Environmental Enrichment

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.

Enrichment slows disease progression in R6/2 Huntington?s disease mice

Housing mice in standard laboratory cages increased the rate of disease progression while housing them in enriched cages slowed the progress to a more 'normal' rate. Mice housed in such deprived conditions are unlikely to prove a good model of...

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

Citation: Hockly, E., Cordery, P. M., Woodman, B. et al. 2002. Enrichment slows disease progression in R6/2 Huntington?s disease mice. Annals of Neurology 51, 235-242.

Innovative housing and environmental enrichment for bullfrogs (Rana catesbiana)

Shelter-providing structures significantly decreased mortality rate and improved the animals' overall appearance.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad

Citation: Hedge, T. A., Saunders, K. E., Ross, C. A. 2002. Innovative housing and environmental enrichment for bullfrogs (Rana catesbiana). Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(4), 120-121(Abstract).

Future improvements and implementation of animal care practices within the animal testing regulatory environment

The enrichment of the animals' environment will not likely affect the interpretation of the results, particularly if adequate controls are used. Appropriate enrichment methods can be chosen to be compatible with the aims of the study [p. 82].

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

Citation: Guittin, P., Decelle, T. 2002. Future improvements and implementation of animal care practices within the animal testing regulatory environment. ILAR Journal 43(Supplement), S80-S84.

Environmental enrichment decreases intravenous amphetamineself-administration in rats: dose-response functions for fixed- andprogressive-ratio schedules

This result suggests that environmental enrichment may be a protective factor for reducing amphetamine intake at a low dose.

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

Citation: Green, T. A., Gehrke, B. J., Bardo, M. T. 2002. Environmental enrichment decreases intravenous amphetamineself-administration in rats: dose-response functions for fixed- andprogressive-ratio schedules. Psychopharmacology 162, 373-378.