Rodent

Comparison of physiological parameters and anaesthesia specific observations during isoflurane, ketamine-xylazine or medetomidine-midazolam-fentanyl anaesthesia in male guinea pigs

Guinea pigs (GPs) are difficult to anaesthetize successfully, the choices for anaesthesia are limited and physiological parameters are likely to be influenced substantially under anaesthesia. We implanted blood pressure radio-telemetry devices into 16 male GPs and subjected them to anaesthesia...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Schmitz, S., Tacke, S., Guth, B. et al. 2016. Comparison of physiological parameters and anaesthesia specific observations during isoflurane, ketamine-xylazine or medetomidine-midazolam-fentanyl anaesthesia in male guinea pigs. PLOS ONE 11(9), e0161258.

Automated recording of home cage activity and temperature of individual rats housed in social groups: The Rodent Big Brother project

Measuring the activity and temperature of rats is commonly required in biomedical research. Conventional approaches necessitate single housing, which affects their behavior and wellbeing. We have used a subcutaneous radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponder to measure ambulatory activity and temperature of...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Redfern, W. S., Tse, K., Grant, C. et al. 2017. Automated recording of home cage activity and temperature of individual rats housed in social groups: The Rodent Big Brother project. PLOS ONE 12(9), e0181068.

Enriched environment and stress exposure influence splenic B lymphocyte composition

Prolonged chronic stress has deleterious effects on immune function and is associated with numerous negative health outcomes. The spleen harbors one-fourth of the body's lymphocytes and mediates both innate and adaptive immune responses. However, the subset of splenic lymphocytes that...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gurfein, B. T., Hasdemir, B., Milush, J. M. et al. 2017. Enriched environment and stress exposure influence splenic B lymphocyte composition. PLOS ONE 12(7), e0180771.

Assessment of housing density, space allocation and social hierarchy of laboratory rats on behavioural measures of welfare

Minimum space allowances for laboratory rats are legislated based on weight and stocking rates, with the understanding that increased housing density encourages crowding stress. However, there is little evidence for these recommendations, especially when considering positive welfare outcomes. This study...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Barker, T. H., George, R. P., Howarth, G. S. et al. 2017. Assessment of housing density, space allocation and social hierarchy of laboratory rats on behavioural measures of welfare. PLOS ONE 12(9), e0185135.

Severity classification of repeated isoflurane anesthesia in C57BL/6JRj mice—Assessing the degree of distress

According to the EU Directive 2010/63, the severity of a procedure has to be classified as mild, moderate or severe. General anesthesia is thought to be mild, but the Directive does not differentiate between single and repeated anesthesia. Therefore, we...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hohlbaum, K., Bert, B., Dietze, S. et al. 2017. Severity classification of repeated isoflurane anesthesia in C57BL/6JRj mice—Assessing the degree of distress. PLOS ONE 12(6), e0179588.

A study of the spontaneous activity of guinea pigs

Year Published: 1922Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Nicholls, E. E. 1922. A study of the spontaneous activity of guinea pigs. Journal of Comparative Psychology 2, 303-330.

Studies of the thyroid apparatus. I. The stability of the nervous system as a factor in the resistance of the albino rat to the loss of the parathyroid secretion.

The relative mortality subsequent to thyroparathyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy of rats was much lower (13%) in animals who had been handled compared with animals who had not been handled (79%).

Year Published: 1921Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hammett, F. S. 1921. Studies of the thyroid apparatus. I. The stability of the nervous system as a factor in the resistance of the albino rat to the loss of the parathyroid secretion. American Journal of Physiology 56, 196-204.

Fancy Mice, Fifth Edition

Adult males, on the other hand, must be housed separately, for, if put together, they will fight to the death. As already mentioned, young males of the same litter if never separated from birth may live together for some time,...

Year Published: 1912Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Davies, C. J. 1912. Fancy Mice, Fifth Edition. L Upcott Gill, London, UK.

Brief exposure to novel or enriched environments reduces sucrose cue-reactivity and consumption in rats after 1 or 30 days of forced abstinence from self-administration

Environmental enrichment (EE) reduces drug and sucrose cue-reactivity in rats. In a previous study we reported that 1 month of EE (large cage, toys, and social cohorts) significantly reduced sucrose cue-reactivity. In the present study, we examined whether overnight (22...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Grimm, J. W., Weber, R., Barnes, J. et al. 2013. Brief exposure to novel or enriched environments reduces sucrose cue-reactivity and consumption in rats after 1 or 30 days of forced abstinence from self-administration. PLOS ONE 8(1), e54164.

Differences in anticipatory behaviour between rats (Rattus norvegicus) housed in standard versus semi-naturalistic laboratory environments

Laboratory rats are usually kept in relatively small cages, but research has shown that they prefer larger and more complex environments. The physiological, neurological and health effects of standard laboratory housing are well established, but fewer studies have addressed the...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Makowska, I. J., Weary, D. M. 2016. Differences in anticipatory behaviour between rats (Rattus norvegicus) housed in standard versus semi-naturalistic laboratory environments. PLOS ONE 11(1), e0147595.