Rodent

More hippocampal neurons in adult mice living in an enriched environment

Mice reared in an environment enriched with running wheels, tunnels and toys possess more hippocampal neurons than litter mates reared in barren standard cages. It is likely that these extra neurons contribute to the enhanced performance in learning tasks showed...

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kempermann, G., Kuh, H. G., Gage, F. H. 1997. More hippocampal neurons in adult mice living in an enriched environment. Nature 386, 493-495.

Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: Welfare implications of isolation and social contact among caged males

Singly housed males showed reduced activity and a greater incidence of self-directed behaviors, especially tail manipulation and self-grooming than males housed in small groups of three. They also performed behaviors apparently related to escape or seeking social information. ... Exposure...

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hurst, J. L., Barnard, C. J., Nevison, C. M. et al. 1997. Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: Welfare implications of isolation and social contact among caged males. Animal Welfare 6, 327-347.

Evaluation of objects for environmental enrichment of mice

Single-cage mice spent 3.58 min interacting with the marble, 50,16 min interacting with the tunnel, and 271.00 min interacting with the nestlet. Control animals spent a mean of 35 min digging in bedding, suggesting that bedding served as an important...

Year Published: 1997Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hobbs, A., Kozubal, W., Nebiar, F. F. 1997. Evaluation of objects for environmental enrichment of mice. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 36(3), 69-71.

Effects of cage enrichment on territorial aggression and stress physiology in male laboratory mice

Findings suggest that keeping adult male mice in structured cages can result in increased aggression towards intruders, a change in the social organization, and altered endocrine states.

Year Published: 1997Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Haemisch, A., Gartner, K. 1997. Effects of cage enrichment on territorial aggression and stress physiology in male laboratory mice. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 161(Suppl. 640), 73-76.

Observations on the prevalence of nest-building in non-breeding TO strain mice and their use of two nesting materials

Within 2-3 min of the nesting materials being placed in the cages, many mice had pulled the paper towel from the pot into the main cage, investigated, chewed and manipulated the sheet. ... Thirty-six of the mice constructed nests during...

Year Published: 1997Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Sherwin, C. M. 1997. Observations on the prevalence of nest-building in non-breeding TO strain mice and their use of two nesting materials. Laboratory Animals 31, 125-132.

Studies on the influence of enriched-environment housing combined with systemic administration of an alpha2-adrenergic antagonist on spatial learning and hyperactivity after global ischemia in rats

Housing in an enriched environment facilitates the rate of spatial learning in rats with global ischemia.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Puurunen, K., Sirvio, J., Koistinaho, J. et al. 1997. Studies on the influence of enriched-environment housing combined with systemic administration of an alpha2-adrenergic antagonist on spatial learning and hyperactivity after global ischemia in rats. Stroke 28, 623-631.

Individual housing influences certain biochemical parameters in the rat

Individual as opposed to group-housing of female rats provoked variations in certain biochemical parameters [glucose, triglycerides, food intake]. It was concluded that this circumstance could make scientific data unreliable or even dubious.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Perez, C., Canal, J. R., Dominguez, E. et al. 1997. Individual housing influences certain biochemical parameters in the rat. Laboratory Animals 31, 357-361.

A new metabolism cage design for singly housed mice

A variety of cage furniture including a shelf, box and pipe was offered to mice in metabolism cages without affecting urine collection.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: McSherry, S. 1997. A new metabolism cage design for singly housed mice. Institute of Animal Technology [IAT] Congress oral presentation.

Neural grafting to experimental neocortical infarcts improves behavioral outcome and reduces thalamic atrophy in rats housed in enriched but not in standard environments

Neural grafting enhanced functional outcome and reduced thalamic atrophy only when combined with housing enriched environments.

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Mattsson, B., Sorensen, J. C., Zimmer, J. et al. 1997. Neural grafting to experimental neocortical infarcts improves behavioral outcome and reduces thalamic atrophy in rats housed in enriched but not in standard environments. Stroke 28(6), 1225-1231.

The proper care of laboratory rodents

Valuable recommendations for the species-adequate housing and handling of rodents. The following issues are addressed for each species: Species-typical characteristics; Minimum space and cage recommendations; Proper handling. Laboratory rodents deserve the same professional care as other, perhaps more charismatic laboratory...

Year Published: 1997Animal Type: Rodent

Citation: Lawlor, M. M. 1997. The proper care of laboratory rodents. In: Comfortable Quarters for Laboratory Animals, Eighth Edition. Reinhardt, V. (ed), 15-31. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.