Rat

Animal Research Review Panel [ARRP] Guideline 20: Guidelines for the Housing of Rats in Scientific Institutions

Year Published: 2008Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: NewSouthWales [NSW] Agriculture 2008. Animal Research Review Panel [ARRP] Guideline 20: Guidelines for the Housing of Rats in Scientific Institutions. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW.

Effects of a gentling programme on the behaviour of laboratory rats towards humans

The present study investigated the effects of a gentling programme on the later behaviour of laboratory rats towards humans. For that purpose, 24 female Wistar rats were purchased from a laboratory animal breeding facility at the age of 21 days...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Maurer, B. M., Doring, D., Scheipl, F. et al. 2008. Effects of a gentling programme on the behaviour of laboratory rats towards humans. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 114, 554-571.

Effects of music composed by Mozart and Ligeti on blood pressure and heart rate circadian rhythms in normotensive and hypertensive rats

There is continuing discussion on the effect of music ( Mozart effect ) on numerous functions in man and experimental animals. Radiotelemetry now allows one to monitor cardiovascular functions in freely-moving unrestrained experimental animals. Radiotelemetry was used to monitor systolic...

Year Published: 2008Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Lemmer, B. 2008. Effects of music composed by Mozart and Ligeti on blood pressure and heart rate circadian rhythms in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Chronobiology International 25, 971-986.

Thigmotactic responses in an open-field

The goal of the present study was to investigate the role of thigmotaxis (the tendency to remain close to vertical surfaces) in rat exploratory behavior in an open-field. Thigmotaxis was investigated in a parametric way, using 24 experimentally adult naive...

Year Published: 2008Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Lamprea, M. R., Cardenas, F. P., Setem, J. et al. 2008. Thigmotactic responses in an open-field. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 41, 135-140.

Operant task performance and corticosterone concentrations in rats housed directly on bedding and on wire

Contrary to assumptions, housing did not affect task performance. Baseline corticosterone concentrations were similar for the 2 experimental groups, but corticosterone concentrations were significantly higher for the wire-bottom group than the solid-bottom group immediately after the restraint and remained elevated...

Year Published: 2008Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Freed, C., Martinez, V., Sarter, M. et al. 2008. Operant task performance and corticosterone concentrations in rats housed directly on bedding and on wire . Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science] 47(5), 18-22.

Handling during routine care affects responses of laboratory rats toward humans

Year Published: 2008Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Cloutier, S., Pankseep, J., Newberry, R. C. 2008. Handling during routine care affects responses of laboratory rats toward humans. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 64-65 (Abstract).

Use of a conditioning technique to reduce stress associated with repeated intra-peritoneal injections in laboratory rats

The chromodacryorrhea results suggest that handling restraint produced short-term stress and that an additional stressor (injection) superimposed upon handling did not generally result in a stronger stress response. Pairing of rewards with injection did not alleviate the stress response of...

Year Published: 2008Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Cloutier, S., Newberry, R. C. 2008. Use of a conditioning technique to reduce stress associated with repeated intra-peritoneal injections in laboratory rats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 112(1-2), 158-173.

Comparison of Technicians’ Ability to Detect Clinical Signs in Rats Housed in Wire-bottom versus Solid-bottom Cages with Bedding

Rodent toxicology studies have historically been performed in wire-bottom cages, but the 1996 Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends solid-bottom caging with bedding. Some investigators have expressed concern that changing to solid-bottom cages would interfere with...

Year Published: 2008Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Van Vleet, T. R., Rhodes, J. W., Waites, C. R. et al. 2008. Comparison of Technicians' Ability to Detect Clinical Signs in Rats Housed in Wire-bottom versus Solid-bottom Cages with Bedding. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science] 47(2).

Enriching the matabolic cage: effects on rat physiology and behaviour

Metabolic cages are used for housing rats and mice for up to five days for collection of urine and/or faeces. The small, barren area of the metabolic cage compromises animal welfare as the animals lack a solid floor, shelter, nest...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sorensen, D. B., Mortensen, K., Bertelsen, T. et al. 2008. Enriching the matabolic cage: effects on rat physiology and behaviour. Animal Welfare 17, 395-403.

An investigation in the use of forage grains for laboratory rats

Small grains were scattered on the bedding rather than placed in food hopper. This added enrichment whilst maintaining the integrity of the study.

Year Published: 2008Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Rownetree, M. 2008. An investigation in the use of forage grains for laboratory rats. AATEX (Alternatives to Animal Testing and Experimentation) 14(Special Issue), 65-67.