Rat

Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents

In this article, laws and guidelines relating to rodent enrichment are reviewed, the natural behaviors of select rodent species are discussed, and an overview of widely used types of enrichment in laboratory rodent management is provided. Survey data on current...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Natural Behavior, Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hutchinson, E., Avery, A., Van de Woude, S. 2005. Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents. ILAR Journal 46(2), 148-161.

The Behavior of the Laboratory Rat: A Handbook with Tests

This book contains a wide range of information of huge complexity on rat behavior. The book has three objectives. The first objective is to present an introduction of rat behavior. In choosing the rat as the subject species, the book...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Whishaw, I. Q., Kolb, B. (Eds.) 2004. The Behavior of the Laboratory Rat: A Handbook with Tests. Oxford University Press: New York, NY, 520 pp.

Modifications to husbandry and housing conditions of laboratory rodents for improved well-being

A review of the literature shows that a consensus on the definition of changes constituting environmental enrichment has yet to be reached. For this reason, the results of studies on the effects of rodent enrichment are inconsistent. In many cases,...

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

Citation: Smith, A. L., Corrow, D. J. 2005. Modifications to husbandry and housing conditions of laboratory rodents for improved well-being. ILAR Journal 46(2), 140-147.

Selective adaptation of male rats to repeated social encounters and experimental manipulations

We concluded that male Sprague-Dawley rats adapted quickly, albeit partially, to social encounters but did not adapt to repeated injections, suggesting selective adaptation depending on the type of stimulus used.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sharp, J., Azar, T., Lawson, D. 2005. Selective adaptation of male rats to repeated social encounters and experimental manipulations. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 44(2), :28-31.

Effects of a cage enrichment program on heart rate, blood pressure, and activity of male sprague-dawley and spontaneously hypertensive rats monitored by radiotelemetry

Enrichment comprised a simulated burrow (Rodent Retreat), then a food foraging item (rat cannoli) 2 days later, and a paper bag of bedding for shredding (Nestpak) after another 2 days. Data were collected under undisturbed conditions and before and after...

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

Citation: Sharp, J., Azar, T., Lawson, D. 2005. Effects of a cage enrichment program on heart rate, blood pressure, and activity of male sprague-dawley and spontaneously hypertensive rats monitored by radiotelemetry. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 44(2), 32-40.

An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory ? A review

When housing hamsters and gerbils little has been done to identify the preferences of these species. The solitary nature of fat sand rats and hamsters is often discordant with housing practices in animal laboratories. This article provides a comparison of...

Year Published: 2005Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Gerbil, Hamster, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sorensen, D. B., Krohn, T., Hansen, H. N. et al. 2005. An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory ? A review . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 93, 181-195.

Pair-housing of male and female rats during chronic stress exposure results in gender-specific behavioral responses

In conclusion: pair-housing had a stress-reducing effect on behavior in male rats. Isolation of females was stressful by itself. Pair housing of females was not able to prevent stress-induced behavioral changes completely, but appeared to reduce the effects of chronic...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Westenbroek, C., Snijders, T. A., den Boer, J. A. et al. 2005. Pair-housing of male and female rats during chronic stress exposure results in gender-specific behavioral responses. Hormones and Behavior 47(5), 620-628.

Comparison of technicians’ ability to detect clinical signs in rats housed in solid-bottomed cages with bedding versus wire-bottomed cages

The only difference observed was a diminished ability to detect blue urine from new methylene blue adminstation in wire-bottomed cages. Concerns about the technical staff's inability to detect clinical signs in toxicology tests should not prevent investigators from using solid-bottomed...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Van Vleet, T. R., Rhodes, J. W., Waites, C. R. et al. 2005. Comparison of technicians' ability to detect clinical signs in rats housed in solid-bottomed cages with bedding versus wire-bottomed cages. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 100-101 (Abstract).

The reinforcing property and the rewarding aftereffect of wheel running in rats: a combination of two paradigms

Wheel running reinforces the behavior that generates it and produces a preference for the context that follows it. The goal of the present study was to demonstrate both of these effects in the same animals. Twelve male Wistar rats were...

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Belke, T. W., Wagner, J. P. 2006. The reinforcing property and the rewarding aftereffect of wheel running in rats: a combination of two paradigms. Behavioural Processes 68, 165-172.

Troubles shared are troubles halved: Stress in rats is reduced in proportion to social propinquity

The objectives of this study were to: 1) evaluate how stocking density at the feed bunk affects feeding and social behavior of dairy cows; and 2) determine if this effect is further influenced by the type of feed barrier used....

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Leshem M, Sherman M. 2006. Troubles shared are troubles halved: Stress in rats is reduced in proportion to social propinquity. Physiology and Behav. 89;399-401.