Environmental Enrichment

Environmental influence on recovery after brain lesions – experimental andclinical data

Experimental studies on focal cerebral infarcts in the rat have demonstrated that postischemic environmental enrichment significantly improves functional outcome, increases dendrite branching and number of dendritic spines in the contralateral cortex, influences expression of many genes and modifies lesion-induced stem...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Johansson, B. B. 2003. Environmental influence on recovery after brain lesions - experimental andclinical data. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 41(Supplement), 11-16.

Environmental enrichment decreases nicotine-induced hyperactivity in rats

Environmental enrichment during development reduces the stimulant effect of nicotine.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Green, T. A., Cain, M. E., Thompson, M. et al. 2003. Environmental enrichment decreases nicotine-induced hyperactivity in rats. Psychopharmacology 170, 235-241.

Enrichment enhances spatial memory and increases synaptophysin levels in aged female mice

Female C57BL/6 mice, (4 or 27-28 months), were tested in spatial and cued Morris water maze tasks. Prior to (14 days) and during testing, a subset of aged females was exposed to rodent toys and running wheels for 3h per...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Frick, K. M., Fernandez, S. M. 2003. Enrichment enhances spatial memory and increases synaptophysin levels in aged female mice. Neurobiology of Aging 24, 615-626.

Regional effects of wheel running and environmental enrichment on cell genesis and microglia proliferation in the adult murine neocortex

Voluntary wheel running, in contrast, caused an induction in the proliferation of microglia in superficial cortical layers of several brain regions.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Ehninger, D., Kempermann, G. 2003. Regional effects of wheel running and environmental enrichment on cell genesis and microglia proliferation in the adult murine neocortex. Cerebral Cortex 13, 845-851.

Alterations of neocortical pyramidal cell phenotype in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome: effects of environmental enrichment

Pyramidal cells in environmentally enriched control animals were significantly more branched and more spinous than non-enriched controls. However, environmental enrichment had little effect on pyramidal cell structure in Ts65Dn mice.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Dierssen, M., Benavides-Piccione, R., Martinez-Cue, C. et al. 2003. Alterations of neocortical pyramidal cell phenotype in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome: effects of environmental enrichment. Cerebral Cortex 13, 758-765.

Male management: coping with aggression problems in male laboratory mice

We review results from the literature and our own research with regard to coping with excessive aggressive behaviour in male laboratory mice. Based on this review practical recommendations concerning the housing and care of male laboratory mice are formulated. In...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Van Zutphen, L. F. M., Baumans, V. 2003. Male management: coping with aggression problems in male laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals 37( ), 300-313.

A systematic approach towards developing environmental enrichment for pigs

These results underline the importance of enrichment for pigs which stimulates foraging and explorative behaviour.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Van de Weerd, H. A., Docking, C. M., Day, J. E. L. et al. 2003. A systematic approach towards developing environmental enrichment for pigs . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 84 , 101-118.

Environmental enrichment: effects on stereotyped behavior and neurotrophin levels

These results provide evidence that the enrichment-related prevention of stereotyped behavior in deer mice is associated with increased BDNF in the striatum.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Turner, C. A., Lewis, M. H. 2003. Environmental enrichment: effects on stereotyped behavior and neurotrophin levels. Physiology and Behavior 80, 259-266.

Are the effects of different enrichment designs on the physiology and behaviour of DBA/2 mice consistent?

The present study focuses on the effects of different enrichment designs on the physiology and behaviour of male and female DBA/2 mice. .. Upon arrival at about 3 weeks of age, the animals were randomly allotted to three experimental groups:...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Tsai, P. P., Stelzer, H. D., Hedrich, H. J. et al. 2003. Are the effects of different enrichment designs on the physiology and behaviour of DBA/2 mice consistent? Laboratory Animals 37, 314-327.

Differential effects of environmental enrichment for mice

Data suggest different ways [of] enrichment strategies may be affecting behavioral outcomes and disease progression in a transgenic mouse model.

Year Published: 2003Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Sorrells, A. S., Eckert, K. A., Fahey, A. G. et al. 2003. Differential effects of environmental enrichment for mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 132-133.