Rodent

Environmental enrichment for laboratory rats: A review

In the laboratory, rats have been found to benefit from social contact, shelters, nesting material, objects for gnawing and large, complex cages whilst the provision of toys or open space is largely unsuccessful.

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Patterson-Kane, E. G. 2001. Environmental enrichment for laboratory rats: A review. Animal Technology 52, 77-84.

The cage preferences of laboratory rats

The rats did not show significant preferences for most of the options [e.g., toys] over an empty cage. The exceptions were shredded paper, a nesting box and a semi-enriched condition incorporating a range of modifications.

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Patterson-Kane, E. G., Harper, D. N., Hunt, M. 2001. The cage preferences of laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 35, 74-79.

Revolutionary Science: An improved running wheel for hamsters and mice

Golden hamsters and mice ran more in wheels with the floor covered with plastic mesh than in wheels with the usual metal rods. Small diameter wheels were preferred less than standard 17.5-cm wheels.

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Hamster, Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mrosovsky, N., Salmon, P., White, N. 2001. Revolutionary Science: An improved running wheel for hamsters and mice. CALAS/ACSAL Symposium, 29 (Abstract).

Modulation of aggression in male mice – Influence of group size and cage size

It is concluded that aggressive behaviour in group-housed male BALB/c mice is best prevented by housing the animals in small groups of three animals, while decreasing floor size per animal may be used as a temporary solution to decrease high...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Mol, J. A., Koolhaas, J. M. et al. 2001. Modulation of aggression in male mice - Influence of group size and cage size. Physiology and Behavior 72, 675-683.

Exploratory study to determine the preference of the Sprague-Dawley rat for a solid or a wire cage floor

A unique cage design was created to allow residency time, time of day, and frequency of use parameters to be measured when a rat was presented with choice of both [unspecified] solid flooring and wire flooring. ...The rats spent only...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Rat

Citation: Sherer, D., Rigel, D. F., Iverson, W. O. 2001. Exploratory study to determine the preference of the Sprague-Dawley rat for a solid or a wire cage floor. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 73 (Abstract).

Male Management – Coping With Aggression Problems in Male Laboratory Mice (Doctoral Thesis)

The purpose of this thesis was to find practical solutions for coping with excessive aggressive behaviour in male laboratory mice. .. The proximity of another male is preferred to individual housing, irrespectively of dominance status, kinship or familiarity. ... Male...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P. 2001. Male Management - Coping With Aggression Problems in Male Laboratory Mice (Doctoral Thesis). University of Utrecht, Diest, Belgium.

Do male mice prefer or avoid each other’s company? Influence of hierarchy, kinship, and familiarity

Experiments that allowed male mice with different histories to choose either an inhabited or an empty cage have shown that the mice preferred the proximity [separated by wire mesh or Perspex wall with holes] of another male over individual housing....

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., de Groot, A. C., Van Zuthpen, B. F. M. et al. 2001. Do male mice prefer or avoid each other's company? Influence of hierarchy, kinship, and familiarity. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 4, 91-103.

The effects of regrouping on the growth curve of male Sprague Dawley rats

Rats are usually regrouped on a weekly basis without regard for source, so that the animals in a cage fall within a narrow weight range. ... There were no significant differences of growth rate between the rats in the stable...

Year Published: 2001Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Turcotte, N. 2001. The effects of regrouping on the growth curve of male Sprague Dawley rats. CALAS/ACSAL Symposium, 25 (Abstract).

Differential effects of enrichment on learning and memory function in NR2B transgenic mice

Our biochemical experiments showed that enrichment significantly increased protein levels of GluR1, NR2B, and NR2A subunits of glutamate receptors in both wild-type and NR2B Tg mice.

Year Published: 2001Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Tang, Y. P., Wang, H., Feng, R. et al. 2001. Differential effects of enrichment on learning and memory function in NR2B transgenic mice. Neuropharmacology 41, 779-790.

Wire-bottom versus solid-bottom rodent caging issues important to scientists and laboratory animal science specialists

This article reviews the results of a recent survey of 12 United States-based pharmaceutical and contract toxicology laboratories.... The 1999 survey showed that more than 80% of the rodents in surveyed toxicology facilities were housed in wire-bottom cages. Long-term budget...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Rodent

Citation: Stark, D. M. 2001. Wire-bottom versus solid-bottom rodent caging issues important to scientists and laboratory animal science specialists. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40(6), 11-14.