Rodent

Does cage size affect heart rate and blood pressure of male rats at rest or after procedures that induce stress-like responses?

Close interaction between group-housed rats appears to be more important to stress reduction than is providing increased floor space per animal.

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sharp, J. L., Azar, T., Lawson, D. 2003. Does cage size affect heart rate and blood pressure of male rats at rest or after procedures that induce stress-like responses? Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(3), 8-12.

Gender-specific effects of social housing in rats after chronic mild stress exposure

These results show that social housing can enhance coping with stress in female rats, whereas in male rats group housing did not have a positive influence on stress-sensitivity.

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Westenbroek, C., Ter Horst, G. J., Roos, M. H. et al. 2003. Gender-specific effects of social housing in rats after chronic mild stress exposure. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 27(1), 21-30.

Strain-specific aggressive behaviour of male mice submitted to different husbandry procedures

We used postcleaning aggressive behavior, wound counts, and testosterone levels as indicators of aggressiveness. .. Furthermore, the aggression-modulating effects of two enrichment items (ShepherdShack/DesRes and PVC tube) were explored. Marked differences found between the two strains. CD-1 mice were more...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Van der Meer, E., Kruitwagen, C. L. J. J. et al. 2003. Strain-specific aggressive behaviour of male mice submitted to different husbandry procedures. Aggressive Behavior 29, 69-80.

Male management: coping with aggression problems in male laboratory mice

We review results from the literature and our own research with regard to coping with excessive aggressive behaviour in male laboratory mice. Based on this review practical recommendations concerning the housing and care of male laboratory mice are formulated. In...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Van Zutphen, L. F. M., Baumans, V. 2003. Male management: coping with aggression problems in male laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals 37( ), 300-313.

Access to enriched housing is rewarding to rats as reflected by their anticipatory behaviour

The strong increase in activity in anticipation of both an enriched cage and sexual contact and the similar response in terms of the behavioural elements analysed indicate that the appraisal of access to an enriched cage shares a common denominator...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: van der Harst, J. E., Fermont, P. C. J., Bilstra, A. E. et al. 2003. Access to enriched housing is rewarding to rats as reflected by their anticipatory behaviour. Animal Behaviour 66, 493-504 .

Environmental enrichment: effects on stereotyped behavior and neurotrophin levels

These results provide evidence that the enrichment-related prevention of stereotyped behavior in deer mice is associated with increased BDNF in the striatum.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Turner, C. A., Lewis, M. H. 2003. Environmental enrichment: effects on stereotyped behavior and neurotrophin levels. Physiology and Behavior 80, 259-266.

The trial of solid floor inserts in grid floored cages for the use in 28 and 90 day repeated dose studies in the rat

No preference for solid floors over grid floors was observed. Our intention, therefore, is to retain the grid floor caging systems currently used with the inclusion of cardobard 'fun tunnels' and wood chew blocks.

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Trussell, M. A., Blackwell, M. P. 2003. The trial of solid floor inserts in grid floored cages for the use in 28 and 90 day repeated dose studies in the rat. Animal Technology and Welfare 2, 135-137.

The effects of different rack systems on the breeding performance of DBA/2 mice

The presence of nesting material, a wood bar and a nest box was associated with a decrease in the number of pups born in mice kept in closed-system cages with exhaust ventilation

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Tsai, P. P., Oppermann, D., Stelzer, H. D. et al. 2003. The effects of different rack systems on the breeding performance of DBA/2 mice. Laboratory Animals 37, 44-53.

Are the effects of different enrichment designs on the physiology and behaviour of DBA/2 mice consistent?

The present study focuses on the effects of different enrichment designs on the physiology and behaviour of male and female DBA/2 mice. .. Upon arrival at about 3 weeks of age, the animals were randomly allotted to three experimental groups:...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Tsai, P. P., Stelzer, H. D., Hedrich, H. J. et al. 2003. Are the effects of different enrichment designs on the physiology and behaviour of DBA/2 mice consistent? Laboratory Animals 37, 314-327.

Differential effects of environmental enrichment for mice

Data suggest different ways [of] enrichment strategies may be affecting behavioral outcomes and disease progression in a transgenic mouse model.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Sorrells, A. S., Eckert, K. A., Fahey, A. G. et al. 2003. Differential effects of environmental enrichment for mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 132-133.