Rat

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.

Time course of behavioral changes following basal forebrain cholinergic damage in rats: Environmental enrichment as a therapeutic intervention

Environment enrichment had significant beneficial effects in 192 IgG-saporin-lesioned rats.

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

Citation: Paban, V., Jaffard, M., Chambon, C. et al. 2005. Time course of behavioral changes following basal forebrain cholinergic damage in rats: Environmental enrichment as a therapeutic intervention. Neuroscience 132, 13-32.

Rat ultrasound and welfare assessment: Preliminary results

A great deal of further research will be necessary before ultrasonic vocalisation can be used to help assess pain and/or distress in the rat.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Nicholson, J. 2005. Rat ultrasound and welfare assessment: Preliminary results. Animal Technology and Welfare 4, 79-80.

The effect of training for long term restraining of rats evaluated by telemtry

Cardiovsacular stress responses were significant on all ten days of 3-hour tube restraint periods.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Mikkelsen, L. F., Dragsted, N., Hansen, A. K. et al. 2005. The effect of training for long term restraining of rats evaluated by telemtry. Alternatives to Animal Experimentation [ALTEX] 22, 53 (Abstract).

Collecting blood from rodents: A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum

The question was asked: "In your own experience, what is the least disturbing technique - from the subject's point of view! - of blood collection for rodents?" In summary, it is fair to conclude the clinical and ethical concerns outweigh...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Luzzi, M., Skoumbourdis, E., Baumans, V. et al. 2005. Collecting blood from rodents: A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum. Animal Technology and Welfare 4, 99-102.

Nest-building behaviour in male rats from three inbred strains: BN/HsdCpb, BDIX/OrIIco and LEW/Mol

It was demonstrated in three inbred strains [BN, BDIX, LEW] of pair-housed male rats that naive animals who never had access to any kind of nesting material do build nests if the correct stimuli are provided. The animals were housed...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Jegstrup, I. M., Vestergaard, R., Vach, W. et al. 2005. Nest-building behaviour in male rats from three inbred strains: BN/HsdCpb, BDIX/OrIIco and LEW/Mol. Animal Welfare 14, 149-156.