Rat

Serotonin transporter genotype x construction stress interaction in rats

A well-known example for gene x environment interactions in psychiatry is the one involving the low activity (s) allelic variant of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) that in the context of stress increases risk for depression. In analogy,...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Schipper, P., Nonkes, L. J., Karel, P. et al. 2011. Serotonin transporter genotype x construction stress interaction in rats. Behavioural Brain Research 223(1), 169-175.

Epigenetic influence of stress and social environment

Animal models of early-life stress and variation in social experience across the lifespan have contributed significantly to our understanding of the environmental regulation of the developing brain. Plasticity in neurobiological pathways regulating stress responsivity, cognition, and reproductive behavior is apparent...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gudsnuk, K., Champagne, F. A. 2012. Epigenetic influence of stress and social environment. ILAR Journal 53(3-4), 279-288.

Heart rates of male and female Sprague-Dawley and spontaneously hypertensive rats housed singly or in groups

This study was conducted to confirm our previous reports that group housing lowered basal heart rate and various evoked heart-rate responses in Sprague-Dawley male and female rats and to extend these observations to spontaneously hypertensive rats. Heart rate data were...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Azar, T., Sharp, J., Lawson, D. 2011. Heart rates of male and female Sprague-Dawley and spontaneously hypertensive rats housed singly or in groups. JAALAS 50(2), 75-84.

The effects of enriching laboratory cages using various physical structures on multiple measures of welfare in singly-housed rats

The single housing of laboratory rats may be recommended in some situations such as hypothesis-driven or test-specific studies, during electroencephalogram recording of phases of sleep and after surgical procedures. However, as single housing of laboratory rats has been shown to...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Abou-Ismail, U. A., Mahboub, H. D. 2011. The effects of enriching laboratory cages using various physical structures on multiple measures of welfare in singly-housed rats. Laboratory Animals 45(3), 145-153.

Effect of different frequencies of music on blood pressure regulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effect of different frequencies of music on brain function was investigated through measurement of blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Previous studies indicated that exposure to Mozart's music (K. 205) leads to increased calcium/calmodulin-dependent dopamine synthesis in the...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Akiyama, K., Sutoo, D. 2011. Effect of different frequencies of music on blood pressure regulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Neuroscience Letters 487(1), 58-60.

Are the effects of enrichment due to the presence of multiple items or a particular item in the cages of laboratory rat?

Although the effects of environmental enrichment on laboratory rodents have been extensively described, it is not yet known whether these effects were simply due to the presence of multiple items in the cage or due solely to the presence of...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Abou-Ismail, U. A. 2011. Are the effects of enrichment due to the presence of multiple items or a particular item in the cages of laboratory rat? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 134(1-2), 72-82.

Training rats to shift into clean cages by using operant conditioning with positive reinforcement

Changing soiled cages is an integral part of husbandry, yet it can be a source of stress for both animal and animal care technician. In one case, large geriatric rats weighing around 1 kg did not have a positive response...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Animal Training, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Severs, E., Leszcynski, J. 2012. Training rats to shift into clean cages by using operant conditioning with positive reinforcement. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 632-633 (Abstract #PS8).

Rats housed on corncob bedding show less slow-wave sleep

Despite the reported advantages of corncob bedding, questions have emerged about how comfortable animals find this type of bedding as a resting surface. In this study, encephalography (EEG) was used to compare the effects of corncob and aspen-chip bedding on...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Leys, L. J., McGaraughty, S., Radek, R. J. 2012. Rats housed on corncob bedding show less slow-wave sleep. JAALAS 51(6), 764-768.

Effects of cage density, sanitation frequency, and bedding type on animal well-being and health and cage environment in mice and rats

Ongoing studies and historical data support the finding that deviations or exceptions from the cage density and sanitation frequency standards set forth in the Guide do not negatively affect animal health, welfare, or production parameters at our institution. These parameters...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Horn, M. J., Hudson, S. V., Bostrom, L. A. et al. 2012. Effects of cage density, sanitation frequency, and bedding type on animal well-being and health and cage environment in mice and rats. JAALAS 51(6), 781-788.

Handling of adolescent rats improves learning and memory and decreases anxiety

Some environmental interventions can result in physiologic and behavioral changes in laboratory animals. In this context, the handling of adolescent or adult rodents has been reported to influence exploratory behavior and emotionality. Here we examined the effects of handling on...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Costa, R., Tamascia, M. L., Nogueira, M. D. et al. 2012. Handling of adolescent rats improves learning and memory and decreases anxiety. JAALAS 51(5), 548-553.