Rodent

Use of environmentally enriched housing for rats with spinal cord injury: the need for standardization

In the present study, environmental enrichment did not improve the locomotion of rats with contusion thoracic SCI. Determining the effectiveness of environmental enrichment to improve locomotor recovery in the SCI model requires standardization of housing procedures, outcome measures, and analyses.

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Burke, D. A., Magnuson, D. S. K., Nunn, C. D. et al. 2007. Use of environmentally enriched housing for rats with spinal cord injury: the need for standardization. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 46(2).

Ultrasonic vocalizations as indicators of welfare for laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Adult laboratory rats produce two distinct types of ultrasonic vocalization (USV) that appear to reflect the caller's emotional state, either positive (50 kHz) or negative (22 kHz). If these calls can influence the emotional state and related behaviour of group-mates,...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Burman, O. H. P., Ilyat, A., Jones, G. et al. 2007. Ultrasonic vocalizations as indicators of welfare for laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 104(1-2), 116-129.

Environmental enrichment: mirrors, music, toys, paper-based items and wooden objects

The literature suggests that mirrors may be useful to buffer isolation stress in some species. We do not really know if being forced to listen to loud music of the personnel's liking is also to the animals' liking. If it...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General, Dog, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment: mirrors, music, toys, paper-based items and wooden objects. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 60-71. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Environmental enrichment: Shelter and nesting material for rodents and rabbits; bedding for rodents

The needs for a shelter and nesting material of mice and rats are quite different. Building their own nests is almost a must for mice, and the nest will then also be used as a retreat. For rats, access to...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment:Shelter and nesting material for rodents and rabbits; bedding for rodents. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 74-79. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Environmental enrichment for ferrets, guinea pigs and rabbits

You do not have to spend a lot of money to make ferrets happy. Empty bedding bags were a great hit! They also enjoyed rolling around small cat balls with bells in them, though they destroyed them rapidly and, hence,...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Ferret, Guinea Pig, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment for ferrets, guinea pigs and rabbits. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 87-90. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Capture of group-housed animals

Rats, mice and rabbits can be induced to come forward and be picked up by luring them with a food reward. Guinea pigs tend to be more timid but will run into a shelter in which they can then be...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Cat, Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Capture of group-housed animals. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 104-106. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Environmental enrichment effects on development of retinal ganglion cell dendritic stratification require retinal BDNF

A well-known developmental event of retinal maturation is the progressive segregation of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dendrites into a and b sublaminae of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), a morphological rearrangement crucial for the emergence of the ON and OFF...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Landi, S., Cenni, M. C., Maffei, L. et al. 2007. Environmental enrichment effects on development of retinal ganglion cell dendritic stratification require retinal BDNF. PLOS ONE 2(4), e346.

The importance of exposure to other male scents in determining competitive behaviour among inbred male mice

We investigated the effect of repeated exposure to soiled bedding from males of either the same or different strain on competitive urine counter-marking and investigation and on aggressive behaviour within same-strain pairs of BALB/c and C57BL/6 males. Males pre-exposed to...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Lacey, J. C., Beynon, R. J., Hurst, J. L. 2007. The importance of exposure to other male scents in determining competitive behaviour among inbred male mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 104(1-2), 130-142.

The influence of the location of a nest box in an individually ventilated cage on the preference of mice to use it

The study concluded that the location of the nest boxes in the individually ventilated cage (on the cage floor or hung from the cage lid) can give animals a choice to modify their environment and to choose what to use...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kostomitsopoulos, N. G., Paronis, E., Alexakos, P. et al. 2007. The influence of the location of a nest box in an individually ventilated cage on the preference of mice to use it. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 10(2), 111-121.

Guidelines for the assessment and management of pain in rodents and rabbits

This paper presents an overview of current concepts of pain and provides recommendations for the assessment, prevention and treatment of pain in rodents and rabbits. Also provided are guidelines for developing pain management protocols, tables describing the potential physiologic effects...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Kohn, D. F., Martin, T. E., Foley, P. L. et al. 2007. Guidelines for the assessment and management of pain in rodents and rabbits. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 46(2).