Rodent

A rodent model of spontaneous stereotypy: initial characterization of development, environmental, and neurobiological factors

Preliminary observations suggest that increasing environmental complexity is associated with decreased stereotypy. Stereotypies are patterns of motor behavior that are repetitive, excessive, topographically invariant, and that lack any obvious function or purpose. [p. 355]

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Powell, S. B., Newman, H. A., Pendergast, J. et al. 1999. A rodent model of spontaneous stereotypy: initial characterization of development, environmental, and neurobiological factors. Physiology and Behavior 66, 355-363.

The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals (7th ed): Hamsters

In summary, solid-bottomed cages with bedding material are preferable; in general, group housing is preferable to individual caging so long as the groups are formed early in life, are stable and harmonious. There should be room for hiding and escaping...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Whittaker, D. 1999. Hamsters. In: The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals (7th ed). UFAW [Universities Federation for Animal Welfare] (edited by Poole, T. and English, P. ), 256-266. Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK.

Evaluation of environmental enrichment for laboratory mice

Providing a cage with a preferred nesting material can be a relatively simple method to contribute to the well-being of laboratory mice, without jeopardizing the outcome of experiments. Thus, there seems to be no good reason to deprive laboratory mice...

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van de Weerd, H. A., Baumans, V. 1999. Evaluation of environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Animal Welfare Information Center [AWIC] Newsletter 9(3-4), 1-2 & 18-19.

Behavioural and glial changes in old rats following environmental enrichment

Results confirm the aging-related acquisition and memory deficit. EC reduced the slowness of acquisition, reversed the short-term memory deficit and promoted the retention of the short signal (choose short effect).

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Soffie. M., Hahn, K., Terao, E. et al. 1999. Behavioural and glial changes in old rats following environmental enrichment. Behavioral Brain Research 101, 37-49.

Housing familiar male wildtype rats together reduces the long-term adverse behavioural and physiological effects of social defeat

Social stress in rats is known to induce long-lasting, adverse changes in behaviour and physiology, which seem to resemble certain human psychopathologies, such as depression and anxiety. The present experiment was designed to assess the influence of individual or group...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Ruis MA, te Brake JH, Buwalda B et al. 1999. Housing familiar male wildtype rats together reduces the long-term adverse behavioural and physiological effects of social defeat. Psychoneuroendocrinology 24(3), 285-300.

Environmental stimulation for rodents on toxicological studies

Gnawing sticks made from aspen wood was considered to be most appropriate because they triggered a high gnawing response and were available with certificates of analysis.

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Rodent

Citation: Robertson, D. 1999. Environmental stimulation for rodents on toxicological studies. Animal Technology 50, 182-183.

Improvements in transgenic animal husbandry and welfare: Provision of exercise wheels for group housed mice

The wheels are in almost constant use. The introduction of wheels therefore led to a cessation of the stereotypic cage climbing behaviour and the gnawing of food. However, there is some controversy as to whether wheel running is in itself...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Redrobe, S. 1999. Improvements in transgenic animal husbandry and welfare: Provision of exercise wheels for group housed mice. Animal Technology 50, 181-182.

Environmental enrichment inhibits spontaneous apoptosis, prevents seizures and is neuroprotective

Here we show that in addition to its effects on neurogenesis, an enriched environment reduces spontaneous apoptotic cell death in the rat hippocampus by 45%.

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Young, D., Lawlor, P. A., Leone, P. et al. 1999. Environmental enrichment inhibits spontaneous apoptosis, preventsseizures and is neuroprotective. Nature Medicine 5, 448-453.

Diet restriction through hopper design

Group-housed rats were induced to 'work' for their food by soldering metal plates over their food hoppers, so that only 3% of the original area remains available. The animals fed for longer periods and rested less during the night, but...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wrightson, D., Dickson, C. 1999. Diet restriction through hopper design. Animal Technology 50, 45-46.

A novel method for the supply of bedding and nesting material with inbuilt environmental enrichment for rodents

Non-toxic cellulose tea bag material containing sawdust provided valuable stimulation and encouraged the animals to tear open and dispense the sawdust and utilize the pack as nesting material. The sealed packs were extremely labor saving in storage and dispensing into...

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rodent

Citation: Willan, P. C. 1999. A novel method for the supply of bedding and nesting material with inbuilt environmental enrichment for rodents. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 5 (Abstract).