Environmental Enrichment

Animal care best practices for regulatory testing

General discussion of environmental enrichment. Many laboratory animal species, especially dogs and nonhuman primates, lose interest and stop using a particular device after exposure to it for some time (authors' experiences). It is best to have an array of several...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Fillman-Holliday, D., Landi, M. S. 2002. Animal care best practices for regulatory testing. ILAR Journal 43(Supplement), S49-S58.

Multiple sensory stimuli enrichment for chaired monkeys

Compartmentalized, sheltered, outdoor group-housing units were designed and 9 new groups established. Nineteen animals (6.4%) have been removed for injuries. We believe that one reason for this low [sic] rate of aggression is the presence of three distinct sections, which...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental Enrichment, RestraintAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Coleman, K., Buttrick, J. L., Rawlins, J. et al. 2002. Multiple sensory stimuli enrichment for chaired monkeys. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(4), 117 (Abstract).

Effects of structural enrichment on the activity of a group of red ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata rubra)

New horizontal and vertical supports have been introduced into the enclosure. The animals have shown a total change in their activities.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Lemur, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Caltran, E., Grassi, D., Perbellini, R. et al. 2002. Effects of structural enrichment on the activity of a group of red ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata rubra). Folia Primatologica 73(6), 325. (Primate Meeting Abstract)

Environmental enrichment for rodents and rabbits

Access to a nestlet - which was shredded - and Mouse Igloo probably reduced anxiety and has also helped to decrease mortality in transgenic mice.Placing a Mouse Igloo and a tunnel into the cage of group-housed male mice abolished fighting....

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Biczak, M., Pellecchia, D. 2002. Environmental enrichment for rodents and rabbits. TriBranch Symposium 2002 , unpublished poster presentation.

The latest in definitions

Environmental enrichment is a process for improving or enhancing animal environments and care within the context of the inhabitants biology and natural history. It is a dynamic process in which changes to structures and husbandry practices are made with the...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Anonymous 2002. The latest in definitions. The Shape of Enrichment 11(1).

Environmental enrichment reverses the effects of maternal separation onstress reactivity

Postnatal maternal separation increases hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) gene expression and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and behavioral responses to stress. We report here that environmental enrichment during the peripubertal period completely reverses the effects of maternal separation on both HPA and behavioral...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Francis, D. D., Diorio, J., Plotsky, P. M. et al. 2002. Environmental enrichment reverses the effects of maternal separation onstress reactivity. Journal of Neuroscience 22, 7840-7843.

Early-life handling stimulation and environmental enrichment: Are some of their effects mediated by similar neural mechanisms? Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 73(1), 233-245

Neonatal (early) handling (EH) and environmental enrichment (EE) of laboratory rodents have been the two most commonly used methods of providing supplementary environmental stimulation in order to study behavioral and neurobiological plasticity. A large body of research has been generated...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HandlingAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Fernández-Teruel, A., Giménez-Llort, L., Escorihuela, R. M. et al. 2002. Early-life handling stimulation and environmental enrichment: Are some of their effects mediated by similar neural mechanisms? Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 73(1), 233-245.

Psychological stress and environmental adaptation in enriched vs. impoverished housed rats

The enrichment effect on emotional reactivity in the open-field is long-lasting.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Larsson, F., Winblad, B., Mohammed, A. H. 2002. Psychological stress and environmental adaptation in enriched vs. impoverished housed rats. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 73, 193-207.

Developing and testing a novel cage insert, the Mouse House , designed to enrich the lives of laboratory mice without adversely affecting the science

The 'Mouse House' should satisfy requirements for both environmental enrichment and legislation suggesting the use of cage inserts that allow privacy for the animal but facilitate observation. Bar biting was significantly increased [sic] when the 'Mouse House' was provided.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Key, D., Hewett, A. 2002. Developing and testing a novel cage insert, the Mouse House , designed to enrich the lives of laboratory mice without adversely affecting the science. Animal Technology and Welfare 1, 55-64.

Neuronal plasticity and dendritic spines: effect of environmental enrichment on intact and postischemic rat brain

Housing rats in an enriched environment significantly increases spine density in superficial cortical layers in intact and lesioned brain.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Johansson, B. B., Belichenko, P. V. 2002. Neuronal plasticity and dendritic spines: effect of environmentalenrichment on intact and postischemic rat brain. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 22, 89-96.