Rodent

Energy reallocation to breeding performance through improved behavioral thermoregulation

Mice are housed at temperatures which increase their basal metabolic rates and impose high energy demands to maintain core temperatures. Thus, energy may be reallocated from other biologic processes to increase heat production. We hypothesized that nesting material will allow...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gaskill, B., Garner, J. P., Pritchett-Corning, K. 2011. Energy reallocation to breeding performance through improved behavioral thermoregulation. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 771 (Abstract #P120).

The effect of cage enrichment on fluctuating asymmetry and fecal corticosterone of group-housed laboratory mice

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) represents small, random deviations from symmetry in bilaterally symmetrical anatomic characteristics, is highly correlated with the amount of stress during development, and thus, is considered as a potential welfare indicator. In the present study, female BALB/c mice...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Niu, Y., Zhang, M., Liu, J. 2011. The effect of cage enrichment on fluctuating asymmetry and fecal corticosterone of group-housed laboratory mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 740 (Abstract #PS91).

Using olive oil to orally dose laboratory rats

Many compounds are orally administered to laboratory rats using the gavage technique. This technique is stressful for the animal and can cause injury or death if performed incorrectly. Often compounds are suspended in food oils such as corn oil for...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Fitchett, A., Judge, S., Morris, C. 2011. Using olive oil to orally dose laboratory rats. Animal Technology and Welfare 10(1), 39-41.

Decline in aggression in cotton rats through enrichment

The tubes provide shelter and nesting material to the rats, allowing them to exhibit species-specific behaviors. The change in the animals' behavior has been overwhelming. The rats are much less aggressive; in one year, fight wounds in our cotton rats...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Neubauer, T., Buckmaster, C. 2011. Decline in aggression in cotton rats through enrichment. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 16(4), 2-3.

Effects of environmental enrichment on the production of C57BL/6 mice kept in different housing systems

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of environmental enrichment on the performance of C57BL/6 mice kept in conventional animal facilities (open cage; OC) and individually ventilated caging system (IVC). We analyzed the interactions between treatments (enrichment...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Neves, S. 2011. Effects of environmental enrichment on the production of C57BL/6 mice kept in different housing systems. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 788 (Abstract #P201).

Simply a nest? Effects of different enrichments on stereotypic and anxiety-related behaviour in mice

Improving the home cages of laboratory mice by environmental enrichment has been widely used to reduce cage stereotypies and anxiety-related behaviour in behavioural tests. However, enrichment studies differ substantially in type, complexity and variation of enrichments. Therefore, it is unclear...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Nam-Mi Gross, A., Engela, A. K. J., Würbel, H. 2011. Simply a nest? Effects of different enrichments on stereotypic and anxiety-related behaviour in mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 134(3-4), 239-245 .

Is full physical contact necessary for buffering effects of pair housing on social stress in rats?

Our previous study showed that pair housing with a familiar male prevented an increase in anxiety caused by social defeat in male rats. The present study attempted to identify the aspects of social interactions with a familiar male that are...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Nakayasu, T., Kato, K. 2011. Is full physical contact necessary for buffering effects of pair housing on social stress in rats? Behavioural Processes 86(2), 230-235.

Factors influencing the preferred nesting location of laboratory mice

Understanding the preferred nesting location of laboratory mice within the cage may serve as a useful, objective, behavioral assessment tool. To determine if caging ventilation rates influenced nesting location, we observed nesting site (front, middle, or rear) within the cage,...

Year Published: 2011Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Scales, M., McDonald, K. M. 2011. Factors influencing the preferred nesting location of laboratory mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 773 (Abstract #P128).

Environmental enrichment program in transgenic mouse breeding colonies

Results of studies on the benefits of environmental enrichment in group-housed mice and breeding colonies are often inconsistent and conflicting. After observing a significant drop in some of the genetically engineered mice (GEM) breeding colonies during a major construction project...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Reed, M., Goldsteen, D. L., Moore, E. et al. 2011. Environmental enrichment program in transgenic mouse breeding colonies. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 779 (Abstract #P160).

Nylon cylinder: Safe and cost-effective chewable rat enrichment

Offering enrichment to stimulate chewing behavior in rats has been found to promote psychologic and physiologic wellbeing. While there are many commercially produced nylon products available for use as chewable enrichment, these items are costly, especially with current economic constraints....

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Witt, S. L., Plews, C. A., Ruppert, G. et al. 2011. Nylon cylinder: Safe and cost-effective chewable rat enrichment. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 782 (Abstract #P174).