Rodent

Lack of negative effects on Syrian hamsters and Mongolian gerbils housed in the same secondary enclosure

In cases where different species might be housed in the same room or secondary enclosure, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends that the animals should be behaviorally compatible and have the same health status. Syrian...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Gerbil, Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Pritchett-Corning, K. R., Gaskill, B. N. 2015. Lack of negative effects on Syrian hamsters and Mongolian gerbils housed in the same secondary enclosure. JAALAS 54(3), 261-266.

Effects of changing to individually ventilated caging on guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of changing to IVC housing on guinea pigs by recording several physiologic parameters in guinea pigs housed sequentially in open-top cages (OTC) and IVC. To register heart rate and locomotor...

Year Published: 2015Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Giral, M., Amengol, C., Sanchez-Gomez, S. et al. 2015. Effects of changing to individually ventilated caging on guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). JAALAS 54(3), 267-272.

Characteristics of vibration that alter cardiovascular parameters in mice

We hypothesized that short-term exposure of mice to vibration within a frequency range thought to be near the resonant frequency range of mouse tissue and at an acceleration of 0 to 1 m/s2 would alter heart rate (HR) and mean...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Li, Y., Rabey, K. N., Schmitt, D. et al. 2015. Characteristics of vibration that alter cardiovascular parameters in mice. JAALAS 54(4), 372-377.

Using the mouse grimace scale to assess pain associated with routine ear notching and the effect of analgesia in laboratory mice

Social housing is recommended where possible for laboratory mice. In order to achieve this, mice must be individually identifiable. Although, various methods are available, permanent identification is often required, such as ear notching. This method is likely to be painful...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Analgesia, Identification MethodAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Miller, A. L., Leach, M. C. 2015. Using the mouse grimace scale to assess pain associated with routine ear notching and the effect of analgesia in laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals 49(2), 117-120.

Versatile 3-D printed headstage implant for group housing of rodents

An unfavourable yet necessary side-effect of stereotaxic surgery involves the social isolation of post-surgery rats, in order to protect their wound site or skull-mounted implant from damage. Social isolation can cause a myriad of behavioural and physiological changes that are...

Year Published: 2016Topics: External Bodily Equipment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Pinnell, R. C., Almajidy, R. K., Hofmann, U. G. 2016. Versatile 3-D printed headstage implant for group housing of rodents. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 257, 134-138.

The effects of witnessing managemental procedures during the light versus the dark phase of the light cycle on behaviour, performance and welfare of laboratory rats

Research has indicated that witnessing managemental procedures are stressful to laboratory rats. Yet there has been little investigation into whether the time of witnessing these procedures affects behaviour and welfare in these animals. Ninety-six rats, representing two batches, were used...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Abou-Ismail, U. A., Mohamed, R. A., El-Kholya, S. Z. 2015. The effects of witnessing managemental procedures during the light versus the dark phase of the light cycle on behaviour, performance and welfare of laboratory rats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 162, 47-57.

Social support does not require attachment: Any conspecific tranquilizes isolated guinea-pig pups

Guinea pig pups produce typical distress whistles when isolated. Whistles' frequency is decreased or abolished when they contact with the mother and, to a lesser degree, a sibling or even an unfamiliar female, is regained. Those non-aggressive companions were considered...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, VocalizationAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Tokumaru, R. S., Ades, C., Monticelli, P. F. 2015. Social support does not require attachment: Any conspecific tranquilizes isolated guinea-pig pups. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 171, 197-203.

Effects of stereotypic behaviour and chronic mild stress on judgement bias in laboratory mice

Cognitive processes are influenced by underlying affective states, and tests of cognitive bias have recently been developed to assess the valence of affective states in animals. These tests are based on the fact that individuals in a negative affective state...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Novak, J., Stojanovski, K., Melotti, L. et al. 2016. Effects of stereotypic behaviour and chronic mild stress on judgement bias in laboratory mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 174, 162-172.

Effects of type of light on mouse circadian behaviour and stress levels

Light is the principal synchronizing environmental factor for the biological clock. Light quantity (intensity), and light quality (type of light source) can have different effects. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the type of light...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Alves-Simoes, M., Coleman, G., Canal, M. M. 2016. Effects of type of light on mouse circadian behaviour and stress levels. Laboratory Animals 50(1), 21-29.

Assessing the welfare of laboratory mice in their home environment using animal-based measures – a benchmarking tool

Welfare problems in laboratory mice can be a consequence of an ongoing experiment, or a characteristic of a particular genetic line, but in some cases, such as breeding animals, they are most likely to be a result of the design...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Spangenberg, E. M. F., Keeling, L. J. 2016. Assessing the welfare of laboratory mice in their home environment using animal-based measures - a benchmarking tool. Laboratory Animals 50(1), 30-38.