Rodent

Modifications to husbandry and housing conditions of laboratory rodents for improved well-being

A review of the literature shows that a consensus on the definition of changes constituting environmental enrichment has yet to be reached. For this reason, the results of studies on the effects of rodent enrichment are inconsistent. In many cases,...

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

Citation: Smith, A. L., Corrow, D. J. 2005. Modifications to husbandry and housing conditions of laboratory rodents for improved well-being. ILAR Journal 46(2), 140-147.

Selective adaptation of male rats to repeated social encounters and experimental manipulations

We concluded that male Sprague-Dawley rats adapted quickly, albeit partially, to social encounters but did not adapt to repeated injections, suggesting selective adaptation depending on the type of stimulus used.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sharp, J., Azar, T., Lawson, D. 2005. Selective adaptation of male rats to repeated social encounters and experimental manipulations. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 44(2), :28-31.

Effects of a cage enrichment program on heart rate, blood pressure, and activity of male sprague-dawley and spontaneously hypertensive rats monitored by radiotelemetry

Enrichment comprised a simulated burrow (Rodent Retreat), then a food foraging item (rat cannoli) 2 days later, and a paper bag of bedding for shredding (Nestpak) after another 2 days. Data were collected under undisturbed conditions and before and after...

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

Citation: Sharp, J., Azar, T., Lawson, D. 2005. Effects of a cage enrichment program on heart rate, blood pressure, and activity of male sprague-dawley and spontaneously hypertensive rats monitored by radiotelemetry. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 44(2), 32-40.

Mice selectively bred for open-field thigmotaxis: life span and stability of the selction traint

THE OPEN-FIELD (OF) TEST, originally developed by Hall (Hall & Ballachey, 1932), is one of the most widely used methods in the study of emotionality in rodents. The test is conducted in an enclosed open area in which the animal...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Selander, R.-K. 2005. Mice selectively bred for open-field thigmotaxis: life span and stability of the selction traint. Journal of General Psychology 132, 187-204.

An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory ? A review

When housing hamsters and gerbils little has been done to identify the preferences of these species. The solitary nature of fat sand rats and hamsters is often discordant with housing practices in animal laboratories. This article provides a comparison of...

Year Published: 2005Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Gerbil, Hamster, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sorensen, D. B., Krohn, T., Hansen, H. N. et al. 2005. An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory ? A review . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 93, 181-195.

Effect of two types of environmental enrichment for singly housed mice on food intake and weight gain

Adult mice showed no change in either food intake or weight gain when an Igloo refuge was introduced into their cage.

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

Citation: Robertson, K. L., Rowland, N. E. 2005. Effect of two types of environmental enrichment for singly housed mice on food intake and weight gain. Lab Animal 34(9), 29-32.

Running wheel choice by Syrian hamsters

The hamsters did not express a preference when offered a choice of a running surface made of metal rods spaced 9 mm apart and a similar running surface covered with plastic mesh to prevent the possible stippage between the rods....

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Reebs, S. G., St-Onge, P. 2005. Running wheel choice by Syrian hamsters. Laboratory Animals 4, 442-451.

New individually ventilated cage system for improved rodent care and welfare

A new IVC with optional climbing platform/tunnel is described.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Rodent

Citation: PrimaTec 2005. New individually ventilated cage system for improved rodent care and welfare. Animal Technology and Welfare 4, 45-47.

Social housing in male mice – impact on experimental anxiety-related behaviour?

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Arndt SS, Laarakker M, Sommer R, et al. 2006. Social housing in male mice - impact on experimental anxiety-related behaviour? Eur Neuropsychopharm. 16(Suppl 4)

Troubles shared are troubles halved: Stress in rats is reduced in proportion to social propinquity

The objectives of this study were to: 1) evaluate how stocking density at the feed bunk affects feeding and social behavior of dairy cows; and 2) determine if this effect is further influenced by the type of feed barrier used....

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Leshem M, Sherman M. 2006. Troubles shared are troubles halved: Stress in rats is reduced in proportion to social propinquity. Physiology and Behav. 89;399-401.