Rodent

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.

Stress-like responses to common procedures in rats: Effect of the estrous cycle

Witnessing decapitation of other rats induced cardiovascular responses which were not different from those of rats witnessing other procedures. The cardiovascular responses were not enhanced during proestrus estrus compared to metestrusdiestrus. There were also no significant effects of the estrous...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sharp, J. L., Zammit, T. G., Lawson, D. M. 2002. Stress-like responses to common procedures in rats: Effect of the estrous cycle. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(4).

Dissociable effects of isolation rearing and environmental enrichment onexploration, spatial learning and HPA activity in adult rats

Environmental enrichment, regardless of social background, primarily accelerated habituation to novelty and improved spatial learning and memory.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Schrijver, N. C., Bahr, N. I., Weiss, I. C. et al. 2002. Dissociable effects of isolation rearing and environmental enrichment onexploration, spatial learning and HPA activity in adult rats. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 73, 209-224.

Environmental influences on functional outcome after a cortical infarct in the rat

We conclude that the beneficial effect of postischemic environmental enrichment is likely to be a combination of social and various physical activities.

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

Citation: Risedal, A., Mattsson, B., Dahlqvist, P. et al. 2002. Environmental influences on functional outcome after a cortical infarct in the rat. Brain Research Bulletin 58(3), 315-321.