Rodent

Corticosterone, prolactin, and growth hormone responses to handling and new environment in the rat

The effects of handling and novel environment on cortisol, prolactin and growth hormone were assessed and different control mechanisms discussed. Handling and novelty of the environment are powerful stimuli to activate the pituitary-adrenal axis.

Year Published: 1974Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Brown, G. M., Martin, J. B. 1974. Corticosterone, prolactin, and growth hormone responses to handling and new environment in the rat. Psychosomatic Medicine 36, 241-247.

Effects of acute stress on serum LH and prolactin in intact, castrate and dexamethasone-treated male rats

Placing rats into transfer boxes and moving them to another room triggers a significant rise in plasma prolactin and LH.

Year Published: 1975Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Euker, J. S., Meites, J., Riegle, G. D. 1975. Effects of acute stress on serum LH and prolactin in intact, castrate and dexamethasone-treated male rats. Endocrinology 96, 85-92.

The rat’s long-term preference for complexity in its environment

Single-housed rats demonstrated a marked preference for high complexity during 'day' conditions probably because spatial complexity elicited shelter/relaxation responses. Complexity seemed to reduce the arousal level of the subject. .... The most attractive compartment [of the test cage], in terms...

Year Published: 1975Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Denny, M. S. 1975. The rat's long-term preference for complexity in its environment. Animal Learning and Behavior 3, 245-249.

The importance of laboratory lighting as an experimental variable

The importance of light and illumination as extraneous variable is discussed. My suggestion is that the cage conditions are too crowded in our present racks, and there should be the same lighting for all cages in the bottom shelf as...

Year Published: 1974Animal Type: Rodent

Citation: Ott, J. N. 1974. The importance of laboratory lighting as an experimental variable. In: Environmental Variables in Animal Experimentation . Magalhaes, H. (ed), 39-57. Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA.

Self-sustaining activities and reinforcement in the nest building behaviour of mice

Mice will readily work in order to get nesting material. It is concluded that gathering is at least to some extent authonomously controlled, and that it is a weak positive reinforcer.

Year Published: 1975Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Roper, T. J. 1975. Self-sustaining activities and reinforcement in the nest building behaviour of mice. Behaviour 59, 40-57.

Nest material and food as reinforcers for fixed-ratio responding in mice

Mice will readily work in order to get nesting material.

Year Published: 1975Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Roper, T. J. 1975. Nest material and food as reinforcers for fixed-ratio responding in mice. Learning and Motivation 6, 327-343.

Bedding preferences of pregnant laboratory-reared mice

Pregnant mice invariably preferred aspen shaving bedding over nine other commercially available bedding materials.

Year Published: 1975Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mulder, J. B. 1975. Bedding preferences of pregnant laboratory-reared mice. Behavior Research Methods and Instrumentation 7, 21-22.

Cage size as a factor in environmental enrichment

Cage size significantly affected 38-day gross body weight, open-field activity and defecation, running-wheel activity, exploration, and water consumption. .. Rearing in large cages, either wire or Plexiglas, appears to reduce emotionality... The results of this experiment indicate that cage size...

Year Published: 1975Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Manosevitz, M., Pryor, J. B. 1975. Cage size as a factor in environmental enrichment. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 89, 648-654.

Deleterious effect of infantile stimulation in the golden hamster

Unlike in rats, early handling makes hamsters timid and wild when they are adults.

Year Published: 1975Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Lawlor, M. M., Wells, P. A., Weinberg, J. 1975. Deleterious effect of infantile stimulation in the golden hamster. Experimental Brain Research 23(Supplement), 120 (Abstract).

Effects of clean and soiled sawdust substrates and of different urine types upon aggressive behaviour in male mice

Greatest levels of aggression were found in cages that had ungergone incomplete cleaning, such as renewal of substrate only.

Year Published: 1975Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Jones, R. B., Nowell, N. W. 1975. Effects of clean and soiled sawdust substrates and of different urine types upon aggressive behaviour in male mice. Aggressive Behavior 1, 111-121.