Rodent

Postnatal oxytocin treatment and postnatal stroking of rats reduce blood pressure in adulthood

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of postnatal oxytocin (OT) treatment and postnatal stroking on blood pressure and heart rate in adult rats. For this purpose, rats were treated subcutaneously with OT (1 mg/kg) once...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Holst, S., Uvnas-Moberg, K., Petersson, M. 2002. Postnatal oxytocin treatment and postnatal stroking of rats reduce blood pressure in adulthood. Autonomic Neuroscience 99(2), 85-90.

Enrichment slows disease progression in R6/2 Huntington?s disease mice

Housing mice in standard laboratory cages increased the rate of disease progression while housing them in enriched cages slowed the progress to a more 'normal' rate. Mice housed in such deprived conditions are unlikely to prove a good model of...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hockly, E., Cordery, P. M., Woodman, B. et al. 2002. Enrichment slows disease progression in R6/2 Huntington?s disease mice. Annals of Neurology 51, 235-242.

Presence of mother and unfamiliar female alters levels of testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, adrenocorticotropin, and behavior in maturing guinea pigs

Although the guinea pig is characterized by precocial physical development and minimal active maternal care, studies suggest the presence of the mother can influence neuroendocrine and behavioral activity of offspring even well beyond weaning. ... The present study examined ~40-day-old...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Hennessy, M. B., Maken, D. S., Graves, F. C. 2002. Presence of mother and unfamiliar female alters levels of testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, adrenocorticotropin, and behavior in maturing guinea pigs . Hormones and Behavior 42, 42-52.

Assessing rodent well-being: Report of the 2001 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting

The meetings focused on techniques for assessing pain, suffering and sitress in mice and rats and monitoring the impact of procedures on their welfare.

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hawkins, P., Roughan, J., Wilson, A. et al. 2002. Assessing rodent well-being: Report of the 2001 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting. Animal Technology and Welfare 1, 3-12.

Improving housing conditions for laboratory mice: A review of ‘environmental enrichment’

We have reviewed 40 studies carried out between 1987 and 2000, in which preferences as well as the effect of housing modifications have been studied. Mice will work for access to nesting material and make use of this material to...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Olsson, I. A. S., Dahlborn, K. 2002. Improving housing conditions for laboratory mice: A review of 'environmental enrichment'. Laboratory Animals 36, 243-270.

An enriched environment increases noradrenaline concentration in the mouse brain

After being exposed to an enriched environment for 40 days, noradrenaline content was increased significantly in the parieto-temporo-occipital cortex, the cerebellum and the pons/medulla oblongata. In contrast, no changes were observed in serotonin or dopamine levels in these same regions.

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Naka, F., Shiga, T., Yaguchi, M. et al. 2002. An enriched environment increases noradrenaline concentration in the mouse brain. Brain Research 924, 124-126.

Music, immunity and cancer

The effects of music on the immune system and cancer development were evaluated in rodents subjected to sound stress. Animals were exposed daily to broad band noise around midnight and/or music for 5 hours on the following morning. Thymus and...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Nunez, M. J., Mana, P., Linares, D. et al. 2002. Music, immunity and cancer. Life Science 71, 1047-1057.

Impact of environmental enrichment in mice

Animals at 3 weeks of age were marked and separated randomly to enriched or non-enriched cages, in groups of four, half for each housing condition. Both cages were type III Makrolon cages, only the enriched cages contained a nest box,...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Tsai, P. P., Pachowsky, U., Stelzer, H. D. et al. 2002. Impact of environmental enrichment in mice. 1: Effect of housing conditions on body weight, organ weights and haematology in different strains. Laboratory Animals 36, 441-419.

Stress-induced Cushing’s syndrome in fur-chewing chinchillas

One of the most serious problems in the chinchilla industry is 'fur-chewing', when the chinchilla bites off areas of its own or some other animal's fur. The condition generally develops in both genders at the age of 6-8 months. In...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Chinchilla, Rodent

Citation: Tisljar, M., Janic, D., Grabarevic, Z. et al. 2002. Stress-induced Cushing's syndrome in fur-chewing chinchillas. Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 50, 133-142.

Comfortable quarters for mice in research institutions

Very useful guidelines for the species-adequate housing of mice. In providing comfortable quarters for mice, there are several '-isms' we should avoid. We should avoid speceisism and remember there is no evidence to suggest that mice do NOT have the...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Sherwin, C. M. 2002. Comfortable quarters for mice in research institutions. In: Comfortable Quarters for Laboratory Animals, Ninth Edition. Reinhardt, V. , Reinhardt, A. (eds.), 6-17. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.