Rodent

A rapid, simple, and humane method for submandibular bleeding of mice using a lancet

Methods for obtaining blood samples frommicetend to be difficult, inhumane, or both. The authors describe an inexpensive, disposable, single-use lancet for submandibular bleeding ofmicethat allows investigators to quickly draw 0.2-0.5 ml of blood without the use of anesthesia.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Golde, W. T., Gollobin, P., Rodriguez, L. L. 2005. A rapid, simple, and humane method for submandibular bleeding of mice using a lancet. Lab Animal 34(9), 39-43.

The Behavior of the Laboratory Rat: A Handbook with Tests

This book contains a wide range of information of huge complexity on rat behavior. The book has three objectives. The first objective is to present an introduction of rat behavior. In choosing the rat as the subject species, the book...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Whishaw, I. Q., Kolb, B. (Eds.) 2004. The Behavior of the Laboratory Rat: A Handbook with Tests. Oxford University Press: New York, NY, 520 pp.

How does the running wheel affect the behaviour and reproduction of golden hamsters kept as pets? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 95, 199-203

Hamster females with a functional wheel showed significantly less climbing and stereotypical bar-mouthing than females with non-functional wheels.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Gebhardt-Henrich, S. G., Vonlanthen. E.M., Steiger, A. 2005. How does the running wheel affect the behaviour and reproduction of golden hamsters kept as pets? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 95, 199-203.

Pair housing affects anxiety-like behaviors induced by a social but not by a physiological stressor in male Swiss mice

Pair housing proved to be effective in modulating anxiety-like behaviour.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gasparotto, O. C., Lopes, D. M., Carobrez, S. G. 2005. Pair housing affects anxiety-like behaviors induced by a social but not by a physiological stressor in male Swiss mice. Physiology and Behavior 85(5), 603-612.

Pair-housing of male and female rats during chronic stress exposure results in gender-specific behavioral responses

In conclusion: pair-housing had a stress-reducing effect on behavior in male rats. Isolation of females was stressful by itself. Pair housing of females was not able to prevent stress-induced behavioral changes completely, but appeared to reduce the effects of chronic...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Westenbroek, C., Snijders, T. A., den Boer, J. A. et al. 2005. Pair-housing of male and female rats during chronic stress exposure results in gender-specific behavioral responses. Hormones and Behavior 47(5), 620-628.

Comparison of technicians’ ability to detect clinical signs in rats housed in solid-bottomed cages with bedding versus wire-bottomed cages

The only difference observed was a diminished ability to detect blue urine from new methylene blue adminstation in wire-bottomed cages. Concerns about the technical staff's inability to detect clinical signs in toxicology tests should not prevent investigators from using solid-bottomed...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Van Vleet, T. R., Rhodes, J. W., Waites, C. R. et al. 2005. Comparison of technicians' ability to detect clinical signs in rats housed in solid-bottomed cages with bedding versus wire-bottomed cages. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 100-101 (Abstract).

Assessment of the use of two commercially available environmental enrichments by laboratory mice by preference testing

All three strains of mice showed a significant preference for the paper box. The paper box was much lighter [20 g] than the plastic box [95 g]. This allowed the mice to move the paper box around, manipulate it and...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Blom, H. J. M., Meijer, M. K. et al. 2005. Assessment of the use of two commercially available environmental enrichments by laboratory mice by preference testing. Laboratory Animals 39, 58-67.

Coping with aggression in group-housed male mice

Groups of three males have been found to show the least aggression because the dominance hierarchy is more stable than in larger groups. Pair housing can increase aggression and is more stressful to the subordinate because he will not receive...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P. 2005. Coping with aggression in group-housed male mice. Animal Technology and Welfare 4, 84-86.

Impact of environmental enrichment in mice

The result of this study suggests that values of body weight, haematological variables .... were not significantly influenced by our enrichment design [nestbox plus climbing structure], but that enrichment seemed [sic] to have effects on the variation and the strain...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Tsai, P. P., Pachowsky, U., Stelzer, H. D. et al. 2005. Impact of environmental enrichment in mice. 1: Effect of housing conditions on body weight, organ weights and haematology in different strains. Animal Technology and Welfare 4(1), 17-23.

Effects of housing density and cage floor space on three strains of young adult inbred mice

Some recommendations in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) are based on best professional judgment. Our current efforts are directed toward replacement with data-driven standards. We demonstrated earlier that young adult C57BL/6J mice could...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Housing, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Smith, A. L., Mabus, S. L., Muir, C. et al. 2005. Effects of housing density and cage floor space on three strains of young adult inbred mice. Comparative Medicine 55(4), 368-376.