Rodent

Evidence for a relationship between cage stereotypies and behavioural disinhibition in laboratory rodents

Cage stereotypies (abnormal, repetitive, unvarying and apparently functionless behaviours) are common in many captive animals, sometimes resulting in self-injury or decreased reproductive success. However, a general mechanistic or neurophysiological understanding of cage stereotypies has proved elusive. In contrast, stereotypies in...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Rodent

Citation: Garner, J. P., Mason, G. J. 2002. Evidence for a relationship between cage stereotypies and behavioural disinhibition in laboratory rodents. Behavioural Brain Research 136, 83-92.

Why every scientist should care about animal welfare: Abnormal repetitive behavior and brain function in captive animals

Barren laboratory housing also induces abnormal behaviors in many species, particularly stereotypies, fur and feather plucking, and self-mutilation. Similar behaviors in human mental disorder are correlated with dysfunction in brain areas that control the selection and sequencing of behavior. Experiments...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: All/General, Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Garner, J. P. 2002. Why every scientist should care about animal welfare: Abnormal repetitive behavior and brain function in captive animals. Proceedings of the World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, 95 (Abstract).

Guinea pig enrichment

Some feeding and inanimate enrichment options are listed.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: White, E., Hartner, M. 2002. Guinea pig enrichment. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 7(1), 7.

A gavage dosing apparatus with flexible catheter provides a less stressful gavage technique in the rat

Oral dosing of rats using a stainless-steel gavage needle can be difficult and, if done improperly, can cause esophageal puncture. The author describes the use of a gavage dosing apparatus that uses a flexible catheter rather than the traditional needle.

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wheatley, J. L. 2002. A gavage dosing apparatus with flexible catheter provides a less stressful gavage technique in the rat. Lab Animal 31(7), 53-56.

Comfortable quarters for gerbils in research institutions

Practical guidelines for the species-adequate housing of gerbils in research facilities. To create adequate quarters for gerbils in research laboratories the following provisions must be made to address the animals basic conditions for well-being: Species-adequate artificial burrow system; Social housin;...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Gerbil, Rodent

Citation: Waiblinger, E. 2002. Comfortable quarters for gerbils in research institutions. In: Comfortable Quarters for Laboratory Animals, Ninth Edition. Reinhardt, V. , Reinhardt, A. (eds.), 18-26. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Intervention with environmental enrichment after experimental brain trauma enhances cognitive recovery in male but not female rats

Motor function was assessed both pre-injury and for the first 5 days after injury. Spatial memory was assessed beginning 14 days after injury.Placement in an EE [environmental enrichment] after TBI [traumatic brain injury] enhanced spatial memory performance in male but...

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

Citation: Wagner, A. K., Kline, A. E., Sokoloski, J. et al. 2002. Intervention with environmental enrichment after experimental braintrauma enhances cognitive recovery in male but not female rats. Neuroscience Letters 334, 165-168.

The effects of environmental enrichment on murine immune response

Breeding pairs in cages that included enrichment (nestlets, jars, a ladder) had significantly fewer litter than the pairs in cages that did not (p

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

Citation: VandeWound, S., Rollin, M., Avery, A. 2002. The effects of environmental enrichment on murine immune response. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(4), 69 (Abstract).

Influence of cage enrichment on aggressive behaviour and physiological parameters in male mice

From welfare perspective group housing of mice is preferred over individual housing. Group housing of male laboratory mice, however, often leads to problems due to excessive aggressive behaviour. ... Overall, nesting material reduced aggressive behaviour, while a shelter increased aggressive...

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

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Kruitwagen, C. L. J. J., Koolhaas, J. M. et al. 2002. Influence of cage enrichment on aggressive behaviour and physiological parameters in male mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 76, 65-81.

Effects of environmental enrichment for mice: Variation in experimental results

Mice from enriched conditions [sawdust bedding, paper, nest box, climbing gird, gnawing blocks, tubes] weight more and consumed more food than mice from standard housing conditions. ... Mice from standard housing conditions were more active in an open field, suggesting...

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

Citation: Van de Weerd, H. A., Aarsen, E. L., Mulder, A. et al. 2002. Effects of environmental enrichment for mice: Variation in experimental results. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 5, 87-109.

Involvement of the brain oxytocin system in stress coping: interactions with the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis

Increase in oxytocin relases from the hypothalamus inhibits HPA axis activation.

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Neumann, I. D. 2002. Involvement of the brain oxytocin system in stress coping: interactions with the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Progress in Brain Research 139, 147-162.