Rodent

Strength of preference for nesting material as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice

On average, the 47 mice tested spent significantly more time in the cage with the nesting material [paper towel or tissue] (more than 69% of their total time, whereas less than 25% of their time in the cage with the...

Year Published: 1998Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van de Weerd, H. A., van Loo, P. L. P., van Zutphen, L. F. M. et al. 1998. Strength of preference for nesting material as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 55, 369-382.

Preferences for nest boxes as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice

Individual mice prefer a cage with a nest box and avoid cages without one. ... In general, the preferred nest boxes were those consisting of perforated metal or grid metal.

Year Published: 1998Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van de Weerd, H. A., van Loo, P. L. P., van Zutphen, L. F. M. et al. 1998. Preferences for nest boxes as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Animal Welfare 7, 11-25.

Environmental enrichment results in higher levels of nerve growth factor mRNA in the rat visual cortex and hippocampus

Rats housed in groups in a stimulus-rich environment for 30 days had significantly higher levels of NGF mRNA than rats housed individually in single cages without stimulus-enrichment.

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Torasdotter, M., Metsis, M., Henriksson, B. G. et al. 1998. Environmental enrichment results in higher levels of nerve growth factor mRNA in the rat visual cortex and hippocampus. Behavioral Brain Research 93, 83-90.

The Laboratory Guinea Pig

Barbering, or hair chewing may be the result of a dominance interaction between two guinea pigs or a behvioral vice. Animal may barber each other in a group housing situation, or may chew at their own hair.

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Terril, L. A. , Clemons, D. J. 1998. The Laboratory Guinea Pig. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

Comparison of effects of restraint, cage transportation, anaesthesia and repeated bleeding on plamsa glucose levels between mice and rats

Mice showed a fairly consistent rise in levels of blood glucose if unaccustomed to [blood collection procedure] handling or if the cages were transported to an adjacent room. The same procedures when performed in rats seemed to have small or...

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Tabata, H., Kitamura, T., Nagamatsu, N. 1998. Comparison of effects of restraint, cage transportation, anaesthesia and repeated bleeding on plamsa glucose levels between mice and rats. Laboratory Animals 32, 143-148.

Antistress pattern induced by oxytocin

The antistress effects caused by oxytocin may have health-promoting effects.

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Uvnas-Moberg, K. 1998. Antistress pattern induced by oxytocin. News in Physiological Science 13, 22-26.

Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions

During breastfeeding or suckling, maternal oxytocin levels are raised by somatosensory stimulation. Oxytocin may, however, also be released by nonnoxious stimuli such as touch, warm temperature etc. in plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid. Consequently, oxytocin may be involved in physiological...

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Uvnas-Moberg, K. 1998. Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions. Psychoneuroendocrinology 23(8), 819-835.

The laboratory gerbil

Some recommendations for the housing and handling of gerbils.

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Gerbil, Rodent

Citation: Brain, P. F. 1999. The laboratory gerbil. In: The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals Seventh Edition. UFAW [Universities Federation for Animal Welfare] (edited by Poole, T. and English, P. ), 345-355. Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK.

The Laboratory Mouse

Mouse-adequate housing is discussed.

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Baumans, V. 1999. The Laboratory Mouse. In: The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals Seventh Edition. Poole, T. , English, P. (eds), 282-312. Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK.

Use of cornhusk nesting material to reduce aggression in caged mice

The provision of cornhusk reduced aggressive interactions by offering subordinate animals cover and escape routes.

Year Published: 1998Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Armstrong, K. R., Clark, T. R., Peterson, M. R. 1998. Use of cornhusk nesting material to reduce aggression in caged mice. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 37(4), 64-66.