gauze for rats housed in wire-bottomed cages

There was a significant preventive benefit in placing gauze in the cages of animal with foot sores before the foot sores began to ulcerate.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Dimeo, D., Mitchell, S. 2005. Foot sore development comparison data and the use of gauze for rats housed in wire-bottomed cages. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 103 (Abstract).

Social environment determines the long-term effects of social defeat

A single social defeat by a dominant conspecific induces long-term changes in several physiological and behavioral parameters in rats. These changes may represent an increased vulnerability to subsequent stress and stress-related pathology. Environmental factors, in particular possibilities for social interactions,...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: de Jong, J. G., van der Vegt, B. J., Buwalda, B. et al. 2005. Social environment determines the long-term effects of social defeat. Physiology and Behavior 84(1), 87-95.

Effect of environmental enrichment during nutritional rehabilitation onbody growth, blood parameters and cerebral cortical development of rats

Environmental enrichment during nutritional rehabilitation enhancesdendritic branching and thickness of the occipital cortex.

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Carughi, A., Carpenter, K. J., Diamond, M. C. 1989. Effect of environmental enrichment during nutritional rehabilitation onbody growth, blood parameters and cerebral cortical development of rats. Journal of Nutrition 119, 2005-2016.

Long-term effects of cage-cleaning frequency and bedding type on laboratory rat welfare: A cross-laboratory study

Cage-cleaning frequency does not have a clear effect on welfare in male rats.

Year Published: 2005Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Burn, C., Mason, G. 2005. Long-term effects of cage-cleaning frequency and bedding type on laboratory rat welfare: A cross-laboratory study. Animal Technology and Welfare 4, 80-82.