Animal Welfare Information Center United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library
Information Resources on the Care and Welfare of Rodents

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Husbandry/Care/Handling/Enrichment

Adu, E.K., W.S. Alhassan, and F.S. Nelson (1999). Smallholder farming of the greater cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck, in southern Ghana: a baseline survey of management practices. Tropical Animal Health and Production 31(4): 223-32. ISSN: 0049-4747.
Abstract: Baseline management practices and productivity of captive greater cane rats were studied between February and July 1992 using questionnaires with 33 practising and former farmers in 16 villages in three regions in southern Ghana. The colony sizes were relatively small, ranging between 1 and 96, with nearly a 100% farmer drop-out rate. The mean litter size of the greater cane rats in this study was 4.8+/-0.13, with the young being weaned at 8.8 weeks old. Although nearly all the farmers interviewed (90.9%) had long-term commercial intentions, a number of problems militating against their objectives were encountered. These included lack of technical support on proper management practices for efficient production, housing design, dry season feeding, sex determination and the acquisition of foundation stock. In conclusion, these studies have shown the generally poor state of the greater cane rat industry in Ghana, which requires research into almost all aspects of the productivity of this animal under captive breeding.
Descriptors: animal husbandry methods, Rodentia physiology, agriculture, animal feed, animal husbandry standards, Ghana, housing, animal, litter size, questionnaires, reproduction, sex characteristics.

Ahn, D.C. and M.S. Kwon [A simple restraint technique with a fenestrated drapes for repeated subcutaneous injection in rats]. Korean Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 17(2): 125-128. ISSN: 1225-813X.
Abstract: A quiet restraint technique should be applied to rats in case of repeated subcutaneous injection with irritable drug in order to maintain the convenience to handling. The holding method with hands or the restraint technique with a commercial restrainer for rat brought difficulty about injection. As a rodents have a behavior to like the darkness, we devised a simple restraint technique with fenestrated drapes, in which a restrainer covered a rat with the cloth to feel relief, firstly, and pressed the cloth with 'C'-shape hands except for central hole exposing the rat skin for subcutaneous injection.
Descriptors: rats, injection, application methods, mammals, Rodentia, restraint, subcutaneous.
Language of Text: Korean with Korean and English summaries.

Alderton, D. (2002). Family Pet Guides: Hamster, 128 p.
Descriptors: hamster, behavior, breeding, feeding, housing, husbandry, parasites, guide.

Ambrose, N. and D.B. Morton (2000). The use of cage enrichment to reduce male mouse aggression. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 3(2): 117-125. ISSN: 1088-8705.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.J68
Descriptors: mice, male animals, aggressive behavior, enrichment, stimuli, olfactory stimulation, urine, cage cleaning, environmental enrichment.

Applebee, K. (2002). Rodent environmental enrichment - animal welfare or human feel-good factor. Animal Technology and Welfare 1(2): 65-69, 76, 78, 80. ISSN: 0264-4754.
NAL Call Number: SF757.A62
Descriptors: rodent, environmental enrichment, animal welfare, rats, caging, behavior, litter, furniture.
Language of Text: German, Spanish, and French summaries.

Arnold, C. and R.D. Westbrook (1997-1998). Enrichment in group-housed laboratory golden hamsters. Animal Welfare Information Center Newsletter 8(3-4): 22-24. ISSN: 1050-561X.
Online: http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/newsletters/v8n3/8n3arnol.htm
NAL Call Number: aHV4701.A952
Descriptors: golden hamsters, group size, aggressive behavior, sex differences, age differences.

Arnold, J.L. and S.M. Siviy (2002). Effects of neonatal handling and maternal separation on rough-and-tumble play in the rat. Developmental Psychobiology 41(3): 205-15. ISSN: 0012-1630.
Descriptors: maternal behavior, animals, newborn, behavior, animal, play and playthings, Sprague Dawley rats, sex factors, stress, psychological psychology, weaning.

Artwohl, J., T. Hill, C. Comer, and T. Park (2002). Naked mole-rats: unique opportunities and husbandry challenges. Laboratory Animals 31(5): 32-36. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Descriptors: naked mole rats, husbandry, challenges, housing, handling, enrichment.

Augustsson, H., L. Lindberg, and K. Dahlborn (2000). Free-range laboratory rats: effects on activity, welfare and human-animal interaction. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 170(4): A108-A109. ISSN: 0001-6772.
Descriptors: laboratory rats, activity, animal care, behavior, animal welfare, free range, environmental enrichment, food intake, group housing, handling effects, human animal interactions.
Notes: Meeting Information: Joint Meeting of the Scandinavian and American Physiological Societies, August 16-19, 2000, Stockholm, Sweden.

Augustsson, H., L. Lindberg, A.U. Hoglund, and K. Dahlborn (2002). Human-animal interactions and animal welfare in conventionally and pen-housed rats. Laboratory Animals 36(3): 271-281. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: The main aim of the present study was to explore the significance of large group/greater pen housing (PH) versus standard Makrolon caging (ST) in three behaviour tests related to human-animal interactions in the adult male laboratory rat. The rats' perception of human interaction was tested in three behavioural tests, of which two reflected common practical procedures, capture and restraint, whereas the third was a human approach test in a Y-maze. The rats' anticipatory reactions to handling and the reactions to restraint did not differ between groups, but the ST rats approached a human hand more quickly than did the PH rats (P < 0.01). Although food intake did not differ, ST rats gained more weight (P < 0.01) and had higher total cholesterol values (P < 0.01) than PH rats. In conclusion, this study shows that housing rats in large groups in an enriched environment did not influence their anticipatory reaction to handling in normal handling situations. However, as the PH rats tended to have a longer approach latency than ST rats in the Y-maze there might be underlying differences in appraisal that are not detected in practical situations. In addition, the PH rats weighed less and had lower total cholesterol values than ST rats and their urine corticosterone values were higher. These effects are suggested to be due to higher physical activity in the PH rats, and the implications of this on the animal as a model is discussed.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory mammals, animal behavior, animal welfare, pens, cages, group size, male animals, capture of animals, restraint of animals, fearfulness, feed intake, liveweight gain, blood lipids, cholesterol, urine analysis, corticosterone, physical activity.

Auvergne, R., C. Lere, B. El Bahh, S. Arthaud, V. Lespinet, A. Rougier, and G. Le Gal La Salle (2002). Delayed kindling epileptogenesis and increased neurogenesis in adult rats housed in an enriched environment. Brain Research 954(2): 277-285. ISSN: 0006-8993.
Abstract: Environmental risk factors such as stressful experiences have long been recognized to affect seizure susceptibility, but little attention has been paid to the potential effects of improving housing conditions. In this study, we investigated the influence of an enriched environment on epileptogenesis. Epileptic susceptibility was assessed in animals housed in an enriched environment either before and during (group I) or only during (group II) a kindling procedure and in animals placed in isolated conditions (group III). The kindling paradigm provides a reliable assessment of the capacity to develop seizures following repeated daily low-frequency electrical stimulations. As both enriched environment and seizures are known to interfere with hippocampal neurogenesis, the number of newly generated dentate cells was assessed before and after the kindling procedure to investigate in more detail the relationship between epileptogenesis and neurogenesis. We found that susceptibility to developing epilepsy differed in animals housed in complex enriched environments and in those housed in isolated conditions. Kindling epileptogenesis occurred significantly later in animals housed in enriched conditions throughout the procedure (group I) than in animals from groups II and III. We also demonstrated that cells generated during kindling survived for at least 42 days and that these cells were more numerous on both sides of the brain following environmental enrichment than in rats housed in isolated conditions. As similar values were obtained regardless of the duration of the period of enrichment, these cellular changes may not play a major role in delaying kindling development. We suggest that the increase response in neurogenesis following seizures may be an adaptative rather an epileptogenic response.
Descriptors: kindling, neurogenesis, seizures, environmental factors, social environment, isolation, rats.

Awasthi, P.R., C.F. French, J. Sztein, R. Bedigian, J.J. Sharp, and K.C. Lloyd (2003). Frozen sperm as an alternative to shipping live mice. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(5): 8-11. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Abstract: Dissemination of live mice by air and/or ground shipping is costly and can result in spread of disease between senders' and recipients' colonies. Transporting cryopreserved sperm that can be recovered and used for deriving live mice by using assisted reproductive techniques may be a more economical, efficient, and safer alternative to shipping live animals. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that sperm cryopreserved at one location and then transported transcontinentally via a common package delivery service using both air and ground transport to a second location could be recovered for in vitro fertilization (IVF) to successfully derive liveborn offspring at the second location. Split aliquots of sperm from individual mice were tested at both senders' and recipients' locations by using similar cryopreservation and IVF procedures, in order to control for differences in handling procedures. At both senders' locations, fertilization rates using cryopreserved sperm were lower than those using fresh sperm. However, fertilization rates using sperm recovered after cryopreservation at the senders' locations were not significantly different than those obtained when the same cryopreserved sperm was recovered and used at the recipients' locations. At the one location where tested, the numbers of pups born and subsequently weaned after IVF using either shipped or nonshipped cryopreserved sperm were similar. We conclude that cryopreserved sperm can be transported between different facilities and used for IVF to successfully derive liveborn mice.
Descriptors: animal use alternatives methods, cryopreservation, semen preservation, spermatozoa, tissue and organ harvesting methods, transportation, fertilization in vitro, mice, inbred mice strains, pregnancy outcome, reproducibility of results.

Baamonde, C., M.A. Lumbreras, C. Martinez Cue, I.F. Vallina, J. Florez, and M. Dierssen (2002). Postnatal handling induces long-term modifications in central beta-noradrenergic signalling in rats. Stress (Amsterdam) 5(2): 137-47. ISSN: 1025-3890.
Abstract: Neonatal handling has been shown to induce a short-term reduction in the binding properties of beta-adrenoceptors and in their primary biochemical responses in the young rat brain, which may account for the reduced responsiveness to stress observed in the handled rats. We have studied the persistence and duration of these changes in cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus at successive stages of life in neonatally handled rats. Binding properties of the beta-adrenoceptors in handled animals were essentially similar to those of the control rats from 3 to 24 months of age. However, handling disturbed the efficacy of the beta-adrenoceptor intracellular signalling since the isoprenaline-induced accumulation of cyclic AMP was reduced in cerebral cortex at 1, 12 and 24 months; in cerebellum at 12 and 18 months; and in hippocampus at 3 and 12 months. This effect might be partially dependent on a regulatory action of handling on the adenylyl cyclase enzyme itself since both basal and forskolin-induced accumulation of cyclic AMP were persistently reduced. Therefore, postnatal handling can be considered as an effective intervention that modifies sensitivity to various hormonal and neurochemical signals; these changes may be involved over a long period of time in protection against an excessive response to stress. These results suggest that the long-lasting adaptation of the adenylyl cyclase transduction system, which affects the primary biochemical response of the beta-adrenoceptor, may participate in the effects of this manipulation.
Descriptors: newborn animals physiology, handling psychology, norepinephrine physiology, receptors, adrenergic, beta physiology, signal transduction physiology, 1 methyl 3 isobutylxanthine pharmacology, adrenergic beta agonists pharmacology, aging physiology, cerebellum enzymology, cerebellum metabolism, cerebral cortex enzymology, cerebral cortex metabolism, cyclic amp biosynthesis, forskolin pharmacology, hippocampus enzymology, hippocampus metabolism, isoproterenol pharmacology, phosphodiesterase inhibitors pharmacology, radioligand assay, Wistar rats.

Bagnall, M., D. Leven, M.A. Hofer, and J.A. Gingrich (2001). Effects of post-natal handling in mice lacking the 5-HT2A receptor. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 27(1): 1235. ISSN: 0190-5295.
Descriptors: mice, lacking 5HT2A receptor, postnatal handling, effects, anxiety, pups.
Notes: Meeting Information: 31st Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, November 10-15, 2001, San Diego, California, USA.

Banjanin, S. and N. Mrosovsky (2000). Preferences of mice, Mus musculus, for different types of running wheel. Laboratory Animals 34(3): 313-318. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Descriptors: mice, physical activity, exercise, materials, plastics, wheels, animal welfare, exercise wheels, plastic mesh, metal rods.

Barajas, M., J.R. Eguibar, and A. Moyaho (2002). Maternal care affects novelty-induced grooming in HY and LY adult rats. Society for NeuroScience Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner: Abstract No. 571.16.
Online: http://sfn.scholarone.com
Descriptors: rats, maternal care, selfgrooming, duration, Sprague Dawley rats, yawning, stress.
Notes: Meeting Information: 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, November 02-07, 2002, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Barley, J.B., K.A. Cherry, J.P. Garner, C.M. Sherwin, P. Van Loo, M. Walsh, and V. Reinhardt (2004). Water leakage in rodent cages: a discussion by the laboratory animal refinement and enrichment forum (LAREF). Animal Technology and Welfare 3(2): 111-113. ISSN: 0264-4754.
NAL Call Number: SF757.A62
Descriptors: rodent, animal welfare, bottles, leakage, cages, cleaning, flooding, laboratory animals, enrichment, nipple drinkers, pups, water, mice, rats.

Battles, A.H. (1997). The biology, care, and diseases of the Syrian hamster. In: K.L. Rosenthal (Editor), Practical Exotic Animal Medicine, Veterinary Learning Systems: Trenton, N.J. (USA), p. 145-154. ISBN: 18-842-54330.
Descriptors: hamsters, pet care, animal husbandry, animal diseases, mammals, Rodentia, biology.

Beane, M.L., M.A. Cole, R.L. Spencer, and J.W. Rudy (2002). Neonatal handling enhances contextual fear conditioning and alters corticosterone stress responses in young rats. Hormones and Behavior 41(1): 33-40. ISSN: 0018-506X.
Abstract: Previous studies have indicated that neonatal handling influences development of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) control of corticosterone. In addition, corticosterone influences memory consolidation processes in contextual fear conditioning. Therefore, neonatal handling may affect hippocampal-dependent memory processes present in contextual fear conditioning by influencing the development of HPA control of corticosterone. To investigate the effects of neonatal handling on early learning, rat pups were either handled (15-min removal from home cage) on the first 15 days after birth or left undisturbed in their home cage. Handled rats and nonhandled rats were fear conditioned at 18, 21, or 30 days of age and then tested at two time points--24 h following conditioning and at postnatal day 45. Subsequently, at approximately postnatal day 60, rats were exposed to restraint stress and corticosterone levels were assessed during restraint and recovery. Handled and nonhandled rats did not differ significantly in their freezing response immediately following footshock on the conditioning day. However, when tested for contextual fear conditioning at 24 h following conditioning and at postnatal day 45, handled rats showed more freezing behavior than nonhandled rats. When exposed to restraint stress, handled rats had a more rapid return of corticosterone to basal levels than nonhandled rats. These results indicate that neonatal handling enhances developmentally early memory processes involved in contextual fear conditioning and confirms previously reported effects of neonatal handling on HPA control of corticosterone.
Descriptors: corticosterone blood, fear physiology, stress physiopathology, animals, newborn, conditioning psychology physiology, electroshock, handling psychology, hippocampus physiology, hypothalamo hypophyseal system physiology, memory, short term physiology, pituitary adrenal system physiology, Long Evans rats, startle reaction physiology.

Belanger, M.P., W.J. Wallen, and C. Wittnich (1999). Special feeding and care of senescent spontaneously hypertensive rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 38(4): 7-11. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, hypertension, body weight, aging, female animals, cardiac insufficiency, feed formulation, pelleted feeds, blood pressure, heart rate, hematocrit, heart, weight, voluntary intake, powdered feed.

Belke, T.W. and J.P. Wagner (2005). The reinforcing property and the rewarding aftereffect of wheel running in rats: a combination of two paradigms. Behavioural Processes 68(2): 165-172. ISSN: 0376-6357.
Abstract: Wheel running reinforces the behavior that generates it and produces a preference for the context that follows it. The goal of the present study was to demonstrate both of these effects in the same animals. Twelve male Wistar rats were first exposed to a fixed-interval 30s schedule of wheel-running reinforcement. The operant was lever-pressing and the reinforcer was the opportunity to run for 45s. Following this phase, the method of place conditioning was used to test for a rewarding aftereffect following operant sessions. On alternating days, half the rats responded for wheel-running reinforcement while the other half remained in their home cage. Upon completion of the wheel-running reinforcement sessions, rats that ran and rats that remained in their home cages were placed into a chamber of a conditioned place preference (CPP) apparatus for 30min. Each animal received six pairings of a distinctive context with wheel running and six pairings of a different context with their home cage. On the test day, animals were free to move between the chambers for 10min. Results showed a conditioned place preference for the context associated with wheel running; however, time spent in the context associated with running was not related to wheel-running rate, lever-pressing rate, or post-reinforcement pause duration.
Descriptors: wheel running, effect, rewarding, rats, reinforcing, behavior.

Belz, E.E., J.S. Kennell, R.K. Czambel, R.T. Rubin, and M.E. Rhodes (2003). Environmental enrichment lowers stress-responsive hormones in singly housed male and female rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 76(3-4): 481-6. ISSN: 0091-3057.
Abstract: Structural and social aspects of an environmental system can influence the physiology and behavior of animals occupying that system. This study examined the physiological effects of environmental enrichment (EE) with Kong Toys and Nestlets on stress-responsive hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis under basal and mild stress conditions in singly housed, jugular vein-cannulated, male and female rats. Animals of both sexes housed with EE had significantly lower baseline adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) concentrations compared to those housed without EE. ACTH responses to the mild stress of saline injection were significantly lower in female rats housed with EE. Interaction with the Kong Toys and Nestlets appears to have provided the rats with a diversion from monotonous cage life, resulting in lower HPA axis activity before and after mild stress. These results are important because low, stable baselines are essential for accurately discerning pharmacological and other influences on the HPA axis.
Descriptors: environment, hormones metabolism, stress, psychological metabolism, corticotropin blood, dose response relationship, drug, hydrocortisone blood, hypothalamo hypophyseal system physiology, play and playthings, rats, Sprague Dawley rats, sex characteristics, social isolation.

Benaroya Milshtein, N., N. Hollander, A. Apter, T. Kukulansky, N. Raz, A. Wilf, I. Yaniv, and C.G. Pick (2004). Environmental enrichment in mice decreases anxiety, attenuates stress responses and enhances natural killer cell activity. European Journal of Neuroscience 20(5): 1341-7. ISSN: 0953-816X.
Abstract: The importance of environment in the regulation of brain, behaviour and physiology has long been recognized in biological, social and medical sciences. Animals maintained under enriched conditions have clearly been shown to have better learning abilities than those maintained under standard conditions. However, the effects of environmental enrichment (EE) on immunity and emotionality have been less documented and remain questionable. Therefore, we investigated the effect of EE on natural killer (NK) cell activity, psychological stress responses and behavioural parameters. Male C3H mice were housed either in enriched or standard conditions for 6 weeks. Behaviour was then examined by the grip-strength test, staircase and elevated plus maze, and corticosterone levels and NK cell activity were measured. Furthermore, animals exposed to the stress paradigm, achieved by electric shock with reminders, were tested for freezing time in each reminder. Corticosterone levels were also measured. The EE mice showed decreased anxiety-like behaviour and higher activity compared to standard mice, as revealed by a greater percentage of time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze, and a higher rate of climbing the staircase. A shorter freezing time in the stress paradigm and no corticosterone level reactivity were measured in EE mice. In addition, NK cell activity in spleens of EE mice was higher than that demonstrated in those of standard mice. Thus, EE has a beneficial effect on anxiety-like behaviour, stress response and NK cell activity. The effect on NK cell activity is promising, due to the role of NK cells in host resistance.
Descriptors: anxiety immunology, behavior, animal, cytotoxicity, immunologic physiology, environment, killer cells, natural immunology, stress, psychological immunology, corticosterone blood, mice, inbred C3H mice.

Bernard, R.S., M.E. Richardson, J.R. Diehl, and W.C. Bridges (2000). The influence of husbandry schedules on the number of embryos collected from superovulated mice. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 39(4): 13-5. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Abstract: We undertook this study to assess the effect of urine and fecal contamination in the cages of male mice on embryo production in females placed in these cages for breeding. Each superovulated female was placed with a stud male in a cage that was cleaned at 1, 24, or 168 h prior to breeding. Approximately 41 h after mating, embryos were flushed from the oviducts, and we determined the number of embryos and their developmental stages for each treatment group. The number of two-cell embryos collected did not differ significantly when cages were cleaned 1 or 24 h prior to mating the mice. However, significantly (p < 0.05) fewer embryos were recovered when cages were changed 168 h before the animals were mated.
Descriptors: animal husbandry, animal housing, ovulation induction methods, feces, hygiene, infection control, mice, urine.

Biesiadecki, B.J., P.H. Brand, L.G. Koch, and S.L. Britton (1999). A gravimetric method for the measurement of total spontaneous activity in rats. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 222(1): 65-9. ISSN: 0037-9727.
Abstract: Currently available methods for the measurement of spontaneous activity of laboratory animals require expensive, specialized equipment and may not be suitable for use in low light conditions with nocturnal species. We developed a gravimetric method that uses common laboratory equipment to quantify the total spontaneous activity of rats and is suitable for use in the dark. The rat in its home cage is placed on a top-loading electronic balance interfaced to a computer. Movements are recorded by the balance as changes in weight and transmitted to the computer at 10 Hz. Data are analyzed on-line to derive the absolute value of the difference in weight between consecutive samples, and the one-second average of the absolute values is calculated. The averages are written to file for off-line analysis and summed over the desired observation period to provide a measure of total spontaneous activity. The results of in vitro experiments demonstrated that: 1) recorded weight changes were not influenced by position of the weight on the bottom of the cage, 2) values recorded from a series of weight changes were not significantly different from the calculated values, 3) the constantly decreasing force exerted by a swinging pendulum placed on the balance was accurately recorded, 4) the measurement of activity was not influenced by the evaporation of a fluid such as urine, and 5) the method can detect differences in the activity of sleeping and waking rats over a 10-min period, as well as during 4-hr intervals recorded during active (night-time) and inactive (daytime) periods. These results demonstrate that this method provides an inexpensive, accurate, and noninvasive method to quantitate the spontaneous activity of small animals.
Descriptors: behavior, animal, body weight, methods, rats.

Binder, R.L. (1996). Nonstressful restraint device for longitudinal evaluation and photography of mouse skin lesions during tumorigenesis studies. Laboratory Animal Science 46(3): 350-351. ISSN: 0023-6764.
NAL Call Number: 410.9 P94
Descriptors: mice, skin, lesions, carcinogenesis, animal welfare, restraint of animals, papilloma, animal husbandry methods, body parts, integument, mammals, neoplasms, organic diseases, Rodentia.

Bodnar, M.R., S. Sharma, P. Plotsky, and M.J. Meaney (1997). The effects of postnatal handling and maternal separation on the serotonergic system in the adult rat. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 23(1-2): 801. ISSN: 0190-5295.
Descriptors: rat, postnatal handling, maternal separation, behavior, nervous system, adult, behavior, pup, serotonergic system.
Notes: Meeting Information: 27th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Part 1, October 25-30, 1997, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Bohannon, J. (2002). Animal models. To build a better mouse cage. Science 298(5602): 2321. ISSN: 1095-9203.
Descriptors: laboratory animals, animal behavior, animal housing, mice, animal experimentation, environment, social behavior.

Brand, P.H., N. Qi, P.J. Metting, and S.L. Britton (2000). A self-powered constant infusion device for use in unrestrained rats. American Journal of Physiology, Heart and Circulatory Physiology 278(6): H2157-62. ISSN: 0363-6135.
Abstract: We developed a device that delivers fluid through a catheter at a constant rate and can be used in conscious animals to solve a variety of problems. For example, this device can be used for delivering drugs and maintaining intravascular catheter patency. The device provides infusions at low flows (1.0-1.5 ml/day), so that experimental agents may be administered with minimal volume loading of the rat. Arterial and venous catheter patency is maintained by infusion of heparinized saline through indwelling catheters attached to the device. The catheters exit from the rat in the intrascapular area and are routed through a protective spring to the device, which is suspended above the cage. The catheters may be attached to pressure transducers, blood may be sampled, and injections or infusions may be made without disturbing the rat. Because the device is self-contained, it can be suspended by a fluid-free swivel that rotates through 360 degrees, providing minimal restraint. The device has been used successfully to measure arterial and central venous blood pressures in two studies using rats.
Descriptors: rats, unrestrained, infusion pumps, catheterization, equipment design, pressure, drug delivery, catheter patency.

Bredy, T.W., A. Lee, R.E. Brown, and M.J. Meaney (2003). Effect of neonatal handling and paternal care on hippocampal NMDA subunit expression in the monogamous California mouse (Peromyscus californicus). Hormones and Behavior 44(1): 39-40. ISSN: 0018-506X.
Descriptors: mouse, neonatal handling, paternal care, effect, hippocampal NMDA, subunit expression.
Notes: Meeting Information: Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Annual Meeting, June 25-28, 2003, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Bredy, T.W., A.W. Lee, M.J. Meaney, and R.E. Brown (2004). Effect of neonatal handling and paternal care on offspring cognitive development in the monogamous California mouse (Peromyscus californicus). Hormones and Behavior 46(1): 30-38. ISSN: 0018-506X.
Abstract: In the laboratory rat and mouse, neonatal handling enhances hippocampal-dependent learning in adulthood, an effect mediated by changes in maternal behavior toward the handled young. In the present study, we examined the interaction between neonatal handling and biparental care during the early postnatal period and its effect on cognitive function in adult California mice (Peromyscus californicus). We characterized the parental behavior of handled and nonhandled father-present and father-absent families over the first 15 days of life. We then assessed cognitive performance of male and female offspring in the Barnes maze and object recognition test after they were 60 days of age. We found that the amount of licking and grooming received by pups was decreased in father-absent families. By postnatal days 12-15, licking and grooming in handled, father-absent families were equivalent to that of nonhandled, father-present families. Handling enhanced novel object recognition in father-present male mice with no effect in females. In the nonhandled group, the presence of the father had no effect on object recognition learning in male or female mice. Handling also enhanced spatial learning in the Barnes maze. In nonhandled families, the presence of the father appeared to have no effect on spatial learning in the male offspring. Interestingly, spatial learning in nonhandled, father-absent, female offspring was similar to that of handled animals. The average amount of licking and grooming received by pups was negatively correlated with the average number of errors made on the first day of reversal training in the Barnes maze. These data support previous findings that neonatal handling facilitates learning and memory in adulthood, suggest that under certain environmental conditions, there is a sex difference in the response of pups to paternal care, and further demonstrate the importance of active parental investment for offspring cognitive development.
Descriptors: fathers, handling psychology, maze learning, Peromyscus psychology, recognition psychology, social environment, newborn animals, cognition, grooming, maternal behavior psychology, paternal behavior, sex factors.

Bredy, T.W., R.J. Grant, D.L. Champagne, and M.J. Meaney (2003). Maternal care influences neuronal survival in the hippocampus of the rat. European Journal of Neuroscience 18(10): 2903-2909. ISSN: 0953-816X.
Descriptors: rat, maternal care, behavior, neuronal survival, coordination, hippocampus, grooming, spatial learning, memory.

Breitweiser, B.A. (1997). Husbandry and medical management of rodents and hedgehogs. In: K.L. Rosenthal (Editor), Practical Exotic Animal Medicine, Veterinary Learning Systems: Trenton, N.J. (USA), p. 138-144. ISBN: 18-842-54330.
Descriptors: hamsters, pet animals, pet care, animal husbandry, veterinary medicine, mammals, Rodentia, useful animals, golden hamsters.

Brooks, W.W., C.H. Conrad, A.P. Nedder, O.H.L. Bing, and M.T. Slawsky (2003). Thoracic massage permits use of echocardiography in unanesthetized rats. Comparative Medicine 53(3): 288-292. ISSN: 1532-0820.
NAL Call Number: SF77.C65
Abstract: Purpose: The objective of the study reported here was to investigate whether massage-like stroking of the thorax and cranial portion of the abdomen might relax unanesthetized rats sufficiently to permit in vivo echocardiography. Methods: Nine-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were first conditioned to being held by hand for 10 to 15 min twice a day for seven to 10 days. During each session, the animal was placed in supine position, and the thorax and cranial abdominal area were gently stroked (approx. 5 cm/s, 12 to 14 times/min). After the conditioning period, echocardiography was initiated. We obtained serial transthoracic two-dimensional (2-D) and M-mode echocardiograms from nine-month-old SHR that were treated with isoproterenol (60 mg/kg of body weight, s.c., x 1, followed by 30 mg/kg/d x3), and from old (20 to 24 months old) SHR, studied when labored breathing, suggestive of heart failure, was evident (SHR-F). Measurements included end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV). Results: In the isoproterenol-treated SHR, mean ½ SD echocardiographically derived EDV (2-D, 0.29 ½ 0.05; M-mode, 0.28 ½ 0.01 ml) was not significantly different from volume at necropsy (0.33 ½ 0.04 ml). Measurements of EDV and ESV by use of M-mode and 2-D echocardiography were significantly correlated (EDV R2 = 0.48, P = 0.05; ESV R2 = 0.39, P = 0.02). Echocardiography revealed pleuropericardial effusions (4/6), atrial thrombi (5/6), and left and right ventricular enlargement (6/6). The EDV and ESV were increased fivefold (P < 0.01) and threefold (P < 0.05), respectively, versus values for SHR not in heart failure (SHR-NF). Left ventricular ejection fraction of hearts from SHR-F was markedly decreased, compared with that in SHR-NF (44 ½ 7 versus 74 ½ 2%, respectively; P < 0.05). The presence or absence of left atrial thrombi and fluid in the thoracic cavity was confirmed at necropsy in SHR-F and SHR-NF. Conclusion: Thoracic massage permits use of echocardiography in unanesthetized rats, thereby providing a simple, non-invasive technique for assessment of cardiac structure and function in rats without the potentially adverse effects of anesthesia.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, echocardiography, accuracy, training animals, animal handling, restraint of animals, massage, animal welfare.

Brown, C.J. and T.M. Donnelly (2004). Rodent husbandry and care. Veterinary Clinics of North America Exotic Animal Practice 7(2): 201-25. ISSN: 1094-9194.
Abstract: This article reviews the husbandry, care and normal behavioral preferences of pet rats and mice. It covers recognition of signs of pain, illness and abnormal responses, and describes necessary skills such as handling, blood collection and drug administration. Animal-human responses in owning and caring for rats and mice are considered. Included is advice on suitability of pet rats with children, neutering and dental examinations. The conclusion lists recommended textbooks, pet owner manuals, instructional CDs, and websites.
Descriptors: rats, mice, animal husbandry, animal nutrition, Rodentia, veterinary medicine, care, pain, blood collection, illness, handling.

Burman, O.H.P. and M. Mendl (2004). Disruptive effects of standard husbandry practice on laboratory rat social discrimination. Animal Welfare 13(2): 125-133. ISSN: 0962-7286.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.A557
Descriptors: rats, husbandry practice, disruptive effects, social discrimination, handling, behavior.

Burman, O.H.P. and M. Mendl (2000). Short-term social memory in the laboratory rat: its susceptibility to disturbance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 67(3): 241-254. ISSN: 0168-1591.
NAL Call Number: QL750.A6
Descriptors: rats, memory, duration, animal welfare, aggressive behavior, experimental design.

Caldji, C., D. Francis, S. Sharma, P.M. Plotsky, and M.J. Meaney (1997). Postnatal handling/maternal separation alters responses to startle and central benzodiazepine receptor level subtypes in adult rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 23(1-2): 1083. ISSN: 0190-5295.
Descriptors: rats, adult, postnatal handling, responses, startle, central benzodiazine receptor, maternal separation.
Notes: Meeting Information: 27th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, October 25-30, 1997, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Caldji, C., B. Tannenbaum, S. Sharma, D. Francis, P.M. Plotsky, and M.J. Meaney (1998). Maternal care during infancy regulates the development of neural systems mediating the expression of fearfulness in the rat. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 95(9): 5335-5340. ISSN: 0027-8424.
Descriptors: rat, maternal care, infancy, neural systems, development, fearfulness, behavior, stress, response, grooming.

Callard, M.D., S.N. Bursten, and E.O. Price (2000). Repetitive backflipping behaviour in captive roof rats (Rattus rattus) and the effects of cage enrichment. Animal Welfare 9(2): 139-152. ISSN: 0962-7286.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.A557
Descriptors: rats, abnormal behavior, weaning, age differences, cage size, cages, sex differences, individual characteristics, circadian rhythm, fearfulness, stereotyped behavior, nest boxes.

Campbell, J. and L.P. Spear (1999). Effects of early handling on amphetamine-induced locomotor activation and conditioned place preference in the adult rat. Psychopharmacology 143(2): 183-9. ISSN: 0033-3158.
Abstract: RATIONALE: Altered hormonal stress responsiveness has been implicated in psychostimulant responsivity, and early handling represents a mild environmental manipulation which alters the hormonal profile following stress exposure. OBJECTIVE: The present experiments examined whether early handling in rats would alter locomotor effects of amphetamine, as well as cross-sensitization of locomotor responsiveness after chronic stress. Conditioned place preference (CPP) for amphetamine was also measured. METHODS: Handling consisted of daily 15-min isolation periods from days 1-12 postnatally. Novelty- and amphetamine (0, 1.5 mg/kg)-induced locomotion were examined using circular corridors in adult rats that were either restrained repeatedly over 8 days or not disturbed prior to testing. The effects of handling on amphetamine (0, 1, 2, 5 mg/kg) conditioned place preference (CPP) were also examined following 3 days of drug-compartment pairings. RESULTS: Early handling produced a more rapid post-stress recovery in corticosterone levels. Handled animals also exhibited a significant attenuation in amphetamine-induced CPP compared to non-handled controls. Locomotor responsiveness to novelty and amphetamine was not altered by early handling. Although no cross-sensitization was observed, evidence for stress sensitization was seen, but was unaffected by early handling. CONCLUSIONS: Handled animals showed an attenuated CPP for amphetamine, data suggesting that sensitivity to the reward value of drugs of abuse in adulthood may be susceptible to relatively minor environmental manipulations early in life. This effect of handling on CPP does not seem to reflect differences in locomotor sensitivity to amphetamine.
Descriptors: amphetamine pharmacology, central nervous system stimulants pharmacology, conditioning, operant drug effects, handling psychology, motor activity drug effects, stress, psychological psychology, corticosterone blood, Sprague Dawley rats, sex characteristics, social environment.

Cannizzaro, C., M. Martire, L. Steardo, E. Cannizzaro, M. Gagliano, A. Mineo, and G. Provenzano (2002). Prenatal exposure to diazepam and alprazolam, but not to zolpidem, affects behavioural stress reactivity in handling-naive and handling-habituated adult male rat progeny. Brain Research 953(1-2): 170-80. ISSN: 0006-8993.
Abstract: A gentle long-lasting handling produces persistent neurochemical and behavioural changes and attenuates the impairment in the behavioural reactivity to novelty induced by the prenatal exposure to diazepam (DZ) in adult male rat progeny. This study investigated the consequences of a late prenatal treatment with three GABA/BDZ R agonists (DZ) alprazolam (ALP) and zolpidem (ZOLP)), on different stress-related behavioural patterns, in non-handled (NH), short-lasting handled (SLH) and long-lasting handled (LLH) adult male rats exposed to forced swim test (FST), acoustic startle reflex (ASR) and Vogel test (VT). The effects on motor activity were evaluated in the open field and in the Skinner box. The seizure sensitivity to picrotoxin (PTX) was investigated as an index of the functional state of GABA/BDZ Rs. A single daily s.c. injection of DZ (1.25-2.50 mg/kg) and ALP (0.125-0.250 mg/kg) over gestational days 14-20 induced a decrease in immobility time in the FST in NH rats, no change in SLH rats and an increase in LLH rats; DZ induced an increase in the peak amplitude of the ASR in NH rats, no change in SLH rats and a reduction in LLH rats; ALP was ineffective in all groups. DZ and ALP reduced the number of punished licks in the VT in NH, SLH and LLH rats while the unpunished licks were not modified. DZ decreased locomotion and the lever pressing responses while ALP increased them. DZ and ALP increased the seizure sensitivity to PTX (2.5-4.0 mg/kg i.p.). These findings indicate a convergence on anxiety-related behaviours in the effects of prenatal exposure to DZ and ALP and a differentiation on motor activity. Long-lasting handling was able to overcompensate the increased behavioural stress reactivity induced by the prenatal exposure to DZ and ALP.
Descriptors: alprazolam pharmacology, anti anxiety agents pharmacology, diazepam pharmacology, GABA agonists pharmacology, pyridines pharmacology, stress drug therapy, age factors, behavior, animal drug effects, convulsants pharmacology, exploratory behavior drug effects, habituation psychophysiology drug effects, handling psychology, picrotoxin pharmacology, prenatal exposure delayed effects, Wistar rats, reflex drug effects, startle reaction drug effects, swimming.

Caston, J., B. Devulder, F. Jouen, R. Lalonde, N. Delhaye Bouchaud, and J. Mariani (1999). Role of an enriched environment on the restoration of behavioral deficits in Lurcher mutant mice. Developmental Psychobiology 35(4): 291-303. ISSN: 0012-1630.
Descriptors: behavior, animal physiology, cerebellar diseases pathology, environment, mice, mutant strains physiology, nerve degeneration pathology, maze learning, mice, nerve fibers physiology, synapses physiology.

Champy, M.F., M. Selloum, L. Piard, V. Zeitler, C. Caradec, P. Chambon, and J. Auwerx (2004). Mouse functional genomics requires standardization of mouse handling and housing conditions. Mammalian Genome 15(10): 768-783. ISSN: 0938-8990.
Abstract: The study of mouse models is crucial for the functional annotation of the human genome. The recent improvements in mouse genetics now moved the bottleneck in mouse functional genomics from the generation of mutant mice lines to the phenotypic analysis of these mice lines. Simple, validated, and reproducible phenotyping tests are a prerequisite to improving this phenotyping bottleneck. We analyzed here the impact of simple variations in animal handling and housing procedures, such as cage density, diet, gender, length of fasting, as well as site (retro-orbital vs. tail), timing, and anesthesia used during venipuncture, on biochemical, hematological, and metabolic/endocrine parameters in adult C57BL/6J mice. Our results, which show that minor changes in procedures can profoundly affect biological variables, underscore the importance of establishing uniform and validated animal procedures to improve reproducibility of mouse phenotypic data.
Descriptors: mouse, handling, housing, standardization, genomics, genetics, changes, model.

Chang, F.T. and L.A. Hart (2002). Human-animal bonds in the laboratory: how animal behavior affects the perspective of caregivers. ILAR Journal 43(1): 10-18. ISSN: 1084-2020.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1I43
Descriptors: laboratory animals, dogs, mice, laboratory workers, anthropology, animal welfare, animal husbandry, training of animals, stress, enrichment, safety at work, work satisfaction, human animal relations, animal technicians, environmental enrichment.

Chapillon, P., R. Lalonde, N. Jones, and J. Caston (1998). Early development of synchronized walking on the rotorod in rats. Effects of training and handling. Behavioural Brain Research 93(1-2): 77-81. ISSN: 0166-4328.
Abstract: There is considerable improvement of motor coordination on the rotorod during the first 3 weeks of development in rats. The purpose of the present study was to determine some factors implicated in this improvement. From days 15-22 of age, rats were: (1) extensively trained on the rotorod; (2) minimally trained on the rotorod; (3) handled daily but not trained on the rotorod; and (4) neither handled nor trained. All animals were tested on the rotorod on day 23, with separate groups of the naive rats also being tested on days, 19, 20, 21 or 22. Latencies before falling and the percentage of time spent walking in time to the movement of the rotating rod were recorded. There was a close correspondence between these two scores during ontogeny. The percentage of time spent walking was similar among extensively trained, minimally trained, and handled rats and significantly higher than that measured in rats tested only on 1 day. These results indicate that the emergence of this postural sensorimotor skill is more dependent on the maturation of sensorimotor brain region than on previous training on the apparatus.
Descriptors: handling psychology, musculoskeletal equilibrium physiology, psychomotor performance physiology, walking physiology, aging psychology, rats, inbred strains.

Chapillon, P., C. Manneche, C. Belzung, and J. Caston (1999). Rearing environmental enrichment in two inbred strains of mice. 1. Effects on emotional reactivity. Behavior Genetics 29(1): 41-6. ISSN: 0001-8244.
Abstract: The effects of an enriched rearing environment on two types of anxiety-like behavior (designated "trait" and "state" anxiety) and on spontaneous activity were investigated in two inbred strains of mice, BALB/c (C) and C57BL/6(B6). Subjects were socially reared from birth to 56 days of age under enriched or standard rearing conditions. The enriched environment consisted of an assembly of plastic boxes in which a various number of objects (running wheels, pieces of plastic, etc.) offered the possibility of multiple activities. The subjects were subsequently tested in three situations: a spontaneous activity recorder, an elevated plus-maze test (a model of state anxiety), and a free exploration test (a model of trait anxiety). No group differences could be found in spontaneous activity. Environmental enrichment, however, decreased the level of both types of anxiety-like behavior in the C strain. In contrast, the level of trait anxiety of the B6 mice was not modified. The results were discussed in relation to possible CNS modifications, especially in the limbic system.
Descriptors: newborn animals genetics, newborn animals growth and development, newborn animals psychology, anxiety genetics, environment, exploratory behavior physiology, temperament physiology, analysis of variance, animal housing, mice, inbred BALB c mice, inbred C57BL mice, play and playthings.

Clark Jr., J.A., P.H. Myers, M.F. Goelz, J.E. Thigpen, and D.B. Forsythe (1997). Pica behavior associated with buprenorphine administration in the rat. Laboratory Animal Science 47(3): 300-303. ISSN: 0023-6764.
NAL Call Number: 410.9 P94
Abstract: Marked gastric distention was observed in rats 20 h after they underwent partial hepatectomy under isoflurane anesthesia and received buprenorphine (0-3 mg/kg of body weight) after surgery. Hardwood bedding comprised the bulk of the gastric contents. A study was undertaken to determine the cause of the pica behavior (consumption of non-nutritive substances) and resultant gastric distention. Ten-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of six groups. Group-1 rats (n = 11) underwent laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia, with buprenorphine (0.03 mg/kg) administered after surgery. Group-2 rats (n = 12) underwent laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia, with buprenorphine (0.05 mg/kg) administered after surgery. Group-3 rats (n = 24) underwent laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia, with saline administered after surgery. Isoflurane was administered at the same rate, concentration, and duration for all groups that underwent laparotomy (groups 1 to 3). Buprenorphine or saline was administered subcutaneously as a single injection when anesthesia was discontinued (groups 1 to 3). Group-4 rats (n = 6) received buprenorphine (0.3 mg/kg) only. Group-5 rats (n = 6) received buprenorphine (0.05 mg/kg) only. Group-6 rats (n = 12) received saline only. Rats not undergoing laparotomy (groups 4 to 6) received buprenorphine or saline 18 to 20 h before euthanasia. Rats were housed individually in filter-topped polycarbonate cages containing hardwood bedding. A purified, pelleted diet and water were offered ad libitum. Food and water consumption were measured over the posttreatment period. Eighteen to 20 h after treatment, rats were euthanized, each stomach and its contents were weighed, contents. were examined grossly, and wet and dry gastric content weights were recorded. All weights were significantly (P <0.05) increased in rats receiving buprenorphine administered after surgery (groups 1 and 2), compared with rats of the control group (group 3). Weights of the stomach and contents, wet gastric contents, and dry gastric contents were significantly (P <0.05) increased in rats receiving 0.3 mg of buprenorphine/kg only (group 4), compared with values for their controls (group 6). Hardwood bedding comprised the bulk of the gastric contents in all groups receiving buprenorphine. Stomachs of rats not receiving buprenorphine contained the purified diet with little or no hardwood bedding. These results indicate that a single injection of buprenorphine at a dosage of 0.05 or 0.3 mg/kg resulted in rats ingesting hardwood bedding, leading to gastric distention. It was concluded that pica behavior associated with administration of buprenorphine should be considered when evaluating experimental data from rats housed on contact bedding.
Descriptors: analgesics, opioids, pica, litter, stomach, digesta, rats, hepatectomy, laparotomy, anesthetics, postoperative complications, opioid analgesics, gastric distention, isoflurane.

Coatney, R.W. (2001). Ultrasound imaging: principles and applications in rodent research. ILAR Journal 42(3): 233-247. ISSN: 1084-2020.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1I43
Descriptors: ultrasonography, mice, rats, animal experiments, impedance, tissues, transducers, imagery, heart, animal welfare, literature reviews, ultrasound biomicroscopy, animal use refinement.

Cohen, S.M., M. Cano, T. Anderson, and E.M. Garland (1996). Extensive handling of rats leads to mild urinary bladder hyperplasia. Toxicologic Pathology 24(2): 251-7. ISSN: 0192-6233.
Abstract: The urinary and urothelial effects of the frequent handling necessary for obtaining fresh-voided urine specimens were evaluated in 5-wk-old male F-344 rats fed control diet or diet containing 7.5% sodium saccharin. Frequent handling consisted of holding rats by the back of the neck in a position to obtain fresh-voided urine directly into centrifuge tubes 3 times per week for 10 weeks, whereas seldomly handled control rats received this treatment only twice during the entire 10 weeks. The urothelium of frequently handled rats fed control diet showed superficial necrosis and regenerative hyperplasia as observed by light and scanning electron microscopy. These changes were not observed in rats fed control diet that were seldomly handled. The necrosis and hyperplasia were not as pronounced in frequently handled rats fed control diet as in seldomly handled, sodium-saccharin-treated rats, but handling also potentiated the severity of the changes produced by sodium saccharin feeding. The urothelial exfoliation and consequent regenerative hyperplasia are likely secondary effects of stress.
Descriptors: bladder pathology, handling psychology, body weight drug effects, carcinogens toxicity, drinking drug effects, epithelium pathology, hyperplasia etiology, hyperplasia pathology, microscopy, electron, scanning, necrosis pathology, inbred F344 rats, saccharin toxicity.

Colomina, M.T., D.J. Sanchez, J.L. Esparza, and J.L. Domingo (1999). Prenatal effects of caffeine and restraint stress in mice. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 220(2): 106-111. ISSN: 0037-9727.
Descriptors: pregnancy, toxicity, genetic disorders, caffeine, stress, mice, alkaloids, disorders, heterocyclic compounds, mammals, physiological functions, purines, reproduction, Rodentia, sexual reproduction, xanthine alkaloids, xanthines, embryotoxicity, maternal toxicity, teratogenesis.

Cruz, J.I., J.M. Loste, and O.H. Burzaco (1998). Observations on the use of medetomidine/ketamine and its reversal with atipamezole for chemical restraint in the mouse. Lab Animal 32(1): 18-22. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: ketamine, analgesics, anesthesia, mice, laboratory animals, detoxicants, drugs, mammals, neurotropic drugs, Rodentia, useful animals, medetomidine, atipamezole.

Cruz, J.I., J.M. Loste, and O.H. Burzaco (1996). Observations on the use of medetomidine-ketamine and its reversal with atipamezole for chemical restraint in the mouse. Journal of Veterinary Anaesthesia 23(2): 78.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, restraint of animals, anesthesia, analgesics, ketamine, animal husbandry methods, drugs, mammals, neurotropic drugs, Rodentia, useful animals, medetomidine.

Dahlborn, K., E. Hydbring, and A. Madej (1996). Effects of environmental enrichment on urinary corticosterone excretion in female and male rats. Laboratory Animals in Modern Biology. Symposium Program, Scand-LAS, Goeteborg (Sweden), 123 p.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, males, females, glucocorticoids, environmental factors, adrenal cortex hormones, corticoids, hormones, mammals, Rodentia, sex, enrichment.

Dahlborn, K., B.A.A. Van Gils, H.A. Van de Weerd, J.E. Van Dijk, and V. Baumans (1996). ICLAS proceedings: Evaluation of long-term environmental enrichment in the mouse. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science Supplement 23(Supplement 1): 97-106. ISSN: 0901-3393.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, animal housing, environmental factors, cages, feeding habits, drinking habits, glucocorticoids, urine, adrenal cortex hormones, behavior, body fluids, body parts, corticoids, excreta, hormones, enrichment, Rodentia.
Notes: Meeting Information: ICLAS, Scand LAS, FinLAS, Helsinki (Finland). Frontiers in Laboratory Animal Science, Helsinki (Finland), June 1995.

Dahlqvist, P., A. Ronnback, S.A. Bergstrom, I. Soderstrom, and T. Olsson (2004). Environmental enrichment reverses learning impairment in the Morris water maze after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. European Journal of Neuroscience 19(8): 2288-98. ISSN: 0953-816X.
Abstract: Cognitive impairment is common after ischemic stroke. In rodent stroke models using occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) this is reflected by impaired spatial memory associated with the size of the ischemic lesion. Housing in an enriched environment enhances brain plasticity and improves recovery of sensorimotor functions after experimental stroke in rats. In this study we report that postischemic housing in an enriched environment also attenuates the long-term spatial memory impairment after MCA occlusion and extinguishes the association between spatial memory and infarct volume. An enriched environment did not significantly alter the expression of selected neuronal plasticity-associated genes 1 month after MCA occlusion, indicating that most of the adaptive changes induced by an enriched environment have already occurred at this time point. We conclude that the attenuated memory impairment induced by environmental enrichment after MCA occlusion provides a useful model for further studies on the neurobiological mechanisms of recovery of cognitive functions after ischemic stroke.
Descriptors: brain ischemia psychology, environment, maze learning physiology, memory disorders psychology, brain ischemia metabolism, cognition physiology, memory disorders metabolism, memory disorders prevention and control, rats, Sprague Dawley rats, synapsins biosynthesis.

De Luca, A.M. (1997). Environmental enrichment: does it reduce barbering in mice. Animal Welfare Information Center Newsletter 8(2): 7-8. ISSN: 1050-561X.
Online: http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/newsletters/v8n2/8n2deluc.htm
NAL Call Number: aHV4701.A952
Descriptors: mice, cages, vices, toys, animal welfare, boxes.

Dean, S.W. (1999). Environmental enrichment of laboratory animals used in regulatory toxicology studies. Laboratory Animals 33(4): 309-327. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: There is a wealth of information in the published literature which describes a multitude of approaches to enriching the environment of laboratory animals. This paper attempts to review the various methods of enrichment through social contact, enhancement of the environment and diet, and improvements in husbandry. It attempts to place the various enrichment initiatives within the context of a laboratory which conducts regulatory toxicology, describes some of the experiences in the author's own laboratory and attempts to highlight those ideas which might prove practical to implement in the future. The aim is to demonstrate that a creative approach to environmental enrichment is indeed compatible with regulatory toxicology. It is hoped that this will encourage those responsible for the care and welfare of animals in such a laboratory to challenge historical practices and include environmental enrichment as a fundamental necessity of study design.
Descriptors: laboratory animals, laboratory mammals, Macaca mulatta, cages, monkeys, foraging, enrichment, environment, dogs, group size, toys, rabbits, floor pens, rats, mice, social dominance, floor type, pelleted feeds, guinea pigs, toxicology, animal welfare, literature reviews, United Kingdom.

Deng, J., M. St. Clair, C. Everett, M. Reitman, and R.A. Star (2000). Buprenorphine given after surgery does not alter renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Comparative Medicine 50(6): 628-632. ISSN: 1532-0820.
NAL Call Number: SF77.C65
Abstract: Background and Purpose: Potential drugs for human acute renal failure are often tested in an animal model of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Analgesics are often not given after surgery because of concerns that they would alter renal function. Therefore, we tested whether postoperative analgesia would alter animal health or affect the degree of renal injury. Methods: Mice were subjected to either 32 or 37 minutes of renal ischemia, given two or six doses of buprenorphine or vehicle at 12-hour intervals, and followed for 72 hours. In some animals, we measured body temperature and physical activity by use of telemetry. Results: Animals treated with buprenorphine recovered more rapidly from surgery based on postoperative activity, and had a small but not significant tendency for faster restoration of normal body temperature. Animals treated with buprenorphine had less weight loss after 37 minutes of ischemia. Buprenorphine given after surgery did not influence the degree of renal injury after ischemia/reperfusion. Conclusions: Buprenorphine should be given after renal ischemia-reperfusion surgery because administration of the proper analgesic improved animal health without interfering with the renal ischemia/reperfusion model. Analgesic treatment at the time of the operation and 12 hours after was sufficient. Buprenorphine may reduce the post-surgical stress response, and thus potentially improve the specificity of testing for drugs that reduce or treat renal injury.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory mammals, animal models, analgesics, postoperative care, kidneys, ischemia, renal function, body temperature, physical activity, body weight, pain, histopathology, animal welfare.

Diven, K. (2003). Inhalation anesthetics in rodents. Lab Animal 32(3): 44-47. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, laboratory animals, general anesthetics, intranasal administration, depth of anesthesia, veterinary equipment, animal welfare, researchers.

Doerflinger, A. and S.E. Swithers (2004). Effects of diet and handling on initiation of independent ingestion in rats. Developmental Psychobiology 45(2): 72-82. ISSN: 0012-1630.
Abstract: The present study examined the effects of dietary manipulation on the age of onset of weaning in rat pups. In Experiment 1, female rats were placed on a standard chow (SC) or high-fat (HF) diet 1 week following mating. Pups were weighed daily from birth to Day 12, then animals were placed into specialized cages for separate recording of food intake of pups and dams. Pups were offered the same diet as their dam, and food intake and body weight were determined twice daily until Day 25. The results demonstrated that pups reared by dams fed the HF diet initiated independent ingestion on Day 16, approximately 24 hr before pups reared by dams fed the SC diet. There were no differences in body weight in pups across the two diets. While few differences were noted across diets in pups' or dams' behavior, HF pups appeared to demonstrate a delay in the establishment of circadian patterns of food intake. In Experiment 2, all dams were maintained on an SC diet until the day after parturition. At that time, dams and litters were placed into specialized cages and divided into four groups: HF/HF, HF/SC, SC/SC, and SC/HF (dam's diet/pup's diet, respectively). The results demonstrated that dams given the HF diet had pups that initiated food intake approximately 2 days before the pups of dams given the SC diet. In addition, pups offered the HF diet, independent of the dam's diet, initiated food intake approximately 0.8 days prior to pups offered the SC diet. Further, by Day 12, HF dams had pups that were heavier than SC dams. The results suggest that the onset of weaning in rats is affected by maternal diet and the weaning diet available to the pup.
Descriptors: diet, feeding behavior, sucking behavior, animals, newborn, behavior, animal, body weight, rats, weaning.

Dollinger, P., R. Baumgartner, E. Isenbugel, N. Pagan, H. Tenhu, and F. Weber (1999). Husbandry and pathology of rodents and lagomorphs in Swiss zoos. Erkrankungen Der Zootiere 39: 241-254. ISSN: 0138-5003.
Descriptors: Lagomorpha, Rodentia, zoos, wildlife parks, husbandry, pathology, care in captivity, parasites, diseases.

Donnelly, T.M. and C.J. Brown (2004). Guinea pig and chinchilla care and husbandry. Veterinary Clinics of North America Exotic Animal Practice 7(2): 351-73. ISSN: 1094-9194.
Abstract: This article reviews breeds and coat colors of guinea pigs and chinchillas, their husbandry, care and anatomy. The unusual reproductive physiology and reproductive diseases of these animals are described. We cover nutrition, the potential for disease on poor diets, and the vocalization of hystricomorph rodents. Skills such as handling, sexing, blood collection and drug administration, including antibiotic toxicity are described. The conclusion lists recommended textbooks, pet owner manuals, and websites.
Descriptors: care, animal husbandry, chinchilla, guinea pigs, veterinary medicine, anatomy, nutrition, reproduction, diets, disease, handling.

Duke, J.L., T.G. Zammit, and D.M. Lawson (2001). The effects of routine cage-changing on cardiovascular and behavioral parameters in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40(1): 17-20. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, laboratory mammals, animal husbandry, cleaning, blood pressure, heart rate, telemetry, data collection, physical activity, animal behavior, duration, frequency, fearfulness, stress, arousal behavior.

Ely, D.R., V. Dapper, J. Marasca, J.B. Correa, G.D. Gamaro, M.H. Xavier, M.B. Michalowski, D. Catelli, R. Rosat, M.B.C. Ferreira, and C. Dalmaz (1997). Effect of restraint stress on feeding behavior of rats. Physiology and Behavior 61(3): 395-398. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Descriptors: rats, feeding behavior, restraint stress, effect.

Escorihuela, R.M., J. Salles, A. Tobena, P. Driscoll, and A. Fernandez Teruel (1997). Anxiety, novelty seeking, spatial working and reference memory and cholinergic transduction mechanisms in the Roman/Verh rat lines: effects of neonatal handling (NH). Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 23(1-2): 1849. ISSN: 0190-5295.
Descriptors: Roman Verh rat lines, anxiety, neonatal handling, reference memory, effects, transduction mechanisms.
Notes: Meeting Information: 27th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, October 25-30, 1997, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Eskola, S., M. Lauhikari, H.M. Voipio, M. Laitinen, and T. Nevalainen (1999). Environmental enrichment may alter the number of rats needed to achieve statistical significance. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 26(3): 134-144. ISSN: 0901-3393.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, experimental design, animal welfare, enrichment, statistical significance, number needed.

Fernandez Teruel, A., R.M. Escorihuela, B. Castellano, B. Gonzalez, and A. Tobena (1997). Neonatal handling and environmental enrichment effects on emotionality, novelty/reward seeking, and age-related cognitive and hippocampal impairments: focus on the Roman rat lines. Behavior Genetics 27(6): 513-26. ISSN: 0001-8244.
Abstract: Roman high- and low-avoidance (RHA/Verh and RLA/Verh) rats are selected and bred for extreme divergence in two-way active avoidance acquisition. In addition, compared to RLA/Verh rats, RHA/Verh rats are (behaviorally and physiologically) less anxious or reactive to stressors, show increased novelty (sensation)-seeking behavior as well as a higher preference for rewarding substances, and are usually less efficient in learning tasks not involving shock administration. The present article reviews evidence showing that neonatal handling and/or environmental enrichment leads to enduring effects (their magnitude frequently depending upon the rat line) on those behaviors. For example, it has been found that neonatal handling reduces most of the (behavioral and physiological) signs of emotionality/anxiety in RLA/Verh rats, while environmental enrichment increases their novelty seeking (also the case with RHA/Verh rats), saccharin and ethanol intake, and sensitivity to amphetamine. Finally, initial results (currently being further elaborated upon) support a preventive action of both environmental treatments on age-related impairments in learning a spatial, water maze task as well as on hippocampal neuronal atrophy.
Descriptors: environment, exploratory behavior, handling psychology, inbred rats strains psychology, stress, psychological etiology, avoidance learning, emotions, hippocampus pathology, inbred rat strains genetics.

Fitzgerald, A.L., P. Juneau, C. Cain, and K. Southwick (2003). Development of a quantitative method for evaluation of the electroencephalogram of rats by using radiotelemetry. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(1): 40-45. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, telemetry, electroencephalography, radio waves, electrodes, atropine, caffeine, ketamine, pentobarbital, image analysis, animal use refinement, animal welfare, laboratory equipment, laboratory techniques, drug effects.

Flecknell, P. (1998). Developments in the veterinary care of rabbits and rodents. In Practice 29(6): 286-295. ISSN: 0263-841X.
Descriptors: treatment, pets, anesthesia, antibiotics, drug therapy, rabbits, rodents.

Forsyth, A. and C. Watt (2004). Post-operative care of cannulated rodents. Animal Technology and Welfare 3(4): 133-134. ISSN: 0264-4754.
NAL Call Number: SF757.A62
Descriptors: rodents, post operative care, analgesics, animal behavior, body weight, cannulation, fluid therapy, food supplements, hypothermia, postoperative care, recovery, respiration rate, stress, surgery, temperature.

Frick, K.M. and S.M. Fernandez (2003). Enrichment enhances spatial memory and increases synaptophysin levels in aged female mice. Neurobiology of Aging 24(4): 615-26. ISSN: 0197-4580.
Abstract: The present study tested whether environmental enrichment can reduce age-related spatial reference memory deficits and alter synaptic protein 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 day. The remaining aged females were group housed but were not exposed to enriching objects. At the conclusion of testing, levels of the presynaptic protein synaptophysin were measured in hippocampus and frontoparietal cortex. Enrichment improved spatial memory acquisition; relative to young controls, aged enriched females performed similarly, whereas aged control females were impaired. Enrichment also accelerated the development of a spatial bias in spatial probe trials. In contrast, the cued task was not significantly affected by enrichment. Hippocampal and cortical synaptophysin levels were increased in aged enriched females relative to young and aged controls. These data suggest that environmental enrichment can be a potent cognitive enhancer for aged females and suggests a potential neurobiological mechanism of this effect.
Descriptors: aging metabolism, environment, memory physiology, synaptophysin biosynthesis, aging psychology, brain metabolism, maze learning physiology, inbred C57BL mice.

Frick, K.M., N.A. Stearns, J.Y. Pan, and J. Berger Sweeney (2003). Effects of environmental enrichment on spatial memory and neurochemistry in middle-aged mice. Learning and Memory 10(3): 187-98. ISSN: 1072-0502.
Abstract: The present study compared the effects of environmental enrichment on spatial memory, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity, and synaptophysin levels in middle-aged male and female mice. Prior to testing, a subset of 18-month-old male and female C57BL/6 mice was housed with two to three toys and a running wheel in the home cage for up to 29 d. Adult mice (7 mo) of both sexes and the remaining middle-aged mice were group (social) housed, but not exposed to enriching objects. After the enrichment period, all mice were tested in a 1-day version of the Morris water maze, in which both spatial and nonspatial memory were assessed. Immediately after testing, the hippocampus and frontoparietal cortex were dissected, and GAD activity and synaptophysin levels were measured. Environmental enrichment reduced the age-related impairment in spatial acquisition and retention; relative to adult social controls, middle-aged enriched mice were unimpaired, whereas middle-aged social controls were impaired. This reduction was similar in middle-aged males and females. Enrichment did not affect cued memory in either sex. Although hippocampal GAD activity was increased by enrichment in males, all other neurochemical measurements were unaffected by enrichment or aging in either sex. These data suggest that environmental enrichment initiated at middle age can reduce age-related impairments in spatial memory in males and females, although the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of this effect remain unknown.
Descriptors: aging physiology, environment, maze learning physiology, spatial behavior physiology, discrimination learning physiology, frontal lobe metabolism, glutamate decarboxylase metabolism, hippocampus metabolism, animal housing, memory disorders prevention and control, mice, inbred C57BL mice, parietal lobe metabolism, sex distribution, synaptophysin metabolism.

Gaertner, D.J. (2002). Value for money in mouse housing systems versus following the trend. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(6): 7-8. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: animal husbandry economics, equipment and supplies veterinary, animal husbandry methods, animal husbandry trends, budgets trends, cost allocation economics, cost allocation trends, equipment and supplies economics, equipment and supplies standards, mice.

Galef Jr., B.G. (1999). Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents: animal welfare and the methods of science. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 2(4): 267-280. ISSN: 1088-8705.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.J68
Descriptors: laboratory mammals, gerbils, rats, fearfulness, tameness, genotype environment interaction, enrichment, environment, cages, cage size, immune response, voles, corticosterone, blood plasma, animal housing, animal welfare, pair housing.

Galef Jr., B.G. and R.E. Sorge (2000). Use of PVC conduits by rats of various strains and ages housed singly and in pairs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 3(4): 279-292. ISSN: 1088-8705.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.J68
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, cages, group size, animal behavior, strain differences, age differences, sex differences, social dominance, polyvinyl chloride, plastic pipes, animal welfare, environmental enrichment.

Gariepy, J.L., D. Nehrenberg, and K.R. Mills (2001). Maternal care and separation stress in high- and low-aggressive mice. Developmental Psychobiology 38(3): 203. ISSN: 0012-1630.
Descriptors: mice, maternal care, separation stress, high aggressive, low aggressive.
Notes: Meeting Information: 33rd Annual Meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology, November 01-04, 2000, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Gariepy, J.L., R.M. Rodriguiz, and B.C. Jones (2002). Handling, genetic and housing effects on the mouse stress system, dopamine function, and behavior. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 73(1): 7-17. ISSN: 0091-3057.
Abstract: This research was designed to examine how early stimulation (i.e., handling), subsequent housing conditions and genetic factors interact to produce adult differences in stress regulation. High-aggressive (NC900) and low-aggressive (NC100) mice were handled for 3 weeks potspartum and were subsequently isolated or grouped until observed as adults in an open field or a dyadic test. In NC100, handling abolished the temporal variations seen in open-field activity among the nonhandled subjects and reduced corticosterone (CORT) activation. In NC900, these two measures were unaffected by handling. Only among handled NC100 did subsequent group rearing further reduce CORT activation. By contrast, handling caused an up-regulation of D1 dopamine receptors in both lines, and, in NC100, this effect was increased by group rearing. In a dyadic encounter with another male mouse, subjects of both lines showed handling effects. NC100 froze less rapidly and NC900 attacked more rapidly. This multifactorial design showed that the systemic effects of handling are modulated by genetic background, and that measures of these effects are affected by experience beyond infancy. Our findings also showed that the effects of handling vary when assessed across different physiological systems and across social and nonsocial testing conditions.
Descriptors: behavior, animal physiology, handling psychology, animal housing, interpersonal relations, receptors, dopamine D1 metabolism, stress blood, brain metabolism, corticosterone blood, corticosterone genetics, mice, receptors, dopamine D1 genetics, species specificity, stress genetics, mouse, stress system, handling, genetic, effects, dopamine function, early stimulation.

Garner, J.P., B. Dufour, L.E. Gregg, S.M. Weisker, and J.A. Mench (2004). Social and husbandry factors affecting the prevalence and severity of barbering ('whisker trimming') by laboratory mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 89(3-4): 263-282. ISSN: 0168-1591.
NAL Call Number: QL750.A6
Descriptors: mice, social factors, husbandry factors, animal behavior, barbering, severity, prevalence, animal welfare.

Gazit, I., A. Terkel, and J. Terkel (1998). Breeding and husbandry of the blind mole rat Nannospalax ehrenbergi at the Zoology department, Tel Aviv University. International Zoo Yearbook 36(0): 246-255. ISSN: 0074-9664.
Descriptors: blind mole rat, breeding, husbandry, behavior, management conditions, artificial environment, tunnel system.

Gillingham, M.B., M.D. Clark, E.M. Dahly, L.A. Krugner Higby, and D.M. Ney (2001). A comparison of two opioid analgesics for relief of visceral pain induced by intestinal resection in rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40(1): 21-26. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, laboratory mammals, opioids, analgesics, pain, morphine, thebaine, pharmacology, intestine resection, postoperative care, animal behavior, posture, grooming, intravenous injection, infusion, urination, adverse effects, animal welfare, oxymorphone, buprenorphine, bolus injection, continuous infusion, animal use refinement.

Goecke, J., H. Awad, J.C. Lawson, and G. Boivin (2005). Evaluating postoperative analgesics in mice using telemetry. Comparative Medicine 55(1): 37-44. ISSN: 1532-0820.
NAL Call Number: SF77.C65
Abstract: The study examined the efficacy of preemptive or postoperative analgesia on surgical pain in the mouse. Radiotelemetry transmitters were surgically implanted in 28 female ICR mice. A mock ova implantation surgery was then performed. Mice were treated with a single dose of buprenorphine or flunixin meglumine prior to or after surgery, three doses of buprenorphine, or were untreated. Heart rate, blood pressure, home cage activity, food and water consumption, and body weight were measured. The no-analgesia group showed no significant differences between any parameters collected prior to surgery and those collected at similar times during the day of surgery. Significant increases in mouse activity on the day of surgery occurred with all analgesic treatments, compared with pre-surgical activity. There were no consistent significant changes in any other telemetry parameter after treatment with analgesics compared with no analgesia. Food consumption and body weight the day after surgery were reduced significantly in the animals treated with three doses of buprenorphine compared with untreated mice and mice given a single dose of buprenorphine. We conclude that the mock ova implant procedure does not induce sufficient pain to cause alterations in heart rate and blood pressure in the mouse. Activity was significantly reduced in the first 6 h after surgery in mice without analgesia, compared with activity prior to surgery. There were no significant differences between pre-emptive and postoperative analgesia. Body weight and food and water consumption were poor measures of pain because analgesia alone affected these parameters.
Descriptors: postoperative analgesics, evaluating, mice, telemetry, radiotelemetry, heart rate, blood pressure, pain.

Gomes, C.M., P.J. Frantz, G.L. Sanvitto, J.A. Anselmo Franci, and A.B. Lucion (1999). Neonatal handling induces anovulatory estrous cycles in rats. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 32(10): 1239-42. ISSN: 0100-879X.
Abstract: Since previous work has shown that stimulation early in life decreases sexual receptiveness as measured by the female lordosis quotient, we suggested that neonatal handling could affect the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. The effects of neonatal handling on the estrous cycle and ovulation were analyzed in adult rats. Two groups of animals were studied: intact (no manipulation, N = 10) and handled (N = 11). Pups were either handled daily for 1 min during the first 10 days of life or left undisturbed. At the age of 90 days, a vaginal smear was collected daily at 9:00 a.m. and analyzed for 29 days; at 9:00 a.m. on the day of estrus, animals were anesthetized with thiopental (40 mg/kg, ip), the ovaries were removed and the oviduct was dissected and squashed between 2 glass slides. The number of oocytes of both oviductal ampullae was counted under the microscope. The average numbers for each phase of the cycle (diestrus I, diestrus II, proestrus and estrus) during the period analyzed were compared between the two groups. There were no significant differences between intact and handled females during any of the phases. However, the number of handled females that showed anovulatory cycles (8 out of 11) was significantly higher than in the intact group (none out of 10). Neonatal stimulation may affect not only the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, as previously demonstrated, but also the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis in female rats.
Descriptors: anovulation etiology, estrus physiology, handling psychology, animals, newborn, hypothalamo hypophyseal system physiology, pituitary adrenal system physiology, Wistar rats, reproduction.

Gomes, C.M., C. Raineki, P. Ramos de Paula, G.S. Severino, C.V. Helena, J.A. Anselmo Franci, C.R. Franci, G.L. Sanvitto, and A.B. Lucion (2005). Neonatal handling and reproductive function in female rats. Journal of Endocrinology 184(2): 435-45. ISSN: 0022-0795.
Abstract: Neonatal handling induces anovulatory estrous cycles and decreases sexual receptivity in female rats. The synchronous secretion of hormones from the gonads (estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P)), pituitary (luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones) and hypothalamus (LH-releasing hormone (LHRH)) are essential for the reproductive functions in female rats. The present study aimed to describe the plasma levels of E2 and P throughout the estrous cycle and LH, FSH and prolactin (PRL) in the afternoon of the proestrus, and the LHRH content in the medial preoptic area (MPOA), median eminence (ME) and medial septal area (MSA) in the proestrus, in the neonatal handled rats. Wistar pup rats were handled for 1 min during the first 10 days after delivery (neonatal handled group) or left undisturbed (nonhandled group). When they reached adulthood, blood samples were collected through a jugular cannula and the MPOA, ME and MSA were microdissected. Plasma levels of the hormones and the content of LHRH were determined by RIA. The number of oocytes counted in the morning of the estrus day in the handled rats was significantly lower than in the nonhandled ones. Neonatal handling reduces E2 levels only on the proestrus day while P levels decreased in metestrus and estrus. Handled females also showed reduced plasma levels of LH, FSH and PRL in the afternoon of the proestrus. The LHRH content in the MPOA was significantly higher than in the nonhandled group. The reduced secretion of E2, LH, FSH and LHRH on the proestrus day may explain the anovulatory estrous cycle in neonatal handled rats. The reduced secretion of PRL in the proestrus may be related to the decreased sexual receptiveness in handled females. In conclusion, early-life environmental stimulation can induce long-lasting effects on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis.
Descriptors: newborn animals physiology, handling psychology, reproduction physiology, estradiol blood, follicle stimulating hormone blood, gonadorelin analysis, luteinizing hormone blood, median eminence chemistry, preoptic area chemistry, proestrus blood, progesterone blood, prolactin blood, radioimmunoassay methods, Wistar rats, septum of brain chemistry.

Gordon, C.J., E.T. Puckett, and B.K. Padnos (2001). Noninvasive, continuous measurement of rat tail skin temperature by radiotelemetry. FASEB Journal 15(4): A418. ISSN: 0892-6638.
Descriptors: rat, tail skin, temperature, noninvasive, monitoring, radiotelemetry, thermoregulatory status, stress, unrestrained.
Notes: Meeting Information: Annual Meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology on Experimental Biology 2001, March 31-April 04, 2001, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Gos, T., R. Hauser, and M. Krzyzanowski (2002). Regional distribution of glutamate in the central nervous system of rat terminated by carbon dioxide euthanasia. Laboratory Animals 36(2): 127-133. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Carbon dioxide euthanasia is an established method for the termination of small laboratory animals. It has also been employed by the authors in neurobiological research on the postmortem glutamate concentration in the structures of rat brains. The following investigations were aimed at optimizing the termination procedure based on the CO2 saturation rate of the inhaled air. Two rates of CO2 flow were applied, and the higher one significantly augmented the glutamate level in the hippocampus and cerebellum. The relationship between this finding and signs of central fear reaction is discussed. The authors conclude that lower rather than higher CO2 flow in euthanasia procedures is gentler and is therefore preferable for use with laboratory animals.
Descriptors: rats, euthanasia, carbon dioxide, dosage, fearfulness, animal welfare, amygdala, hippocampus, cerebellum, glutamic acid, animal use refinement.

Gutt, C.N., V. Riemer, C. Brier, R. Berguer, and V. Paolucci (1998). Standardized technique of laparoscopic surgery in the rat. Digestive Surgery 15(2): 135-9. ISSN: 0253-4886.
Abstract: The evolution of advanced laparoscopic techniques requires animal models for instrument development, evaluation of the physiopathological correlation and physician training. Selection of surgical models is primarily based on cost, availability, anatomic and physiologic considerations, and housing and anesthetic methods. The use of large animals is becoming increasingly difficult due to restrictive legislation, public concern, and economic factors. A standardized technique of laparoscopic surgery in the rat has been developed to perform procedures in all abdominal regions including fundoplication, splenectomy, nephrectomy, liver resection, herniorraphy, colotomy, colectomy, and retroperitoneal exploration. The equipment consists of a specially designed small animal operating table, a standard arthroscope and micro-instruments. The rat model gives the opportunity to investigate the physiopathological relations and immune functions of laparoscopic procedures, to develop micro-instruments under realistic conditions of a live organism, and it is an excellent training model especially for pediatric and microsurgery. Besides low costs and easy availability, the rat model requires less logistic and financial efforts.
Descriptors: disease models, animal, laparoscopy methods, colectomy methods, fundoplication methods, hepatectomy methods, hernia, inguinal surgery, pneumoperitoneum, artificial, rats, Sprague Dawley rats, splenectomy methods.

Hackbarth, H., N. Kuppers, and W. Bohnet (2000). Euthanasia of rats with carbon dioxide--animal welfare aspects. Laboratory Animals 34(1): 91-96. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Descriptors: rats, euthanasia, carbon dioxide, animal welfare, respiration rate, blood sugar, blood serum, corticosterone, corticotropin, death, distress.

Hale, K.D., D.A. Weigent, D.K. Gauthier, R.N. Hiramoto, and V.K. Ghanta (2003). Cytokine and hormone profiles in mice subjected to handling combined with rectal temperature measurement stress and handling only stress. Life Sciences 72(13): 1495-1508. ISSN: 0024-3205.
Abstract: Stress is known to either up- or down-regulate immunity. In this study, mice were subjected to handling combined with rectal temperature measurement (RTM) stress or handling only stress. We investigated whether there were any significant differences in the effect of handling combined with RTM and handling only on NK cell activity, serum cytokine (IL-1 beta , IL-6, and TNF- alpha ) and ACTH and beta -endorphin levels, and splenic cytokine (IL-1 beta , IL-6, TNF- alpha , IFN- alpha , and IFN- beta ) levels. Circulating cytokines and hormones and splenic cytokine mRNA levels were measured in individual mice. NK cell activity was significantly increased in both stress groups when compared to the control group. Handling combined with RTM produced significantly increased serum levels of IL-1 beta , IL-6, and beta -endorphin. Serum IL-1 beta , ACTH, and beta -endorphin were elevated significantly in the handling only group. Splenic TNF alpha mRNA in both of the stress groups and IL-6 mRNA in handling only group decreased significantly. Our observations are supported by existing literature demonstrating that various stressors have differential effects on immune functions and the neuroendocrine hormones and cytokines, which regulate them.
Descriptors: body temperature, corticotropin, cytokines, endorphins, hormone secretion, hormones, immune system, immunological factors, interleukin 1, interleukin 6, natural killer cells, stress, tumour necrosis factor, mice.

Han, S.S., K.H. Cho, H.S. Han, Y.B. Kim, J.W. Seo, and C.W. Song (1994). [Reproductive performance of the SPF Sprague-Dawley rats under single paired rotational mating]. Korean Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 10(2): 211-218. ISSN: 1225-813X.
Descriptors: rats, mating systems, reproductive performance, litter size, parturition, animal husbandry methods, animal performance, mammals, physiological functions, reproduction, Rodentia, sexual reproduction.
Language of Text: Korean with Korean and English summaries.

Hanberg, A. and C. Trossvik (1995). In situ collection of intestinal lymph in the non-restrained rat. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 22(4): 329-334. ISSN: 0901-3393.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, lymph, sampling methods, body fluids, body parts, mammals, methods, Rodentia, useful animals.
Language of Text: Swedish and English summaries.

Harkin, A., T.J. Connor, J.M. O'Donnell, and J.P. Kelly (2002). Physiological and behavioral responses to stress: What does a rat find stressful. Lab Animal 31(4): 42-50. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, stress, animal behavior, stress factors, telemetry, transponders, responses, duration, heart rate, body temperature, locomotion, physical activity, cage density, litter, feces, subcutaneous injection, escape responses, lighting, odors, cage size, animal testing alternatives, animal handling, pair housing, confinement, stroboscopic lighting, animal use refinement.

Harris, R.B., T.D. Mitchell, J. Zhou, S. Herbert, and D.H. Ryan (2001). Stress-induced weight loss in rats is influenced by the feeding regimen. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 27(2): 1956. ISSN: 0190-5295.
Descriptors: rats, weight loss, stress induced, feeding regimen, repeated restraint, time of day, food access.
Notes: Meeting Information: 31st Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, November 10-15, 2001, San Diego, California, USA.

Harris, R.B.S., T.D. Mitchell, J. Simpson, S.M. Redmann Jr., B.D. Youngblood, and D.H. Ryan (2002). Weight loss in rats exposed to repeated acute restraint stress is independent of energy or leptin status. American Journal of Physiology 1(2): R77-R88. ISSN: 0002-9513.
NAL Call Number: 447.8 Am3
Descriptors: rats, weight loss, repeated restraint, stress, energy, leptin status, husbandry, handling, hypophagia, hyperthermic.

Harris, R.B.S., J. Zhou, T. Mitchell, S. Hebert, and D.H. Ryan (2002). Rats fed only during the light period are resistant to stress-induced weight loss. Physiology and Behavior 76(4-5): 543-550. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Abstract: Repeated restraint stress (3 h/day for 3 days) causes a chronic down-regulation of body weight in rats. This study determined whether weight loss was influenced by the time of day that rats had access to food or that stress was applied. Groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 40% kcal fat diet with food given ad libitum, only during the light phase or only during the dark phase. After 2 weeks of adaptation, rats within each feeding treatment were divided into four groups. One was exposed to repeated restraint at the start of the light phase, another was restrained at the start of the dark phase and the remaining groups were nonstressed controls for restrained rats. Body weight was significantly reduced in ad libitum- and dark-fed restrained rats, compared with nonstressed controls, from Day 2 of restraint, regardless of the time of day that they were stressed. There was no significant effect of restraint on weight change of light-fed rats. Food intake was inhibited by stress in ad libitum- and dark-fed rats, but it was not changed in light-fed rats. Serum corticosterone was increased by restraint in all rats irrespective of feeding schedule. This study demonstrates that stress-induced weight loss only occurs when rats have food available during their normal feeding period (dark phase) and is not determined by increased corticosterone release.
Descriptors: animal models, body weight, dark, feeding behavior, light, stress, weight reduction, rats.

Hawkins, P., D.B. Morton, R. Bevan, K. Heath, J. Kirkwood, P. Pearce, L. Scott, G. Whelan, A. Webb, and Joint Working Group on Refinement (2004). Husbandry refinements for rats, mice, dogs and non-human primates used in telemetry procedures. Seventh report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW Joint Working Group on Refinement, Part B. Laboratory Animals 38(1): 1-10. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Descriptors: animal husbandry methods, dogs, mice, nonhuman primates, rats, veterinary telemetry, animal husbandry standards, animal welfare, laboratory animals, veterinary surgery, animal care, BVAAW, FRAME, RSPCA, UFAW, group housing, long term housing, post surgery, reviews.

Hayes, K.E., J.A. Raucci Jr., N.M. Gades, and L.A. Toth (2000). An evaluation of analgesic regimens for abdominal surgery in mice. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 39(6): 18-23. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, postoperative care, analgesics, dosage, acetaminophen, feed intake, water intake, animal experiments, animal welfare, ibuprofen, buprenorphine, animal use refinement.

Hayssen, V. (1998). Effect of transatlantic transport on reproduction of agouti and nonagouti deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus. Laboratory Animals 32(1): 55-64. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Descriptors: transport of animals, reproduction, infertility, Rodentia, rodents, laboratory animals, mammals, noxious animals, noxious mammals, pests, physiological functions, transport, useful animals, Peromyscus maniculatus, Muridae.

Hayton, S.M., A. Kriss, and D.P.R. Muller (1999). Comparison of the effects of four anaesthetic agents on somatosensory evoked potentials in the rat. Laboratory Animals 33(3): 243-251. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Electrophysiological techniques provide an objective and non-invasive measure of neurological function. In order to undertake detailed evoked potential studies in rats on repeated occasions, it is necessary to find an appropriate anaesthetic agent which has minimal and reproducible effects on the parameters to be studied and also has a minimal effect on the general welfare of the animals. In this study we compared the effects of four common anaesthetic agents (ketamine-xylazine, medetomidine, isoflurane and fentanyl/fluanisone-midazolam) on somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in rats following electrical stimulation of the fore- and hind-paw. Fentanyl/fluanisone-midazolam was found to be well tolerated by the animals and to have, in general, the least deleterious effect on SEPs. For example, the response recorded at the level of the somatosensory cortex (P1), following forelimb stimulation, appeared on average 1.80 ms earlier with fentanyl/fluanisone-midazolam than with the other agents and the peak-to-peak amplitude (CI to CII) of the response recorded at the cervical (C3) level was on average 5.86 microvolt greater with fentanyl/fluanisone-midazolam. Fentanyl/fluanisone-midazolam is, therefore, recommended as the anaesthetic of choice for longitudinal studies of SEPs in the rat.
Descriptors: rats, anesthesia, ketamine, xylazine, medetomidine, isoflurane, fentanyl, electrical stimulation, responses, injectable anesthetics, cerebral cortex, fluanisone, midazolam.

Heikkilae, M., R. Sarkanen, H.M. Voipio, and T. Nevalainen (2001). Cage position preferences of rats. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 28(2): 65-74. ISSN: 0901-3393.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, animal husbandry, cages, behavior, animal housing, preferences, position.

Hennessy, M.B. and A. Morris (2005). Passive responses of young guinea pigs during exposure to a novel environment: Influences of social partners and age. Developmental Psychobiology 46(2): 86-96. ISSN: 0012-1630.
Descriptors: guinea pigs, responses, novel environment, social partners, age, exposure, isolation, study.

Hobbs, A., W. Kozubal, and F.F. Nebiar (1997). Evaluation of objects for environmental enrichment of mice. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 36(3): 69-71. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: mice, animal welfare, behavior, litter for animals, pipes, plastics, animal housing, equipment, enrichment, Rodentia, activity, behavior patterns, toys.

Holden, H.E., R.E. Stoll, J.W. Spalding, and R.W. Tennant (1998). Hemizygous Tg.AC Ttansgenic mouse as a potential alternative to the two-year mouse carcinogenicity bioassay: evaluation of husbandry and housing factors. Journal of Applied Toxicology 18(1): 19-24. ISSN: 0260-437X.
Descriptors: transgenic mouse, two year mouse, alternative, husbandry, housing, bioassay, carcinogenicity.

Holley, D.C., B. Said, A. Howard, and D.P. Ward (2003). Monitoring lab animal feeding by using subcutaneous microchip transponders: validation of use with group-housed rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(3): 26-28. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, group housed, monitoring feeding, microchip transponders, subcutaneous, pellet feeder, feeding behaviors.

Horvath, K.M., T. Harkany, J. Mulder, J.M. Koolhaas, P.G. Luiten, and P. Meerlo (2004). Neonatal handling increases sensitivity to acute neurodegeneration in adult rats. Journal of Neurobiology 60(4): 463-72. ISSN: 0022-3034.
Abstract: Environmental stimuli during the perinatal period can result in persistent individual differences in neural viability and cognitive functions. Earlier studies have shown that brief daily maternal separation and/or handling of rat pups during the first weeks of life reduces stress reactivity during adulthood and attenuates neuronal loss and cognitive decline during aging. In the present study we examined whether neonatal handling also affects the sensitivity of the adult brain to an acute neurotoxic insult. Postnatally handled and nonhandled control rats were left undisturbed from weaning onwards until the age of 11 months. At this age, the animals were subjected to a neurotoxic challenge by unilateral infusion of 60 mM of the glutamate analogue N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM). The brains were collected to measure cholinergic cell and fiber loss. In the nonlesioned side of the brain, cholinergic cell number in the NBM and fiber density in the cortex were not different between postnatally handled and control rats. However, in the lesioned hemisphere handled animals exhibited a significantly higher loss of choline-acetyltransferase-immunoreactive and acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers in the somatosensory cortex. The present results provide evidence for an enhanced vulnerability of postnatally handled rats to acute neurodegeneration in contrast to the previously reported attenuation of spontaneous aging-related neurodegenerative processes.
Descriptors: handling psychology, immunity, natural physiology, maternal deprivation, nerve degeneration physiopathology, stress, psychological physiopathology, acetylcholine metabolism, acetylcholinesterase metabolism, animals, newborn, basal nucleus of meynert drug effects, basal nucleus of meynert pathology, basal nucleus of meynert physiopathology, cell death physiology, choline o acetyltransferase metabolism, cholinergic fibers pathology, corticosterone blood, immunohistochemistry, laterality physiology, n methylaspartate, nerve degeneration chemically induced, nerve degeneration pathology, neurotoxins, Wistar rats, stress, psychological blood, stress, psychological pathology.

Howell, L.A., R.B.S. Harris, C. Clarke, B.D. Youngblood, D.H. Ryan, and T.A. Gilbertson (1999). The effects of restraint stress on intake of preferred and nonpreferred solutions in rodents. Physiology and Behavior 65(4-5): 697-704. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Descriptors: rodents, restraint stress, solutions, intake, preferred, nonpreferred, effects, rat, hamsters.

Huang Brown, K.M. and F.A. Guhad (2002). Chocolate, an effective means of oral drug delivery in rats. Lab Animal 31(10): 34-36. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, oral administration, indometacin, non steroidal antiinflammatory agents, dosage, training of animals, drug formulations, stress, animal welfare, animal testing alternatives, celecoxib, animal use refinement.

Hubrecht, R. (2000). Advancing rabbit and rodent housing and husbandry research. Progress in the Reduction, Refinement and Replacement of Animal Experimentation: Proceedings of the 3rd World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, Bologna, Italy, p. 1257-1267.
Descriptors: rabbit, rodent, housing, husbandry, animal welfare, enrichment, research.

Hurst, J.L., C.J. Barnard, U. Tolladay, C.M. Nevison, and C.D. West (1999). Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: effects of cage stocking density and behavioural predictors of welfare. Animal Behaviour 58(Part 3): 563-586. ISSN: 0003-3472.
NAL Call Number: 410 B77
Descriptors: rats, stocking density, stress response, sex differences, physiopathology, animal welfare, aggressive behavior, grooming, physical activity, escape responses, kidneys, adrenal glands, IGG, thymus gland, corticosterone, blood serum, testosterone, blood picture, blood chemistry.

Israeli, E., G. Zannineli, O. Weiss, M. Margalit, M. Chevion, E. Berenshtein, and E. Goldin (2003). The effect of chronic restrain stress on the normal and inflammatory colon in rats. Digestive Disease Week Abstracts and Itinerary Planner: Abstract No. T1181.
Descriptors: rats, chronic restraint, stress, effect, colitis, colon, normal, inflammatory, digestive system.
Notes: Meeting Information: Digestive Disease, May 17-22, 2003, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Jablonski, P. and B.O. Howden (2002). Oral buprenorphine and aspirin analgesia in rats undergoing liver transplantation. Laboratory Animals 36(2): 134-143. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: The objective of this study was to establish effective postoperative analgesia for Dark Agouti rats undergoing liver transplantation with minimal additional stress due to handling and no adverse effect on transplant outcome. Oral administration of buprenorphine (0.5 mg/kg/dose) or aspirin (100 mg/kg/dose) in raspberry-flavoured gelatine were compared to controls receiving no treatment or plain gelatine. The drugs were presented five times: immediately on recovery from anaesthesia and at 12 h intervals thereafter. All rats underwent right nephrectomy and replacement of their liver by an arterialized liver isograft preserved optimally for 24 h. All groups had reversible hepatic damage, lost weight and demonstrated severely reduced dark cycle activity after surgery. Neither treatment appeared to ameliorate the loss of body weight that probably reflected hepatic insufficiency during the first week as well as pain and surgical stress. In the second week, when liver function was 'normal', rats began to regain weight at the pre-transplant rate. Aspirin treatment significantly increased activity during the first and second dark cycles after surgery, whereas buprenorphine significantly increased activity during the second dark cycle only. Neither drug had any apparent adverse effects on the rats or on graft function. Postoperative oral administration of aspirin should be incorporated into future programmes of liver transplantation in rodents. More effective treatment in the immediate postoperative period may require oral administration of analgesia prior to surgery or a single subcutaneous injection of an analgesic agent on completion of surgery in addition to postoperative oral. administration of aspirin.
Descriptors: rats, postoperative care, aspirin, opium alkaloids, body weight, liver, weight, blood plasma, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, enzyme activity, creatine, bilirubin, physical activity, animal welfare, animal use refinement.

Jackson, R.K. (1997). Unusual laboratory rodent species: research uses, care, and associated biohazards. ILAR Journal 38(1): 13-21. ISSN: 1084-2020.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1I43
Descriptors: rodents, voles, Rodentia, squirrels, laboratory animals, animal models, experimentation, medical sciences, research, mammals, noxious animals, noxious mammals, pests, Rodentia, useful animals, Octodon degus, microtus, clethrionomys, peromyscus, Sigmodon hispidus, spermophilus, praomys, marmota.

Jennings, M., G.R. Batchelor, P.F. Brain, A. Dick, H. Elliott, R.J. Francis, R.C. Hubrecht, J.L. Hurst, D.B. Morton, and A.G. Peters (1998). Refining rodent husbandry: the mouse. Laboratory Animals 32(3): 233-259. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Descriptors: mice, floor space, floor type, battery husbandry, cages, cage size, litter, social behavior, wastage, animal welfare, transport of animals, transgenic animals.

Kamerman, P.R., Z.L.C. Di, and A. Fuller (2001). Miniature data loggers for remote measurement of body temperature in medium-sized rodents. Journal of Thermal Biology 26(3): 159-163. ISSN: 0306-4565.
NAL Call Number: QP82.2.T4J6
Descriptors: rodents, temperature, miniature data logger, body temperature, measurement, remote.

Key, D. (2004). Environmental enrichment options for laboratory rats and mice. Lab Animal 33(2): 39-44. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: animal husbandry methods, animals, laboratory physiology, behavior, animal physiology, environment design, animal welfare, aimal housing, mice, rats.

King Herbert, A.P., T.W. Hesterburg, P.P. Thevenaz, T.E. Hamm Jr., O.R. Moss, D.B. Janszen, and J.I. Everitt (1997). Effect of immobilization restraint on Syrian golden hamsters. Laboratory Animal Science 47(4): 362-366. ISSN: 0023-6764.
NAL Call Number: 410.9 P94
Abstract: Rodent nose-only inhalation toxicology systems comprise whole-body immobilization in plastic restraint tubes. This method of restraint is known to have a variety of effects on animals. In the studies reported here, two independent toxicology laboratories examined the effects of inhalation tube restraint in Syrian golden hamsters, a species that has recently gained importance in inhalation studies of fibrous particulates. Body weight, food and water consumption, core body temperature, and plasma cortisol and corticosterone concentrations were assessed in animals immobilized in nose-only inhalation tubes, and the results were compared with those from unrestrained cage-control animals. Animals were immobilized for either 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks (subchronic), or 4 h/day for 14 consecutive days (subacute), mimicking exposure conditions commonly used in nose-only inhalation studies. Tube restraint was found to induce a marked decrease in body weight, which increased in response to cessation of restraint. The body weight decrement was associated with significant differences in food and water consumption between the restrained and control groups in the subacute study and only food consumption in the subchronic study. During the restraint period, core body temperature in the immobilized animals increased slightly but not above the normal range for this species. Plasma cortisol and corticosterone concentrations were not significantly increased with use of restraint, compared with values in controls. Immobilization-associated body weight depression in Syrian golden hamsters is important for the evaluation of nose-only inhalation study results because many normal physiologic. parameters, as well as toxicant-induced effects, are associated with body weight status.
Descriptors: golden hamsters, restraint of animals, immobilization, inhalation, toxicology, body weight, feed intake, water intake, body temperature, corticosterone, hydrocortisone, blood plasma, inhalation tube restraint, nose only inhalation toxicology, subchronic studies, subacute studies.

Kort, W.J., J.M. Hekking Weijma, M.T. Ten Kate, V. Sorm, and R. Van Strik (1998). A microchip implant system as a method to determine body temperature of terminally ill rats and mice. Laboratory Animals 32(3): 260-269. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Klebsiella pneumoniae was inoculated intratracheally into rats and mice, and the temperature of the animals was recorded twice daily using microchip transponders (ELAMS) implanted either s.c. or i.p. The microchip temperatures were compared with rectal temperatures taken at the same time. The results showed that ELAMS was easy to operate and there were no important drawbacks in the use of the system were observed. The temperatures measured by the transponders implanted s.c. and i.p. did not differ significantly from rectal temperatures. In 2 out of 3 experiments on rats, it was shown that when the temperatures reached values below 36 degrees C, the median survival time of the animals was 24 h. In an experiment on mice, the same median survival time was observed at 36 degrees C. In 1 experiment using rats, however, the disease was so acute that death occurred before any temperature drop. It is suggested that when a 36 degrees C cutoff point is used instead of the time of death in this particular animal model, the statistical analysis is not altered, and it may spare animals further suffering for approximately 24 h. It is concluded that the ELAMS system of monitoring body temperature is simple and relatively stress free for laboratory animals.
Descriptors: body temperature, monitoring, animal welfare, animal experiments, laboratory animals, experimental infections, transponders, rats, mice, Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Kramer, K., H. Van de Weerd, A. Mulder, C. Van Heijningen, V. Baumans, R. Remie, H.P. Voss, and B.F.M. Van Zutphen (2004). Effect of conditioning on the increase of heart rate and body temperature provoked by handling in the mouse. ATLA, Alternatives to Laboratory Animals 32(Supplement 1A): 177-181. ISSN: 0261-1929.
NAL Call Number: Z7994.L3A5
Abstract: To assess the effect of procedures on animal welfare, various physiological parameters, such as body weight, hormone levels in plasma and/or urine, heart rate (HR), blood pressure and body temperature (BT), can be used. When measuring physiological parameters with techniques involving restraint of the animals, the results must be interpreted with caution, since restraint itself may have an effect on those parameters. Radio-telemetry, using an implantable transmitter, provides a way to obtain more accurate and reliable physiological measurements from freely moving animals in their own environment. In this study, we have used radio-telemetry to investigate the influence of conditioning on the increase of HR and BT as provoked by handling of mice. It was found that, after a conditioning period of 12 days, the increase of HR due to handling was significantly reduced.
Descriptors: animal testing alternatives, animal welfare, body temperature, conditioning, heart rate, stress, stress response, telemetry, mice.

Kramer, S. (1998). Perioperatives Narkosemanagement bei Kleinsaugern. [Care of rabbits and rodents during and after anaesthesia]. Tierarztliche Praxis Ausgabe K, Kleintiere/Heimtiere 26(2): 129-135.
Descriptors: rabbits, rodents, care, anesthesia, post operative, surgery, husbandry.

Krebs Thomson, K., D. Giracello, A. Solis, and M.A. Geyer (2001). Post-weaning handling attenuates isolation-rearing induced disruptions of prepulse inhibition in rats. Behavioural Brain Research 120(2): 221-4. ISSN: 0166-4328.
Abstract: Isolation rearing is a developmentally specific non-pharmacological manipulation in rats that produces a deficit in sensorimotor gating, as measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex. Previous research has demonstrated that the isolation rearing effect on PPI is sensitive to several factors, including the time of testing with respect to length of isolation, prepulse intensities used, strain of rats, and type of housing environment. This study tested whether handling is another factor that interacts with the isolation-rearing paradigm in PPI. Rats were housed either in the social (three rats per cage) or isolate (one rat per cage) conditions and were handled either 1-2 times per week (minimal handling) or on a daily basis (daily handling). All rats were then tested at 8 and 10 weeks post-weaning. There was an interaction between housing and handling. In the minimal handling condition, isolation rearing produced a deficit in PPI. This effect was absent, however, in the daily handling condition. Thus, regular handling of rats may interfere with the observation of the isolation rearing effect on PPI and should be carefully controlled in studies using this animal model of PPI deficits.
Descriptors: handling psychology, social isolation psychology, startle reaction physiology, rats, Sprague Dawley rats.

Krohn, T.C., A.K. Hansen, and N. Dragsted (2003). The impact of cage ventilation on rats housed in IVC systems. Laboratory Animals 37(2): 85-93. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Today the use of individually ventilated cage systems (IVC systems) is common, especially for housing transgenic rodents. Typically, in each cage a ventilation rate of 40 to 50 air changes per hour is applied, but in some systems even up to 120 air changes per hour is applied. To reach this rate, the air is blown into the cage at a relatively high speed. However, at the animal's level most systems ventilate with an air speed of approximately 0.2 m/s. In the present paper, two studies were conducted, one analysing whether an air speed below 0.2 m/s or just above 0.5 m/s affects the rats, and another study analysing whether air changes of 50, 80 and 120 times per hour affect the rats. In both studies, monitoring of preferences as well as physiological parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure, was used to show the ability of the animals to register the different parameters and to avoid them if possible. Air speeds inside the cage of as high as 0.5 m/s could not be shown to affect the rats, while the number of air changes in each cage should be kept below 80 times per hour to avoid impacts on physiology (heart rate and systolic blood pressure). Also the rats prefer cages with air changes below 80 times per hour if they have the opportunity of choosing, as shown in the preference test.
Descriptors: rats, animal husbandry, ventilation, IVC systems, impact, housing, ventilation methods, air movements, animal welfare, behavior.

Krugner Higby, L., L. Smith, M. Clark, T.D. Heath, E. Dahly, B. Schiffman, S. Hubbard Van Stelle, D. Ney, and A. Wendland (2003). Liposome-encapsulated oxymorphone hydrochloride provides prolonged relief of postsurgical visceral pain in rats. Comparative Medicine 53(3): 270-279. ISSN: 1532-0820.
NAL Call Number: SF77.C65
Abstract: Adequate pain control is necessary for optimal postsurgical recovery and humane treatment of laboratory and companion animals. Opioid drugs are currently the most potent analgesic agents available in human and veterinary medicine. Long-acting formulations of opioid drugs confer several important advantages over standard pharmaceutical preparations, especially for use in animals. A long-acting formulation of oxymorphone hydrochloride was produced by encapsulation into liposomes. Liposome-encapsulated (LE) oxymorphone was tested in a rat model of visceral postoperative pain. Rats were given one subcutaneous injection of LE oxymorphone (1.2 or 1.6 mg/kg of body weight) or standard oxymorphone (0.3 mg/kg) at the time of intestinal transection or resection. A single administration of LE oxymorphone hydrochloride was as effective for relief of postoperative pain in rats (P = 0.18), as were multiple (q4 h or q8 h) injections of 0.3 mg/kg of the standard pharmaceutical preparation. The rats given LE oxymorphone prior to intestinal resection also had significantly higher body weight at three and seven days after surgery than did rats that were given standard oxymorphone. In conclusion, LE oxymorphone was effective in treating visceral pain associated with intestinal surgery in rats. On the basis of body weight gain, rats treated with LE oxymorphone had improved recovery outcome, compared with rats treated with repeated injections of standard oxymorphone.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, postoperative care, pain, analgesia, morphine, adverse effects, liposomes artificial, drug delivery systems, weight loss, voluntary intake, dose response, animal welfare.

Kudryashova, D.R., A.L. Markel, T.V. Sharova, and G.S. Yakobson (2004). Effect of neonatal handling in rats with hereditary stress-induced arterial hypertension (NISAG rats). Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine 137(4): 345-7. ISSN: 0007-4888.
Abstract: NISAG rats were subjected to handling on days 1-21 after birth. Blood pressure and plasma corticosterone concentration were measured in 6-month-old handled and control NISAG rats at rest and under stress conditions. Animal behavior was studied in the open-field test. Handling had no effect on body weight and relative weights of the heart and adrenal glands. In rats subjected to handling, changes in blood pressure and adrenal cortex produced by acute emotional stress (30-min restriction) were less pronounced than in control animals. Handled rats demonstrated less fear in a new environment and exhibited high exploratory activity in the open-field test. Our findings suggest that neonatal handling reduces stress reactivity and decreases the severity of hypertension in adult NISAG rats.
Descriptors: handling psychology, hypertension physiopathology, psychological stress, newborn animals, behavior, animal physiology, blood pressure physiology, hypertension, genetics, rats, inbred rat strains.

Kuhnen, G. (1999). The effect of cage size and enrichment on core temperature and febrile response of the golden hamster. Laboratory Animals 33(3): 221-227. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of cage size and cage enrichment. Golden hamsters were individually housed in standard cages of four different sizes and in enriched cages of three different sizes since 3 weeks of age. Each of the seven housing groups consisted of 12 hamsters. After 14 weeks of housing in their respective environments the measurements started. The mean baseline rectal temperature was significantly higher in hamsters housed in small cages than in hamsters housed in large cages. After the injection of fever-inducing lipopolysaccharide rectal temperature increased by 1 to 2 degrees C. The increase of rectal temperature and the fever index were the highest in animals housed in large cages and the smallest in animals housed in small cages. Through cage enrichment and increasing cage size the mean febrile response increased while the mean baseline rectal temperature decreased. Cage size and cage enrichment had no effect on the dispersion of the measured values. The differences in microclimate between large and small cages were too small to have an effect on thermoregulation. The results indicate that housing in small cages induce chronic stress which obviously affects thermoregulation. The findings demonstrate that the results of some physiological experiments are significantly influenced by the preexperimental housing conditions.
Descriptors: golden hamsters, cages, cage density, enrichment, floor space, body temperature, fever, lipopolysaccharides, stress, standard deviation, animal experiments.

Kurien, B.T. and R.H. Scofield (1999). Mouse urine collection using clear plastic wrap. Laboratory Animals 33(1): 83-86. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Qualitative urinalysis using Multistix reagent strips for the detection of urinary pH, protein, glucose, bilirubin, blood, ketone, urobilinogen and creatinine can be carried out with a few drops of mouse urine. The use of metabolic cages is not practical for such qualitative studies particularly when several animals are involved. Here we describe two different methods for collecting pure mouse urine. The single animal method (SAM) involves allowing a single mouse to urinate on Glad cling wrap outside of the animal cage. The multiple animal method (MAM) involves partitioning seven mice into seven different make-shift compartments laid out on top of the cling wrap and allowing them to urinate. The voided urine, in each case, is then aspirated into micro-centrifuge tubes using a Pipetman. Without coercion pure urine was obtained as early as 12 s. Volumes in the range of 10-25O microliter were obtained. Modifications of the SAM could prove useful for rat or mouse urine collection under conditions of microgravity.
Descriptors: mice, urine, sampling, urination, plastic film, laboratory methods.

Kuriyama, T., K. Oishi, H. Kakazu, and K. Machida (1998). [Changes of physiological functions in rats induced by immobilization stress]. Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi [Japanese Journal of Hygiene] 52(4): 647-53. ISSN: 0021-5082.
Abstract: A study was conducted on the changes of physiological function in rats due to immobilization stress. Male Fischer rats (SPF) of 32 weeks of age were housed in individual cages for 4 weeks. Then all rats were immobilized by stainless wire mesh for 6 hours daily for 3 days. Blood was collected before the 1st stress, immediately after the 1st stress, immediately after the 3rd stress and the day after the 3rd stress. The results of this experiment were as follows: (1) The total leukocyte counts in the blood of the rats after the 1st trial was significantly higher than that before the 1st trial. (2) The percentage of lymphocytes in the blood after the 1st trial was significantly lower than that before the 1st trial, whereas that of neutrophils was significantly higher. (3) Correlations between phagocytic activity and superoxide production of neutrophils by histochemical NBT reduction assay showed significantly a positive correlation before the 1st trial. However, no significant correlations were observed in immediately after the 1st trial and the 3rd trial. The day after the 3rd trial, a positive correlation was observed again. These correlations showed that an unsuitable state of the neutrophil function was induced by the immobilization stress. (4) Serum biochemical profiles were affected by the immobilization stress. Also, GOT, GPT, LDH, CK and UA were increased after the 1st trial, whereas, TG, TP, ALB and ALP were decreased after the 1st trial. T-CHO was increased only immediately after the 3rd stress. These results suggest that immobilization stress affected blood cells and serum components, and then the host defense and physiological functions were damaged respectively.
Descriptors: immobilization adverse effects, stress physiopathology, leukocyte count, neutrophils physiology, phagocytosis, inbred F344 rats, superoxides metabolism.
Language of Text: Japanese.

Larsson, F., B. Winblad, and A.H. Mohammed (2002). Psychological stress and environmental adaptation in enriched vs. impoverished housed rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 73(1): 193-207. ISSN: 0091-3057.
Abstract: In this study, we report differential behavioural and cognitive effects, as assessed in the open-field and the Morris water maze, following psychological stress in enriched vs. impoverished housed rats. Three stress conditions were evaluated: nonstress, mild stress and powerful stress. Mild stress consisted of exposure to an avoidance box but without shock, while in the powerful stress condition animals were exposed to an electric shock. The results revealed distinct effects in the differentially housed animals. Prior exposure to a mild stress enhanced escape performance in the water maze in enriched but not impoverished animals. However, preexposure to powerful stress negatively affected animals from both housing conditions in the water maze task, but with the enriched animals less affected than impoverished animals. In the open-field test, stress preexposure reduced locomotion counts in both the differentially housed animals. In addition, the results showed that the enrichment effect on emotional reactivity in the open-field is long-lasting and persists even after extensive training and housing in standard laboratory conditions. The results are discussed in relation to the nature of the behavioural and learning differences between the differentially housed animals.
Descriptors: environment, escape reaction, maze learning, motor activity, stress, psychological psychology, housing, animal statistics and numerical data, rats, Sprague Dawley rats.

Laviola, G., M. Rea, S. Morley Fletcher, S. Di Carlo, A. Bacosi, R. De Simone, M. Bertini, and R. Pacifici (2004). Beneficial effects of enriched environment on adolescent rats from stressed pregnancies. European Journal of Neuroscience 20(6): 1655-1664. ISSN: 0953-816X.
Abstract: The capacity of an early environmental intervention to normalize the behavioural and immunological dysfunctions produced by a stressed pregnancy was investigated. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats underwent three 45-min sessions per day of prenatal restraint stress (PS) on gestation days 11-21, and their offspring were assigned to either an enriched-environment or standard living cages throughout adolescence [postnatal days (pnd) 22-43]. Juvenile rats from stressed pregnancies had a prominent depression of affiliative/playful behaviour and of basal circulating CD4 T lymphocytes, CD8 T lymphocytes and T4/T8 ratio. They also showed increased emotionality and spleen and brain frontal cortex levels of pro-inflammatory interleoukin-1beta (IL-1beta) cytokine. A more marked response to cyclophosphamide (CPA: two 2 mg/kg IP injections) induced immunosuppression was also found in prenatal stressed rats. Enriched housing increased the amount of time adolescent PS rats spent in positive species-typical behaviours (i.e. play behaviour), reduced emotionality and reverted most of immunological alterations. In addition to its effects in PS rats, enriched housing increased anti-inflammatory IL-2 and reduced pro-inflammatory IL-1beta production by activated splenocytes, also producing a marked alleviation of CPA-induced immune depression. In the brain, enriched housing increased IL-1beta values in hypothalamus, while slightly normalizing these values in the frontal cortex from PS rats. This is a first indication that an environmental intervention, such as enriched housing, during adolescence can beneficially affect basal immune parameters and rats response to both early stress and drug-induced immunosuppression.
Descriptors: rats, stressed, enriched environment, beneficial effects, pregnancies, behavioral, immunological.

Lawson, D.M., M. Churchill, and P.C. Churchill (2000). The effects of housing enrichment on cardiovascular parameters in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 39(1): 9-13. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: housing, enrichment, cardiovascular, effects, rat, hypertensive.

Lazarov, O., J. Robinson, Y.P. Tang, I.S. Hairston, Z. Korade Mirnics, V.M. Lee, L.B. Hersh, R.M. Sapolsky, K. Mirnics, and S.S. Sisodia (2005). Environmental enrichment reduces Abeta levels and amyloid deposition in transgenic mice. Cell 120(5): 701-713. ISSN: 0092-8674.
Abstract: Cerebral deposition of beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptides is an invariant pathological hallmark in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and transgenic mice coexpressing familial AD-linked APP and PS1 variants. We now report that exposure of transgenic mice to an "enriched environment" results in pronounced reductions in cerebral Abeta levels and amyloid deposits, compared to animals raised under "standard housing" conditions. The enzymatic activity of an Abeta-degrading endopeptidase, neprilysin, is elevated in the brains of "enriched" mice and inversely correlated with amyloid burden. Moreover, DNA microarray analysis revealed selective upregulation in levels of transcripts encoded by genes associated with learning and memory, vasculogenesis, neurogenesis, cell survival pathways, Abeta sequestration, and prostaglandin synthesis. These studies provide evidence that environmental enrichment leads to reductions in steady-state levels of cerebral Abeta peptides and amyloid deposition and selective upregulation in levels of specific transcripts in brains of transgenic mice.
Descriptors: transgenic mice, enrichment, amyloid deposition, Abeta levels, Alzheimers disease, reduction.

Leach, M.C., N. Ambrose, V.J. Bosell, and D.B. Morton (2000). The development of a novel form of mouse cage enrichment. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 3(2): 81-91. ISSN: 1088-8705.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.J68
Descriptors: mice, cages, enrichment, animal husbandry, animal behavior, animal welfare, cage design, environmental enrichment, cage insert, animal preferences, animal use refinement.

Lee, K.M., L.L. Reed, D.L. Bove, and J.A. Dill (1998). Effects of water dilution, housing, and food on rat urine collected from the metabolism cage. Laboratory Animal Science 48(5): 520-525. ISSN: 0023-6764.
NAL Call Number: 410.9 P94
Abstract: The objective of the study reported here was to investigate three factors that may affect the amounts of water consumed and urine excreted by a rat in the metabolism cage: water dilution, housing, and food. Young F344/N rats (eight per group) were used for all experiments. Food was withheld from rats before each 16-h urine collection, then rats were transferred into a metabolism cage. For trial A (water dilution), urine was collected from rats supplied with dyed water (0.05%,vol/vol). This was repeated three times over a 2-week period. Dye in water or urine was quantified, using a spectrophotometer. For trial B (housing), rats were individually housed in wire cages for 3 weeks before the first urine collection. Then they were group housed in the solid-bottom cage (four per cage). After 2 weeks of acclimation, urine collection was repeated. For trial C (food), one group of rats was provided with food, the other was not, during urine collection. About 8% of urine samples of small volume (less than or equal to 3 ml) from trial A were contaminated with drinking water up to 13% of volume. The average urine volume associated with individual housing was approximately twice as large as that associated with group housing. When food was provided during urine collection, rats consumed similar amounts of water but excreted significantly smaller amounts of urine than did rats without food. It was concluded that water dilution of a urine sample from a sipper bottle is relatively small; rats individually housed in wire caging before urine collection can consumed and excrete a larger quantity of water, compared with rats group housed in solid-bottom cages: and highly variable urine volumes are, in part, associated with. lack of access to food during urine collection.
Descriptors: rats, metabolism, starvation, urine, volume, water intake, group size, cages, floor type, dilution, individual characteristics, renal function.

Lehmann, J., C.R. Pryce, A.L. Jongen Relo, T. Stohr, H.H.J. Pothuizen, and J. Feldon (2002). Comparison of maternal separation and early handling in terms of their neurobehavioral effects in aged rats. Neurobiology of Aging 23(3): 457-466. ISSN: 0197-4580.
Descriptors: rats, aging, early handling, husbandry, maternal separation, neurobehavioral effects, pup nonhandling, stress, comparison.

Lesage, J., L. Dufourny, C. Laborie, F. Bernet, B. Blondeau, I. Avril, B. Breant, and J.P. Dupouy (2002). Perinatal malnutrition programs sympathoadrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responsiveness to restraint stress in adult male rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 14(2): 135-143. ISSN: 0953-8194.
Descriptors: rats, adult, male, restraint stress, response, perinatal malnutrition, hypothalamic, pituitary, adrenal, responsiveness.

Lightfoot, T.L. (1999). Molar trimming in rabbits, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando, Florida, Eastern States Veterinary Association: Gainesville, FL, Vol. 13, p. 843-844.
NAL Call Number: SF605.N672
Descriptors: rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs, teeth, trimming, veterinary care.

Linder, C.C. (2003). Mouse nomenclature and maintenance of genetically engineered mice. Comparative Medicine 53(2): 119-125. ISSN: 1532-0820.
NAL Call Number: SF77.C65
Abstract: Modern genetic engineering technologies enable us to manipulate the mouse genome in increasingly complex ways to model human biology and disease. As a result, the number of mouse strains carrying transgenes or induced mutations has increased markedly. Thorough understanding of strain and gene nomenclature is essential to ensure that investigators know what kind of mouse they have, and what to expect in terms of phenotype. Genetically engineered mice alter gene function by over-expressing, eliminating, or modifying a gene product. The resulting phenotype is often unexpected and not completely understood, necessitating special care and potentially complex breeding and husbandry strategies. Animal care technicians responsible for routine maintenance of the colony facility managers, veterinarians, and research personnel working with mice should be well informed about the nature of the mutation, distinguishing characteristics, and necessary precautions in handling the mice. Personnel working with mice also must be aware of the multitude of factors intrinsic to the mouse and present in the environment that can influence reproductive performance. Finally, diligent adherence to the maintenance of genetic quality in conjunction with cryopreservation of germplasm is the best insurance against loss of a colony.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, animal genetic resources, germplasm conservation, mutants, strain differences, strains, transgenic animals, phenotype, gene expression, inbred lines, animal models, animal husbandry, genotype, genetic background.

Liu, D., J. Diorio, J. Day, D. Francis, S. Sharma, and M.J. Meaney (1998). Maternal care, cognition and hippocampal development in rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 24(1-2): 176. ISSN: 0190-5295.
Descriptors: rats, cognition, development, hippocampus, maternal care.
Notes: Meeting Information: 28th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Part 1, November 7-12, 1998, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Liu, D., J. Diorio, D. Francis, F. Champagne, S. Sharma, and M.J. Meaney (1999). Environmental effects on cognitive development in the rat: maternal care vs. environmental enrichment. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 25(1-2): 615. ISSN: 0190-5295.
Descriptors: rat, environmental effects, maternal care, cognitive development, environmental enrichment.
Notes: Meeting Information: 29th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, October 23-28, 1999, Miami Beach, Florida, USA.

Lovic, V., A. Gonzalez, and A.S. Fleming (2001). Maternally separated rats show deficits in maternal care in adulthood. Developmental Psychobiology 39(1): 19-33. ISSN: 0012-1630.
Descriptors: rats, behavior, maternally separated, adulthood, maternal care, deficits, early experience, adult behavior.

Lucion, A.B., C.M. Gomes, C. Raineki, I. Franskoviaki, G.S. Severino, C.R. Franci, F.J.A. Anselmo, and G.L. Sanvitto (2003). Neonatal handling and reproductive function in female rats. Society for NeuroScience Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner: Abstract No. 507.12.
Online: http://sfn.scholarone.com
Descriptors: rats, reproductive function, neonatal handling, female, behavior, stimulation, stress, hormones.
Notes: Meeting Information: 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, November 08-12, 2003, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Lucion, A.B., F.M. Pereira, E.C. Winkelman, G.L. Sanvitto, and J.A. Anselmo Franci (2003). Neonatal handling reduces the number of cells in the locus coeruleus of rats. Behavioral Neuroscience 117(5): 894-903. ISSN: 0735-7044.
NAL Call Number: QP351.B45
Descriptors: handling psychology, locus coeruleus cytology, newborn animals, cell count methods, locus coeruleus physiology, Wistar rats.

Luketich, J.D., K.E. Michel, P.G. Curcillo II, D.A. Rigberg, M.E. Weiss, I.D. Feurer, and J.L. Mullen (1998). Automated, eight-cage indirect calorimetry in rats. Nutrition (Burbank) 14(9): 672-7. ISSN: 0899-9007.
Abstract: We have constructed an automated, eight-cage indirect calorimeter (AIC) for the measurement of energy expenditure in rats. We compared the measurements of resting energy expenditure (REE) in rats during a 30-h fast obtained with the AIC with those obtained with a manual indirect calorimetry (MIC) system. There was both a high degree of correlation between the two techniques during the initial 18 h of the fast (r = 0.90, P < 0.05) and strong intertechnique agreement. REE (AIC) decreased during the final 12 h of the 30-h fast (79.6 +/- 2.7-72.0 +/- 4.4 kcal.kg-0.75.d-1 [mean +/- SD, P < 0.01]). REE (MIC) did not show a significant decrease during this part of the fast (79.7 +/- 2.6 - 75.2 +/- 4.7 kcal.kg-0.75.d-1 [P = NS]). During the final 12 h of the fast agreement between the two systems gradually dissipated and correlation was poor (r = 0.375, P < 0.05). The frequency of animal handling necessitated by MIC may have resulted in a stress-induced increase in metabolic work that would mask the animals' adaptive response to starvation. This investigation demonstrates the advantages of the AIC and calls into question the accuracy of manual methods under long-term starvation conditions.
Descriptors: rats, calorimetry, indirect, energy metabolism, eight cage, automated, exertion, fasting physiology.

Maclachlan, F. and M.R.E. Blackburn (1999). Prior handling does not alter HPA responses to acute stress in adult rats. Journal of Endocrinology 160(Supplement): P130. ISSN: 0022-0795.
Descriptors: rats, acute stress, prior handling, response, HPA, adults.
Notes: Meeting Information: 18th Joint Meeting of the British Endocrine Societies, April 12-15, 1999, Bournemouth, England, UK.

Macy Jr., J.D., G.A. Cameron, S.L. Ellis, E.A. Hill, and S.R. Compton (2002). Assessment of static isolator cages with automatic watering when used with conventional husbandry techniques as a factor in the transmission of mouse hepatitis virus. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(4): 30-35. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: mice, laboratory mammals, cages, murine hepatitis virus, horizontal transmission, air filters, drinking water, water systems, valves, sentinel animals, disease surveys, sentinel surveillance, experimental infection, serological surveys, polymerase chain reaction, seroconversion, cage changing, open cages, filter top cages.

Maldonado, A.M. and C.L. Kirstein (2005). Handling alters cocaine-induced activity in adolescent but not adult male rats. Physiology and Behavior 84(2): 321-326. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Descriptors: behavior, development, pharmacology, locomotor activity.

Manser, C.E., D.M. Broom, P. Overend, and T.H. Morris (1998). Investigations into the preferences of laboratory rats for nest-boxes and nesting materials. Laboratory Animals 32(1): 23-35. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Nest-boxes and nesting materials were considered potentially useful items with which to enhance the environment of rats housed in standard laboratory cages. This study was carried out to determine whether such items are actually used by rats, and if so, what features are important in their design. Laboratory rats were allowed to choose between four commercially available nest-boxes. Nest-boxes were preferred to other parts of the cage but the nest-box most frequently selected was not suitable for routine laboratory use. Accordingly a new nestbox was designed, incorporating features apparently attractive to the animals. This was a simple structure of opaque perspex, consisting of a roof and three walls. Similarly, rats were exposed to six commercially available nesting materials and those consisting of long paper strips were most preferred.
Descriptors: rats, nests, environment, enrichment, cages, paper, wood shavings, cotton, animal welfare.

Mar, A., M. Wall, and J. Rochford (2003). Behavioral effects of stress and antidepressant treatment in neonatally handled and maternally separated adult rats. Society for NeuroScience Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner: Abstract No. 217.20.
Online: http://sfn.scholarone.com
Descriptors: rats, adult, stress, behavioral effects, neonatally handled, antidepressant, life events.
Notes: Meeting Information: 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, November 08-12, 2003, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Marashi, V., A. Barnekow, E. Ossendorf, and N. Sachser (2003). Effects of different forms of environmental enrichment on behavioral, endocrinological, and immunological parameters in male mice. Hormones and Behavior 43(2): 281-92. ISSN: 0018-506X.
Descriptors: aggression physiology, corticosterone blood, housing, animal, pituitary adrenal system physiology, social environment, antigens, surface analysis, cytokines analysis, immunoglobulin G blood, mice, inbred mice strains, stress, psychological blood, tyrosine 3 monooxygenase blood.

Marashi, V., A. Barnekow, and N. Sachser (2004). Effects of environmental enrichment on males of a docile inbred strain of mice. Physiology and Behavior 82(5): 765-776. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Abstract: Environmental enrichment is intended to improve the welfare of laboratory animals. However, regarding male mice, numerous studies indicate an increase in aggressive behavior due to cage structuring. On the one hand, this might be a problem concerning animal welfare. On the other hand, enrichment is though to hamper environmental standardization and to increase variability of data. Furthermore, increasing fights, arousal, and/or injury in enriched housed animals might superimpose other (positive) environmental effects on behavior and physiology. Therefore, the present study investigated effects of environmental enrichment on behavioral, endocrinological, and immunological parameters in male mice of the docile inbred strain ABG. From weaning until day 77+/-3 of life, animals were kept in stable sibling groups of four under three different housing conditions: (A) nonstructured Makrolon type III laboratory cages ("standard housing"=S); (B) equivalent laboratory cages that were enriched with a box and scaffolding ("enriched housing"=E); and (C) spacious terrariums that were structured richly ("super-enriched housing"=SE). No differences in agonistic behavior, levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT), and activities of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) existed among S-, E-, and SE-housed ABG males. Play behavior and general activity increased significantly with increasing enrichment. Concerning immunological parameters, males of both forms of enriched housing showed significantly lower percentages of CD4 and CD8 cells compared to S-housed mice. However, regarding the ratio of CD4/CD8 cells, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma, IgG1, and IgG2a, no significant housing-dependent differences were found. Enrichment did neither hamper standardization nor negatively influence the variability of physiological parameters. In summary, using a docile strain of mice revealed the positive effects of environmental enrichment also on male mice. The lack of adverse effects on behavior, physiology, standardization, and variability of data defuses these arguments against providing docile male mice with enrichment.
Descriptors: enrichment, effects, male mice, inbred strain, laboratory animals, behavior, aggressive, docile.

Marques de Araujo, S. and M.A. Cardoso (1999). A laboratory cage for foster nursing newborn mice. Revista Brasileira De Pesquisas Medicas e Biologicas Sociedade Brasileira De Biofisica [Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research] 32(3): 319-21. ISSN: 0100-879X.
Abstract: We describe a cage to be used for foster nursing in order to guarantee that original mother's colostrum is not ingested by the newborn mice. A common (30.5 cm x 19.5 cm x 12.0 cm) mouse cage was fitted with a wire net tray with a mesh (1 cm x 1 cm), which divides the cage into an upper and a lower compartment. Mice born to females placed in the upper compartment pass through the mesh and fall into the lower compartment, where another lactating female with one or two of its own pups are. Of a total of 28 newborn mice of C3H/Hc and Swiss strains, 23 were successfully fostered. Important observations are presented to show that this is a valuable alternative for foster studies without great suffering on the part of the female.
Descriptors: laboratory animals, newborn animals, animal housing standards, equipment design, maternal fetal exchange, mice.

Masuda, J., D. Mitsushima, and F. Kimura (2004). Female rats living in small cages respond to restraint stress with both adrenocortical corticosterone release and acetylcholine release in the hippocampus. NeuroScience Letters 358(3): 169-172. ISSN: 0304-3940.
Descriptors: rats, female, stress, restraint, response, adrenocortical corticosterone, acetylcholine, hippocampus, small cages.

Matthews, D.A., N.A. Parkins, M. Underwood, and R.M. Santer (1997). Establishing and maintaining a colony of aged male Wistar rats. Animal Technology 48(2): 75-82. ISSN: 0264-4754.
NAL Call Number: QL55.I5
Descriptors: laboratory animals, rats, breeding methods, health, husbandry, maintaining, colony, aged, Wistar rats.

McCann, R.A., H.M. Wyatt, B.P. Smith, and S.M. Carlisle (2001). A simple transport system for radiation treatment of specific pathogen-free mice in lifetime studies. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40(3): 39-42. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Abstract: To prevent the introduction of pathogens, specific pathogen-free (SPF) facilities generally have a "once out, never back" policy with respect to animals and materials. In a lifetime study of the long-term effects of ionizing radiation exposure in mice, large numbers of SPF mice needed to be transported from clean-animal barrier labs to a multiuser conventional building for radiation treatment and then back into the animal facility. The conventional building is known to harbor wild mice as well as insects, spiders, and mites, and this situation might potentiate the transfer of wild mouse pathogens to laboratory animals. Introduction of pathogens into the mouse population would jeopardize the entire study, but the radiation treatments were an essential component of the study. These considerations prompted development of a system for transporting individual animals out of and back into the facility without exposure to pathogens. The system consists of reusable transport/treatment vessels and transport protocols designed to minimize the potential for pathogen exposure.
Descriptors: animal housing standards, infection control methods, mice, specific pathogen free organisms, transportation methods, infection control standards, transportation standards, whole body irradiation veterinary.

McCoy, J., F. Jori, and C. Stem (1997). Tranquillization of cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) with a depot neuroleptic (pipothiazine palmitate). Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 20(3): 233-239.
Descriptors: animal welfare, rats, animal husbandry, stress, Africa, neuroleptics, Rodentia, behavior, drugs, mammals, neurotropic drugs, Rodentia, pipothiazine palmitate, Thryonomys swinderianus.

Mcguire, B. (2003). Paternal care and its effect on maternal behavior and pup survival and development in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). In: Exploring Animal Behavior in Laboratory and Field: An Hypothesis Testing Approach to the Development, Causation, Function, and Evolution of Animal Behavior, Academic Press Inc.: San Diego, CA, USA; London, UK, p. 167-176. ISBN: 0125583303.
Descriptors: prairie voles, pup survival, maternal behavior, paternal care, effect, development.

Mcintosh, J., H. Anisman, and Z. Merali (1999). Short- and long-periods of neonatal maternal separation differentially affect anxiety and feeding in adult rats: gender-dependent effects. Developmental Brain Research 113(1-2): 97-106.
Descriptors: rats, neonatal maternal separation, short periods, long periods, anxiety, feeding, affect, gender dependent effects, adult rats.

Meier, M., R. Reinermann, J. Warlich, and G. Manteuffel (1998). An automated training device for pattern discrimination learning of group-housed gerbils. Physiology and Behavior 63(4): 497-8. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Abstract: The setup, designed for the rodent Meriones unguiculatus (gerbil), allows flexible stimulus presentations and rewarding as well as on-line data registration. It consists of a spacious housing where the animals have free access to water. Food is supplied exclusively in the y-maze training compartment and serves as a reinforcer in an operant conditioning paradigm.
Descriptors: gerbils, discrimination learning, experimental instrumentation, group housed, Gerbillinae, microcomputers, reinforcement schedule.

Mende, G. (1999). Untersuchungen zur Beurteilung der Belastung von Laborratten durch einfache Manipulationen, and den Parametern Kortikosteron und Prolaktin. [Stress in rats following simple handling, measured by means of corticosterone and prolactin]. Dissertation, Fachbereich Veterinmedizin, Freie Universitat: Berlin, Germany. 15 p.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, stress, handling, measured, prolactin, corticosterone.
Language of Text: German with an English summary.

Mering, S., E. Kaliste Korhonen, and T. Nevalainen (2001). Estimates of appropriate number of rats: interaction with housing environment. Laboratory Animals 35(1): 80-90. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: An extensive list of physiological parameters from previous experiments was re-analysed in order to evaluate the effects of enrichment, cage type and group size on the within-group variation and hence on the number of animals needed in studies using Wistar rats. The independent factors studied in these experiments included the provision of aspen gnawing blocks for enrichment, solid bottom cages (SBCs) and grid floor cages (GFCs) and animal number per cage (varied from 1-4). SOLO power analysis was used to calculate the smallest number of animals (n) needed to detect an arbitrarily chosen 20% effect size, when significance was set at P = 0.05 and statistical power at 0.90. N ratios (n(larger)/n(smaller)) were calculated for the effect of enrichment, cage type and group size to compare the 'treatment group' with the 'control group'. The n values of adrenal gland, interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT and epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) weights seemed to vary most, whereas final body weight (FBW) and growth seemed to be the least variable ones. According to one-sample t-test, the N ratios of most physiological parameters differed significantly from zero (except the ones of FBW) indicating the n values in 'treatment' and 'control' groups were unequal. The results indicate that some of the physiological parameters are susceptible to variability attributable to environmental modification in general whereas some are not. Furthermore, they suggest that variation different environments thus hindering the estimation of appropriate number of animals.
Descriptors: rats, group size, cage size, cages, enrichment, floor type, statistical analysis, experimental design, adrenal glands, adipose tissue, brown fat, thymus gland, spleen, body weight, growth, animal welfare.

Mering, S. (2000). Housing Environment and Enrichment for Laboratory Rats: Refinement and Reduction Outcomes, Kuopio University Publications. C, Natural and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 114, Kuopion Yliopisto: Kuopio, ISBN: 951781092X.
NAL Call Number: DISS F2000082
Descriptors: environment, housing, enrichment, rats, laboratory, refinement, outcomes.
Notes: Thesis (doctoral).

Michel, C. and M. Cabanac (1999). Opposite effects of gentle handling on body temperature and body weight in rats. Physiology and Behavior 67(4): 617-22. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Abstract: Opposite effects of gentle handling on body temperature and body weight in rats. PHhe aim of this study was to measure the body weight set point when rats are being handled gently and thus experience emotional rise in body temperature. Wistar male rats were used in this experiment, and each rat was its own control. Body weight set point was estimated from the rat's food hoarding behavior. The set point is the intersection of the regression line for hoarding with the X axis. During hoarding sessions the experimenter handled the rat and took its colonic temperature six to eight times, an action sufficient to arouse emotional fever. On alternate days the rats were not handled. Thus, body weight set point was obtained for each rat without handling and with handling. In sessions with handling, rats raised their body temperature, ate less, and defecated more than in control sessions. When handled, the body weight set point declined from 388 +/- 44 g to 366 +/- 47 g (p = 0.048, t = 2,39). The decline in the set point induced by gentle handling is believed to result from an elevation of the hypothalamic CRH.
Descriptors: body temperature physiology, body weight physiology, handling psychology, stress, psychological physiopathology, corticotropin releasing hormone blood, defecation physiology, emotions physiology, feeding behavior physiology, fever physiopathology, fever psychology, Wistar rats, stress, psychological blood, time factors.

Mitsushima, D., T. Funabashi, K. Shinohara, and F. Kimura (2003). Rats living in small cages respond to restraint stress with adrenocortical corticosterone release but not with hippocampal acetylcholine release. Psychoneuroendocrinology 28(4): 574-83. ISSN: 0306-4530.
Abstract: We previously reported that the restriction of environmental space attenuated the hippocampal acetylcholine release and impaired spatial learning function. To examine the effect of the restriction of environmental space on the stress response of the hippocampal acetylcholine release, an in vivo microdialysis study was performed in male rats after 4 days of housing in a large cylindrical cage (diameter=35 cm) or a small cylindrical cage (diameter=19 cm). Significant stress response of the hippocampal acetylcholine release was observed in rats in the large cages (N=5), but it was not observed in rats in the small cages (N=5). The corticosterone concentration in serum was significantly increased by the restraint stress in both groups of rats. Although cage size does not influence stress-induced secretion of corticosterone, rats housed in a small cage exhibit lower levels of stress-induced ACh release than rats living in a large cage.
Descriptors: acetylcholine metabolism, adrenal cortex metabolism, corticosterone secretion, hippocampus metabolism, restraint, physical psychology, stress, psychological metabolism, adaptation, psychological physiology, analysis of variance, corticosterone blood, environment, animal housing, hypothalamo hypophyseal system metabolism, microdialysis, pituitary adrenal system metabolism, rats, inbred rat strains, Wistar rats, stress metabolism.

Moncek, F., R. Duncko, B.B. Johansson, and D. Jezova (2004). Effect of environmental enrichment on stress related systems in rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 16(5): 423-31. ISSN: 0953-8194.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to test whether environmental enrichment alters the status and responsiveness of pituitary-adrenocortical and sympathetic-adrenomedullary hormones in rats. Previous studies have shown that rats kept in an enriched environment differ from those kept in standard cages in dendritic branching, synaptogenesis, memory function, emotionality and behaviour. In male Wistar rats kept in an enriched environment for 40 days, we studied basal concentrations of hormones, endocrine responses to 5-HT(1A) challenge and responsiveness and adaptation to repeated handling. Environmental enrichment consisted of large plexiglass cages with 10 rats per cage, which contained variety of objects exchanged three times a week. Rats kept in this enriched environment had higher resting plasma concentrations of corticosterone, larger adrenals and increased corticosterone release to buspirone challenge compared to controls. Lower adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticosterone and adrenaline responses to handling were noticed in rats kept in an enriched environment. Exposure to repeated handling led to a more rapid extinction of corticosterone responses in rats kept in an enriched environment. Thus, environmental enrichment leads to pronounced changes in neuroendocrine regulation, including larger adrenals and increased adrenocortical function, which are so far considered to be indication of chronic stress.
Descriptors: corticosterone blood, habituation psychophysiology physiology, handling psychology, animal housing, neurosecretory systems physiology, stress, psychological physiopathology, adaptation, physiological, adrenal glands anatomy and histology, adrenal glands drug effects, adrenal glands secretion, anti anxiety agents pharmacology, body weight, buspirone pharmacology, corticotropin blood, neurosecretory systems drug effects, organ size, play and playthings, Wistar rats, serotonin agonists pharmacology, social environment, psychological blood.

Moons, C.P., P. Van Wiele, and F.O. Odberg (2004). To enrich or not to enrich: providing shelter does not complicate handling of laboratory mice. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 43(4): 18-21. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: animal husbandry standards, animal welfare, laboratory animal psychology, animal behavior, animal handling psychology, animal housing standards, animal husbandry methods, laboratory animal physiology, outbred strains, body weight physiology, drinking behavior, eating, mice, inbred mice strains, species specificity.

Moran, M.M., R.R. Roy, C.E. Wade, B.J. Corbin, and R.E. Grindeland (1998). Size constraints of telemeters in rats. Journal of Applied Physiology 85(4): 1564-71. ISSN: 8750-7587.
Abstract: This study was designed to determine the maximum-size subcutaneous telemeter that would enable long-term and multichannel data collection in a 170-g rat for 90 days. In phase 1, rats with implants weighing 5 (2.5 cm3), 15 (7.5 cm3), 25 (12.5 cm3), 35 (17.5 cm3), or 45 (22.5 cm3) g were compared with sham-operated (SOC) and nonoperated (NOC) control animals. Severe skin lesions, seromas, and lower growth rates were observed in rats having implants >/=35 g. Thus, in phase 2, rats implanted with 23.5 g (17.5 cm3; 11-g active telemeter and 12.5-g implant) were compared with rats implanted with 11 g (6 cm3; telemeter only) and with the SOC and NOC groups. No differences were found among implanted groups in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), subcutaneous temperature, or spontaneous activity under standard housing conditions. All groups were more active and had a higher MAP during the dark than the light phase of the daily cycle. During 2 h of cold exposure (3 degreesC), both telemetered groups exhibited similar changes in HR, MAP, temperature, and activity levels. Adrenal glands were larger in the 23.5-g group (51 +/- 1.6 mg) than in the SOC (46 +/- 1.0 mg) and the NOC groups (41 +/- 2.0 mg). No other significant differences were found in organ, muscle, or bone weights. These data verify the feasibility of using 23.5-g (17.5 cm3) subcutaneous telemeters for chronic recordings in young adult rats.
Descriptors: telemetry instrumentation, telemetry methods, blood pressure, equipment design, growth, heart rate, implants, experimental, rats, reference values, skin pathology, telemetry adverse effects.

Morrison, S.D., A. Mcmechan, R. Berman, and J.H. Hannigan (2003). Effect of prenatal alcohol exposure, stress and neonatal handling on hippocampal GFAP and NGF in rats: a time course evaluation. Society for NeuroScience Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner: Abstract No. 458.5.
Online: http://sfn.scholarone.com
Abstract: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a marker for astrocyte growth in response to neuronal damage. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is involved in the mechanisms underlying neural plasticity. Our objective was to determine how prenatal alcohol exposure affects astrocyte reactivity as measured by GFAP and NGF protein levels. We hypothesized that prenatal alcohol exposure in rats would limit stress-induced increases in GFAP and NGF --presumably also from astrocytes --which would consequently compromise trophic support for neurons. We also hypothesized that neonatal handling would mitigate the effects of stress on GFAP and NGF. Pregnant dams were given either 0g/kg, 4g/kg, or 6g/kg alcohol via intragastric intubation from gestational days 8-20. The 0g/kg group and untreated dams served as controls. After birth, litters were handled daily from postnatal day 2 (PN2) to PN15, or left undisturbed. At PN24 rats were subjected to a forced-swim stress challenge. Half of the rats were not stressed. At 4 times post-stress (3, 24, and 72 hours and 7 days) rats were sacrificed and hippocampus was harvested and analyzed for GFAP and NGF by an ELISA. At 3 hours, all intubated groups had increased levels of GFAP relative to untreated controls. Also, rats exposed to neonatal handling had decreased levels of GFAP and marginal decreases in NGF. The 6g/kg group was less responsive to the handling procedure, showing a smaller decrease in GFAP, although an increase in NGF not seen in controls relative to all other groups. There was a trend for neonatal handling to blunt the response to stress in both GFAP and NGF. These results support the hypothesis that mechanisms involved in neural plasticity in hippocampus may be activated by neonatal handling in alcohol-exposed rats but that handling in alcohol-exposed rats may exacerbate neural damage.
Descriptors: neural coordination, neuronal damage, nervous system disease, ELISA, immunologic techniques, laboratory techniques, forced swim stress challenge, neonatal handling, prenatal alcohol exposure.
Notes: Meeting Information: 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, November 08-12, 2003, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Mortell, N. (2001). Practical environmental enrichment for rats and mice: the results of a survey. Animal Technology 52(1): 1-19. ISSN: 0264-4754.
NAL Call Number: QL55.I5
Abstract: A survey was undertaken to review the types of environmental enrichment for rats and mice that were currently being used or evaluated within the research industry. It was felt that, whilst much had been done to improve the welfare of many laboratory animal species over the last 10 years, the most commonly used animals - rats and mice - were somewhat neglected. Given that 85% of all animals used within UK laboratories are rats or mice, the author decided to try and find out what is actually being done. This review looks at current opportunities to enrich the lives of rats and mice within the industry and, more specifically, within the author's own laboratory. There is a great deal of scientific and observational data on types of environmental enrichment but little direction on what kinds of enrichment are the most appropriate for different sectors within the industry. A questionnaire was distributed in order to find out what different organisations are doing practically to provide environmental enrichment. The results of this questionnaire have been tabulated in formats which might help an organisation make a more informed decision on what type of enrichment is appropriate to their facilities. With the forthcoming European legislation it is likely that the provision of enrichment may become a legal requirement in the near future. It is hoped that, by discussing the options and highlighting those which are both popular and meet the basic needs of the animal, then organisations will have a reference point for their own current status in the provision of environmental enrichment. The overall aim of this report is not to be prescriptive but to share best practice and offer some suggestions as to what can. be done to improve the quality of life for the animals in our care.
Descriptors: rats, mice, laboratory mammals, enrichment, surveys, animal welfare, pelleted feeds, animal behavior, materials, animal husbandry.

Narciso, S.P., E. Nadziejko, L.C. Chen, T. Gordon, and C. Nadziejko (2003). Adaptation to stress induced by restraining rats and mice in nose-only inhalation holders. Inhalation Toxicology 15(11): 1133-43. ISSN: 0895-8378.
Abstract: There are limited data on the efficacy of procedures for adapting rodents to restraint in nose-only holders. We examined: (1) What effect does restraint in nose-only holders have on heart rate and body temperature? (2) Does a gradual increase in the duration of restraint facilitate adaptation? (3) How long does it take for rodents to become fully adapted to nose-only holders? (4) Do rats and mice respond and adapt similarly to restraint in nose only holders? Heart rate and body temperature were monitored as measures of stress using electrocardiograph (ECG) transmitters in male C57Bl/6J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. In naive animals during the first hour of restraint, heart rate increased by 58 beats per minute (BPM) (18.6%) in rats and by 174 BPM (32.3%) in mice as compared to cage controls. Temperature increased by 2 degrees C in mice and was unchanged in rats compared to cage controls. Heart rate and temperature values remained within normal physiologic values during restraint. In rats, the response to restraint in nose-only holders was the same after 4 days regardless of whether the duration of restraint was increased gradually to 4 h/day or kept constant at 4 h/day. In mice, the group that was gradually adapted had a statistically significant higher heart rate and temperature after 4 days than the fixed-duration adapted group. Rats and mice restrained for 4 h/day every day showed a gradual decrease in heart rate and temperature over time. Full adaptation to restraint required 14 days of fixed-duration daily restraint.
Descriptors: adaptation, psychological, restraint, physical methods, stress, psychological psychology, administration, inhalation, animal experimentation, body temperature, electrocardiography, mice, inbred C57BL mice, nose, rats, Sprague Dawley rats, restraint, physical instrumentation, time factors.

Need, A.C. and K.P. Giese (2003). Handling and environmental enrichment do not rescue learning and memory impairments in alphaCamKII(T286A) mutant mice. Genes, Brain, and Behavior 2(3): 132-9. ISSN: 1601-1848.
Abstract: Environmental enrichment and postnatal handling have been shown to improve learning and memory in the Morris water maze, and to rescue impairments caused by genetic modification, age or genetic background. Mice with a targeted point mutation that prevents autophosphorylation at threonine-286 of the alpha-isoform of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II have impaired hippocampus-dependent and -independent strategy learning and memory in the water maze. We have investigated whether these impairments can be rescued with a combination of postnatal handling and environmental enrichment in a hybrid genetic background. Severe impairments were seen in acquisition and probe trials in both enriched and nonenriched mutants, indicating that enrichment did not rescue the learning and memory impairments. However, enrichment did rescue a specific performance deficit; enhanced floating behaviour, in the mutants. In summary, we have shown the lack of autophosphorylation of the alpha-isoform of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II prevents enrichment-induced rescues of strategy learning and memory impairments. Furthermore, we have established that there are enrichment mechanisms that are independent of this autophosphorylation.
Descriptors: Ca2+ calmodulin dependent protein kinase metabolism, environment, handling psychology, maze learning physiology, Ca2+ calmodulin dependent protein kinase genetics, mice, mutant strains, phosphorylation, point mutation.

Nelson, K., E.G. Patterson Kane, and J. Love (2003). Using animal preference to develop enriched caging for rats. Animal Technology and Welfare 2(2): 85-88. ISSN: 0264-4754.
NAL Call Number: SF757.A62
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, cage design, animal preferences, testing, environmental enrichment, animal behavior, animal welfare, animal use refinement.

Nicklas, W., P. Baneux, R. Boot, T. Decelle, A.A. Deeny, M. Fumanelli, and W.B. Illgen (2003). Recommendations for the health monitoring of rodent and rabbit colonies in breeding and experimental units: recommendations of the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) Working Group on Health Monitoring of Rodent and Rabbit Colonies accepted by the FELASA board of management, 9 June 2001. Baltic Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 13(4): 226-251. ISSN: 1407-0944.
Descriptors: rodent, rabbit, colonies, animal care, health monitoring, methods, techniques, breeding units, experimental units, Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations, FELASA.

Niewiesk, S., F. Voelp, and V. Meulen (1997). A maintenance and handling device for cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus). Lab Animal 26(7): 32-33. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: Rodentia, laboratory animals, handling, laboratory equipment, methods, laboratory experimentation, equipment, experimentation, mammals, useful animals, animal handling, rats.

Nilsson, M., E. Perfilieva, U. Johansson, O. Orwar, and P.S. Eriksson (1999). Enriched environment increases neurogenesis in the adult rat dentate gyrus and improves spatial memory. Journal of Neurobiology 39(4): 569-78. ISSN: 0022-3034.
Abstract: The fetal and even the young brain possesses a considerable degree of plasticity. The plasticity and rate of neurogenesis in the adult brain is much less pronounced. The present study was conducted to investigate whether housing conditions affect neurogenesis, learning, and memory in adult rats. Three-month-old rats housed either in isolation or in an enriched environment were injected intraperitoneally with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to detect proliferation among progenitor cells and to follow their fate in the dentate gyrus. The rats were sacrificed either 1 day or 4 weeks after BrdU injections. This experimental paradigm allows for discrimination between proliferative effects and survival effects on the newborn progenitors elicited by different housing conditions. The number of newborn cells in the dentate gyrus was not altered 1 day after BrdU injections. In contrast, the number of surviving progenitors 1 month after BrdU injections was markedly increased in animals housed in an enriched environment. The relative ratio of neurogenesis and gliogenesis was not affected by environmental conditions, as estimated by double-labeling immunofluorescence staining with antibodies against BrdU and either the neuronal marker calbindin D28k or the glial marker GFAp, resulting in a net increase in neurogenesis in animals housed in an enriched environment. Furthermore, we show that adult rats housed in an enriched environment show improved performance in a spatial learning test. The results suggest that environmental cues can enhance neurogenesis in the adult hippocampal region, which is associated with improved spatial memory.
Descriptors: aging physiology, dentate gyrus cytology, environment, memory physiology, space perception physiology, antimetabolites, astrocytes chemistry, biological markers, bromodeoxyuridine, calcium binding protein, vitamin D dependent analysis, cell division physiology, dentate gyrus physiology, glial fibrillary acidic protein analysis, nerve tissue proteins analysis, neuronal plasticity physiology, neurons chemistry, neurons cytology, neurons physiology, rats, Sprague Dawley rats, stem cells cytology, stem cells physiology.

Olsson, I.A.S., C.M. Nevison, E.G. Patterson Kane, C.M. Sherwin, H.A. Van de Weerd, and H. Wurbel (2003). Understanding behaviour: the relevance of ethological approaches in laboratory animal science. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 81(3): 245-264. ISSN: 0168-1591.
NAL Call Number: QL750.A6
Descriptors: mice, rats, laboratory animals, animal behavior, strain differences, animal housing, cages, environmental enrichment, smell, vision, hearing, taste, touch, validity.

Olsson, I.A.S., S. Olsson, and K. Dahlborn (2002). Improving housing conditions for laboratory mice: a review of 'environmental enrichment'. Laboratory Animals 36(3): 243-270. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Laboratory animal facilities have been designed to provide a standard environment where animals can be kept in good physical health at the same time as economic and ergonomic considerations are met. Recognizing the potential welfare problem associated with behavioural restriction in such housing systems, a number of attempts have been made to improve this environment, generally described under the term 'environmental enrichment'. Modifications of cages for mice usually consist of providing material for nest building and structures which can serve as hiding places and/or for climbing. We have reviewed 40 studies carried out between 1987 and 2000, in which preferences as well as the effect of housing modifications have been studied. Mice will work for access to nesting material and make use of this material to make nests in which they rest. They prefer a more complex cage to the standard cage and will also work for access to cages with shelter and raised platforms. On the basis of present knowledge, it is recommended that mice should have access to nesting material. Strategies for future research are outlined in the article.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory mammals, enrichment, animal welfare, nesting, stress, cages, design, litter, animal behavior, male animals, aggressive behavior, territoriality, strain differences, literature reviews, animal stress, animal use refinement.

Ottensmeyer, K.L. (1997). Ein Beitrag Zur Tiergerechten Haltung Des Meerschweinschens Anhand Der Literatur. [Review of Appropriate Husbandry for Guinea-Pigs], Tierarztliche Hochschule: Hannover, Germany, 167 p.
Descriptors: guinea pigs, husbandry, laboratory animals, appropriate, review.
Language of Text: German with an English summary.

Otterness, I.G., J.D. Eskra, M.L. Bliven, A.K. Shay, J.P. Pelletier, and A.J. Milici (1998). Exercise protects against articular cartilage degeneration in the hamster. Arthritis and Rheumatism 41(11): 2068-76. ISSN: 0004-3591.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that osteoarthritis can occur in hamsters. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of exercise on the composition of articular cartilage and synovial fluid and on the development of cartilage degeneration in these animals. METHODS: Young (2.5-month-old) group-housed hamsters were compared with 5.5-month-old hamsters that had undergone 3 months of daily wheel running exercise (6-12 km/day) or 3 months of sedentary, individually housed living. The condition of the femoral condyles was determined by scanning electron microscopy in 12 exercising hamsters, 12 sedentary hamsters, and 6 of the young controls. The content of proteoglycan, hyaluronic acid, hydroxyproline, and proline in synovial fluid and patellar cartilage was measured. RESULTS: By scanning electron microscopy, the femoral articular cartilage was smooth and undulating in young controls and older exercising hamsters. In contrast, the femoral condyles were fibrillated in all 12 of the sedentary hamsters. There was no difference in the patellar cartilage collagen content between the 3 groups, but proteoglycan content and synthesis were lower in the patellar cartilage of the sedentary group. Synovial fluid volume was also decreased in the sedentary group compared with the young controls or the older exercising hamsters. CONCLUSION: A sedentary lifestyle in the hamster leads to a lower proteoglycan content in the cartilage and a lower synovial fluid volume. These changes are associated with cartilage fibrillation, pitting, and fissuring. Daily exercise prevents early cartilage degeneration and maintains normal articular cartilage.
Descriptors: cartilage, articular metabolism, articular pathology, osteoarthritis prevention and control, physical conditioning, animal physiology, articular ultrastructure, hamsters, hyaluronic acid analysis, hydroxyproline analysis, microscopy, electron, scanning, osteoarthritis metabolism, osteoarthritis pathology, patella chemistry, patella metabolism, patella pathology, proteoglycans metabolism, Mesocricetus.

Papaioannou, A., U. Dafni, F. Alikaridis, S. Bolaris, and F. Stylianopoulou (2002). Effects of neonatal handling on basal and stress-induced monoamine levels in the male and female rat brain. Neuroscience 114(1): 195-206. ISSN: 0306-4522.
Descriptors: biogenic monoamines metabolism, brain metabolism, handling psychology, neural pathways metabolism, neurons metabolism, sex characteristics, stress metabolism, 3 4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid metabolism, newborn animals, brain cytology, brain growth and development, dopamine metabolism, hydroxyindoleacetic acid metabolism, hypothalamo hypophyseal system metabolism, maternal behavior physiology, maternal deprivation, neural pathways cytology, neural pathways growth and development, neurons cytology, puberty metabolism, Wistar rats, serotonin metabolism, stress physiopathology, time factors.

Park, M.K., T.A. Hoang, J.D. Belluzzi, and F.M. Leslie (2003). Gender specific effect of neonatal handling on stress reactivity of adolescent rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 15(3): 289-95. ISSN: 0953-8194.
Abstract: Early neonatal handling of rat pups produces dampened hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity to stress in adult male offspring. However, less is known about whether there is a similar effect for females. Although, most studies of neonatal handling have examined subsequent effects during adulthood, adolescence is an important developmental stage for stress responsivity. To address these issues, the effect of neonatal handling on the endocrine stress response and brain activity of male and female rats was determined in response to acute restraint stress during adolescence. Consistent with previous findings in adult males, neonatal handling reduced restraint stress-induced hormone levels in adolescent males. However, in contrast, we found elevated plasma hormone concentrations in handled females. A gender-specific handling effect on brain activity was also evident, with significantly increased stress-induced activation of the posterior cingulate cortex of handled females, as measured by c-fos mRNA expression. The striking gender difference in the effect of early neonatal handling provides evidence that this must be considered as an important variable in subsequent stress responsivity induced by early manipulations.
Descriptors: sex characteristics, sexual maturation physiology, stress physiopathology, acute disease, age factors, animals, newborn, corticosterone blood, corticotropin blood, gyrus cinguli growth and development, gyrus cinguli physiology, proto oncogene proteins c-Fos genetics, RNA, messenger analysis, rats, restraint, physical.

Park, M.K., T.A. Hoang, and F.M. Leslie (2001). Gender-specific effect of early postnatal handling on stress responsivity in rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 27(2): 1959. ISSN: 0190-5295.
Descriptors: rats, stress responsivity, postnatal handling, gender specific effect, behavior.
Notes: Meeting Information: 31st Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, November 10-15, 2001, San Diego, California, USA.

Parker, K.J. and T.M. Lee (2002). Interaction of photoperiod and testes development is associated with paternal care in Microtus pennsylvanicus (meadow voles). Physiology and Behavior 75(1-2): 91-95. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Descriptors: meadow voles, parternal care, reproductive system, photoperiod, testes development, interaction.

Patterson Kane, E.G. (2003). Shelter enrichment for rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(2): 46-48. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, animal housing, cages, cage design, environmental enrichment, nest boxes, animal preferences, materials, cardboard, tin, plastics.

Patterson, K.E.G. (2004). Enrichment of laboratory caging for rats: a review. Animal Welfare 13, Supplement: S209-S214. ISSN: 0962-7286.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.A557
Descriptors: animal welfare, behavior, rats, cageing, housing, field techniques, cage size, environmental enrichment, foraging, nesting material, social contact.
Notes: Meeting Information: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) Symposium on Science in the Service of Animal Welfare, Animal Welfare, Edinburgh, UK, April 02-04, 2003.

Patterson Kane, E.G., D.N. Harper, and M. Hunt (2001). The cage preferences of laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 35(1): 74-79. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Preference tests were used to assess a range of enrichment options for rats kept under standard New Zealand (and similar) caging conditions. The rats did not show significant preferences for most of the options, over an empty cage. The exceptions were shredded paper, a nesting box and a semi-enriched condition incorporating a range of modifications. These cage modifications are recommended for the enrichment of laboratory rats.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory mammals, cages, litter, cage size, group size, enrichment, animal welfare, nest boxes, cage design, environmental enrichment, animal preferences.

Patterson Kane, E.G., M. Hunt, and D. Harper (2002). Rats demand social contact. Animal Welfare 11(3): 327-332. ISSN: 0962-7286.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.A557
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, cages, cage size, animal housing, motivation, animal welfare, environmental enrichment, group housing, animal preferences.

Patterson Kane, E.G., M. Hunt, and D.N. Harper (1999). Behavioral indexes of poor welfare in laboratory rats. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 2(2): 97-110. ISSN: 1088-8705.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.J68
Descriptors: rats, cages, enrichment, group size, fearfulness, floor space, exploration, stress response, animal welfare.

Peters, A.G., P.M. Bywater, and M.F.W. Festing (2002). The effect of daily disturbance on the breeding performance of mice. Laboratory Animals 36(2): 188-192. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: The United Kingdom Home Office Code of Practice for the housing and care of breeding animals requires that, 'the general well-being of all animals must be checked at least once daily'. However, excessive daily disturbance of rodent breeding colonies could be counter-productive to animal welfare if it increases pre-weaning mortality. An experiment involving 100 breeding cages of BALB/c mice compared daily inspection of the mouse cages, but without disturbing the mice within the nest, with daily inspection in which every individual was studied even if this involved removing the cage lid and disturbing the nest. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in breeding performance or pre-weaning mortality, though the disturbed group produced marginally fewer offspring and had slightly higher mortality. Average weaning weight did not differ between the groups, but sexual dimorphism at weaning was significantly increased in the disturbed group. It is concluded that there are unlikely to be any welfare benefits in an inspection regimen that involves disturbance of breeding mice, provided the cage is inspected daily.
Descriptors: mice, monitoring, nests, animal welfare, litter size, animal production, mortality, weaning, sexual dimorphism, environmental enrichment.

Pham, T.M., S. Soderstrom, B. Winblad, and A.H. Mohammed (1999). Effects of environmental enrichment on cognitive function and hippocampal NGF in the non-handled rats. Behavioural Brain Research 103(1): 63-70. ISSN: 0166-4328.
Abstract: In this study we examine whether exposure to differential housing after weaning would counteract the effects of postnatal handling (H) or nonhandling (NH) treatment by affecting learning and memory processes in young rats. In addition, we seek to determine if experience in enriched environment would alter hippocampal nerve growth factor (NGF) levels which is one of the factors known to be involved in the regulation of the survival and differentiation of developing basal forebrain neurones. Rats were either exposed to handling treatment, or left undisturbed starting day 1 after birth through day 21. After weaning on day 22, we exposed half of the H rats and half of the NH rats to environmental enrichment for 60 days. The other respective half of the rats was housed in isolated environmental condition (IC). Behavioural measures were taken in open field test, and spatial water maze test. Exposure to enriched environment following postnatal handling and nonhandling increased hippocampal NGF levels, and improved cognitive function in the both groups, with NH rats being more responsive to the effects of enrichment. Our results suggest that environmental enrichment has the potential to prevent or reduce the cognitive and neurochemical deficits in the adult animals associated with nonhandling.
Descriptors: cognition physiology, environment, hippocampus metabolism, nerve growth factors biosynthesis, handling psychology, hippocampus physiology, hypothalamus physiology, maze learning physiology, motor activity physiology, rats, Sprague Dawley rats, rats, non handled effects, environmental enrichment, cognitive function, postnatal handling.

Piersma, F.E., M.A.R.C. Daemen, A.E.J.M. Bogaard, and W.A. Buurman (1999). Interference of pain control employing opioids in in vivo immunological experiments. Laboratory Animals 33(4): 328-333. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Pain control (PC) in laboratory animals is supported by ethical as well as methodological considerations, aimed at preventing an interfering reduction in food and water intake and normalizing stress hormone levels. However, little is known about the immunomodulatory attributes of analgesics, which putatively prevents the routine implementation of PC in immunological research. In an established murine model of endotoxemia we investigated the immunomodulatory properties of common clinical analgesics (the opioids fentanyl and buprenorphine). Additionally, a literature study was conducted to investigate the frequency of PC in laboratory animals used for immunological experimentation. In line with various reports, we observed interactions between the opioid analgesics and the immune system that altered the outcome of performed in vivo immunological experiments. Of 100 evaluated publications, none mentioned the use of PC, indicating its uncommon implementation. In conclusion, more studies on the interactions between the immune system and analgesics are needed to establish better criteria for adequate implementation. Finally, we propose that methodological sections in scientific journals should clearly document whether or not PC was employed. If PC is not used, the reason for not using it should be stated.
Descriptors: laboratory animals, pain, analgesics, animal welfare, mice, lipopolysaccharides, tumor necrosis factor, fentanyl, opioids, dosage effects, immunosuppressive agents, antiinflammatory agents, experimental design, buprenorphine.

Powell, S.B., H.A. Newman, T.A. McDonald, P. Bugenhagen, and M.H. Lewis (2000). Development of spontaneous stereotyped behavior in deer mice: effects of early and late exposure to a more complex environment. Developmental Psychobiology 37(2): 100-8. ISSN: 0012-1630.
Descriptors: behavior, animal physiology, environment, Peromyscus psychology, stereotyped behavior physiology, age factors, newborn animal psychology, mice.

Price, I.V. and B.B. Gorzalka (2002). Effect of restraint stress duration on macronutrient intake in the female rat. Nutrition Research 22(8): 931-943. ISSN: 0271-5317.
Descriptors: rat, female, restraint stress, macronutrient intake, effect, duration, food intake, duration, deprivation.

Priebe, K., K.A. Giannotti, and W.G. Brake (2002). Neonatal handling increases synaptophysin in the rat hippocampus: a radioimmunocytochemical study. Society for NeuroScience Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner: Abstract No. 730.14.
Online: http://sfn.scholarone.com
Descriptors: rat, neonatal handling, increase, synaptophysin, hippocampus, maternal separation, stress.
Notes: Meeting Information: 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, November 02-07, 2002, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Pritchett, K.R. and N.A. Johnston (2002). A review of treatments for the eradication of pinworm infections from laboratory rodent colonies. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(2): 36-46. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: mice, rats, Meriones unguiculatus, golden hamsters, laboratory mammals, animal parasitic nematodes, helminth ova, Syphacia obvelata, Syphacia muris, Syphacia, Aspiculuris tetraptera, nematode infections, strain differences, anthelmintics, medicated feeds, dosage, oral administration, topical application, thiabendazole, ivermectin, piperazine, fenbendazole, cages, drug resistance, literature reviews, Syphacia mesocriceti, Dentostomella translucida.

Pryce, C.R., D. Bettschen, and J. Feldon (2001). Comparison of the effects of early handling and early deprivation on maternal care in the rat. Developmental Psychobiology 38(4): 239-51. ISSN: 0012-1630.
Descriptors: behavior, animal, sex behavior, animal, social isolation, lactation, Wistar rats, social behavior, early handling, deprivation.

Pryce, C.R., D. Bettschen, N.I. Nanz Bahr, and J. Feldon (2003). Comparison of the effects of early handling and early deprivation on conditioned stimulus, context, and spatial learning and memory in adult rats. Behavioral Neuroscience 117(5): 883-93. ISSN: 0735-7044.
NAL Call Number: QP351.B45
Descriptors: conditioning psychology physiology, handling psychology, maternal deprivation, maze learning physiology, spatial behavior physiology, animals, newborn, corticotropin blood, Wistar rats.

Raje, S.S. and K.L. Stewart (2000). Group housing female guinea pigs. Lab Animal 29(8): 31-32. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: guinea pigs, female animals, group size, group housing, cages, space requirements, enrichment, behavior, husbandry, animal welfare.

Reeb Whitaker, C.K., B. Paigen, W.G. Beamer, R.T. Bronson, G.A. Churchill, I.B. Schweitzer, and D.D. Myers (2001). The impact of reduced frequency of cage changes on the health of mice housed in ventilated cages. Laboratory Animals 35(1): 58-73. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Our purpose in this investigation was to determine if we could reduce cage changing frequency without adversely affecting the health of mice. We housed mice at three different cage changing frequencies: 7, 14, and 21 days, each at three different cage ventilation rates: 30, 60 and 100 air changes per hour (ACH), for a total of nine experimental conditions. For each condition, we evaluated the health of 12 breeding pairs and 12 breeding trios of C57BL/6J mice for 7 months. Health was assessed by breeding performance, weanling weight and growth, plasma corticosterone levels, immune function, and histological examination of selected organs. Over a period of 4 months, we monitored the cage microenvironment for ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations, relative humidity, and temperature one day prior to changing the cage. The relative humidity, carbon dioxide concentrations, and temperature of the cages at all conditions were within acceptable levels. Ammonia concentrations remained below 25 ppm (parts per million) in most cages, but, even at higher concentrations, did not adversely affect the health of mice. Frequency of cage changing had only one significant effect; pup mortality with pair matings was greater at the cage changing frequency of 7 days compared with 14 or 21 days. In addition, pup mortality with pair matings was higher at 30 ACH compared with other ventilation rates. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, cage changes once every 14 days and ventilation rates of 60 ACH provide optimum conditions for animal health and practical husbandry.
Descriptors: liveweight gain, bites, mice, laboratory mammals, cages, animal husbandry, air pollution, ammonia, carbon dioxide, animal health, artificial ventilation, reproductive performance, weaning weight, blood plasma, corticosterone, relative humidity, air temperature, litter size, mortality, nose, epithelium, histopathology, lesions, growth curve, leukocyte count.

Reebs, S.G. and D. Maillet (2003). Effect of cage enrichment on the daily use of running wheels by Syrian hamsters. Chronobiology International 20(1): 9-20. ISSN: 0742-0528.
Abstract: Institutional animal care committees may one day require for the welfare of captive hamsters more floor space and the introduction of tunnels and toys. As hamsters are popular animal subjects in chronobiological research, and as clock phase is usually measured through running wheel activity, it is important to determine what effect cage enrichment might have on daily wheel use. Here the daily number of wheel revolutions, the daily duration of the running activity phase, the phase relationship between lights-off and onset of running activity, and the free-running period of circadian activity rhythms were measured in Syrian hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus, housed in single cages or in multiple cages linked by tunnels and supplied with commercial wooden toys. Free-running periodicity was not affected by cage enrichment. In multiple-cage systems, there were fewer daily revolutions, shorter wheel-running activity phases, and delayed running activity onsets. These effects, however, were small as compared to interindividual and week-to-week variation. They were statistically significant only under a light:dark cycle, not in constant darkness, and only when interindividual variation was eliminated through a paired design or when the number of cages was increased to five (the maximum tested). Daily wheel use is thus affected by cage enrichment, but only slightly.
Descriptors: activity cycles, behavior, animal physiology, housing, animal, motor activity, running, animal welfare, animals, laboratory, environment, hamsters, Mesocricetus, photoperiod.

Rehg, J.E., M.A. Blackman, and L.A. Toth (2001). Persistent transmission of mouse hepatitis virus by transgenic mice. Comparative Medicine 51(4): 369-374. ISSN: 1532-0820.
NAL Call Number: SF77.C65
Abstract: Variation in susceptibility to viral infection is well documented across mouse strains. Specific combinations of viral strains and murine hosts may favor viral infection and disease, and could potentially allow the unexpected development of chronic, persistent, or latent infections. In some genetically modified strains of mice, immune function and perhaps other physiologic or metabolic systems may be substantially or marginally impaired. In the case study reported here, we document the apparent persistent transmission of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) over a two-year period by MHV-seropositive transgenic mice. Transmission occurred via direct contact with seropositive mice and exposure to contaminated bedding. However, MHV was not detected at diagnostic laboratories by use of viral isolation or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of tissues from MHV-seropositive animals. Our observation, together with the constantly expanding varieties of immune-impaired or poorly characterized murine hosts and the burgeoning dissemination of these animals throughout the biomedical research community, indicate that unexpected pathophysiologic presentations of common murine viral diseases may present new challenges to the biomedical research community in the future.
Descriptors: mice, transgenic animals, laboratory mammals, strain differences, immunological deficiency, murine hepatitis virus, asymptomatic infections, seroconversion, immunodiagnosis, disease transmission, sentinel animals, case reports.

Reljic, D., F.A. Guhad, G. Stodulski, and J. Hau (1996). Influence of husbandry procedures on mouse locomotor activity. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 23(3): 121-128. ISSN: 0901-3393.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, handling, physical activity, locomotion, mammals, movement, physiological functions, Rodentia, useful animals.

Ritskes Hoitinga, J. and R. Van Ruiven (1996). Length of adaptation period after transporting rats. Laboratory Animals in Modern Biology. Symposium Program, Goeteborg (Sweden), p. 121.
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, transport of animals, adaptation, mammals, Rodentia, transport, useful animals.

Rock, F.M., M.S. Landi, H.C. Hughes, and R.C. Gagnon (1997). Effects of caging type and group size on selected physiologic variables in rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 36(2): 69-72. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, cages, group size, effects, housing, behavior, physiological variables, motor activity.

Rodrigues, U.P., L. Chaguri, G. Medeiros, A. Sogorb, and F.S. Sogorb (1998). Productivity of mice (Mus musculus) colonies under different pairing and feeding systems. Baltic Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 8(1): 20-22. ISSN: 1407-0944.
Descriptors: mice, colonies, productivity, feeding systems, pairing.

Rogers, T.D., N.M. Gades, J.D. Kearby, C.K. Virgous, and J.T. Dalton (2002). Chronic restraint via tail immobilization of mice: effects on corticosterone levels and other physiologic indices of stress. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(1): 46-50. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: mice, laboratory mammals, animal welfare, stress, blood sampling, immobilization, tail, blood serum, corticosterone, body weight, thymus gland, weight, spleen, adrenal glands, experimental design, animal use refinement.

Rosa, M.L.N.M., R.C.B. Silva, F.T. Moura de Carvalho, M.L. Brandao, F.S. Guimaraes, and E.A. Del Bel (2003). Non-handling is critical for isolation rearing-induced changes in prepulse inhibition in rats. Journal of Psychopharmacology 17(Supplement 3): A44. ISSN: 0269-8811.
Descriptors: rats, non handling, isolation rearing, changes, behavior, behavioral and mental disorders, prepulse inhibition.
Notes: Meeting Information: Summer Meeting of the British Association for Psychopharmacology, July 20-23, 2003, Cambridge, England, UK.

Roughan, J.V. and P.A. Flecknell (2000). Effects of surgery and analgesic administration on spontaneous behaviour in singly housed rats. Research in Veterinary Science 69(3): 283-288. ISSN: 0034-5288.
NAL Call Number: 41.8 R312
Descriptors: pain, surgery, analgesics, ketoprofen, rats, laparotomy, behavior change, anesthesia, animal behavior, drug effects, buprenorphine.

Roughan, J.V. and P.A. Flecknell (2002). Buprenorphine: a reappraisal of its antinociceptive effects and therapeutic use in alleviating post-operative pain in animals. Laboratory Animals 36(3): 322-343. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Buprenorphine has been widely used for post-operative analgesia in laboratory animals. Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated in both subjective and objective pain assessment schemes, however doubts have been expressed as to its value as an analgesic. Initial dosage recommendations were based on analgesiometric studies. It is unlikely, however, that the pain elicited in analgesiometric tests is comparable to post-operative pain. This has resulted in recommendations of excessive dose rates and inappropriate clinical indications. Studies involving tests of the efficacy of buprenorphine for alleviating behavioural or other signs of tonic (post-surgical) pain provide a more appropriate estimation of the analgesic capabilities of the drug. However, buprenorphine also has major effects upon the behaviour of normal (unoperated) animals, and this makes assessments of efficacy difficult with some of the systems used for scoring clinical pain. Nevertheless, our most recent studies of the effects of buprenorphine upon pain-related behaviours in rats support the view that it is an effective post-operative analgesic. This short review critically reappraises the role of buprenorphine in this capacity and discusses a rational approach to the relief of pain in laboratory animals. We conclude that buprenorphine remains a valuable agent for pain relief in a wide range of animal species when used in an appropriate manner.
Descriptors: laboratory animals, rats, mice, postoperative care, analgesics, opium alkaloids, dosage, pain, animal behavior, drug effects, pica, animal welfare, literature reviews, animal use refinement.

Rozmiarek, H. (1999). Convulsions in rodents related to frequent handling. Laboratory Animal Science 49(5): 468-469. ISSN: 0023-6764.
NAL Call Number: 410.9 P94
Descriptors: rodents, mice, frequent handling, convulsions, stress, husbandry.

Ryabinin, A.E., Y.M. Wang, and D.A. Finn (1999). Different levels of Fos immunoreactivity after repeated handling and injection stress in two inbred strains of mice. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 63(1): 143-51. ISSN: 0091-3057.
Abstract: Expression of Fos and Fos-related antigens was immunohistochemically analyzed in DBA/2J and C57BL/6J inbred mice in response to acute or repeated handling and injection stress. Both strains showed a strong induction of Fos and Fos-related antigens in discrete areas of hypothalamus, amygdala, neocortex, septum, and thalamus 2 h after an acute intraperitoneal injection of normal saline. To habituate animals to this procedure, mice were subjected to repeated handling and injections during 2 weeks preceding the experiment. This procedure led to complete habituation of the immediate early gene response to injection stress in stress-responsive brain areas of C57BL/6J mice, such that no significant difference was found between expression of these proteins in brains of saline-injected animals after repeated stress vs. control animals. In contrast, many brain areas of saline-injected DBA/2J mice still showed elevated Fos and Fos-related antigen expression after repeated injections. These results indicate that identical habituation procedures do not necessarily lead to identical levels of gene expression in brains of inbred strains of mice. In turn, they suggest that genetic components for some behavioral and pharmacological traits identified using inbred strains could be related to different rates of habituation to experimental procedures.
Descriptors: handling psychology, nerve tissue proteins analysis, proto oncogene proteins c Fos analysis, stress metabolism, western blotting, corticosterone blood, immunohistochemistry, injections, intraperitoneal, inbred C57BL mice, inbred DBA mice, species specificity.

Saibaba, P., G.D. Sales, G. Stodulski, and J. Hau (1996). Behaviour of rats in their home cages: daytime variations and effects of routine husbandry procedures analysed by time sampling techniques. Laboratory Animals 30(1): 13-21. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: The behaviour of laboratory rats in their home cages was observed on both the mornings and the afternoons of days when cages were cleaned and compared to days when cages were not cleaned. Two different time sampling methods, 'instantaneous sampling' and 'one/zero sampling', were used and compared. In general the rats were more active in the mornings than in the afternoons. Activity, particularly locomotion and that associated with manipulation of the bedding was increased during both the mornings and the afternoons of cleaning days. Defaecation also increased on cleaning days whereas sitting decreased. The cleaning regime appeared to have a greater effect on behaviour than did time of day and the effect of cleaning lasted for several hours after the procedure had been completed. The implications for experimental design are discussed.
Descriptors: animal husbandry methods, behavior, animal, housing, animal, activity cycles, circadian rhythm, Sprague Dawley rats, time factors.

Schmitteckert, E.M., C.M. Prokop, and H.J. Hedrich (1999). DNA detection in hair of transgenic mice-a simple technique minimizing the distress on the animals. Laboratory Animals 33(4): 385-389. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: The breeding of transgenic animals requires that each individual offspring be analysed for integration of transgenic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), unless exclusively homozygous animals are mated. The standard protocol for identification of transgenic animals (Hogan et al. 1994) is based on tissue samples and preparation of chromosomal DNA including proteinase K digestion and phenol/chloroform extraction. The procedure described here represents a much simpler and faster method to screen offspring for the transgene DNA. It is based on the use of hair bulbs as sample material, which can be directly used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after alkaline lysis. This protocol allows large numbers of animals to be easily screened in a minimum amount of time. A unique advantage though, is the reduction of the distress caused to the animals. With respect to the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), and because of technical advantages this method may replace ear or tail clipping.
Descriptors: mice, transgenic animals, hair analysis, polymerase chain reaction, hair, rapid methods, animal welfare, hair bulb.

Severino, G.S., I.A. Fossati, M.J. Padoin, C.M. Gomes, L. Trevizan, G.L. Sanvitto, C.R. Franci, J.A. Anselmo Franci, and A.B. Lucion (2004). Effects of neonatal handling on the behavior and prolactin stress response in male and female rats at various ages and estrous cycle phases of females. Physiology and Behavior 81(3): 489-98. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Abstract: Neonatal handling induces behavioral and hormonal changes, characterized by reduced fear in novel environments, and lesser elevation and faster return to basal levels of plasma corticosterone, prolactin and adrenaline, in response to stressors in adulthood. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of neonatal handling from Days 1 to 10 postnatal on prolactin response to ether stress in male and female rats at three life periods: neonatal, peripubertal and adulthood. Moreover, adult females were tested in two different phases of the estrous cycle, i.e., diestrus and estrus. In another set of experiments, the behavior of peripubertal and adult males and females in estrus and diestrus was analyzed in the elevated plus maze test. Pups were either handled for 1 min (handled group) or left undisturbed (nonhandled group) during the first 10 days after delivery. In adults, in the handled females in diestrus, stress induced a lesser increase in plasma prolactin compared with nonhandled ones, as in males. However, in estrus, handled females showed no difference in the prolactin response to stress. In the elevated plus maze, handled females in diestrus, but not in estrus, showed higher locomotor activity compared with nonhandled ones. Peripubertal male and female rats handled during the neonatal period showed no difference in behavior in the elevated plus maze compared with nonhandled animals. Early-life stimulation can induce long-lasting behavioral and stress-related hormonal changes, but they are not stable throughout life and phases of the estrous cycle.
Descriptors: aging physiology, behavior, animal physiology, estrus cycle physiology, handling psychology, prolactin blood, stress, psychological blood, newborn animals, anxiety psychology, environment, estradiol blood, Wistar rats, sex characteristics, sexual maturation, testosterone blood.

Sharp, J., T. Azar, and D. Lawson (2005). Effects of a cage enrichment program on heart rate, blood pressure, and activity of male Sprague-Dawley and spontaneously hypertensive rats monitored by radiotelemetry. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 44(2): 32-40. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Abstract: To determine whether a nonsocial enrichment program affects cardiovascular responses of individually housed male Sprague-Dawley (SD) and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats under basal conditions and after potentially stressful procedures, we used radiotelemetry to record heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and activity in the cage. Enrichment comprised a simulated burrow (Rodent Retreat), then a food foraging item ("rat cannoli") 2 days later, and a paper bag of bedding for shredding (Nestpak) after another 2 days. Data were collected under undisturbed conditions and before and after several acute and chronic manipulations mimicking common husbandry, experimental, and stressful procedures. Enrichment often, but not always, reduced HR and SBP in male rats, suggesting decreased arousal and stress, and the effects depended on the parameter measured, strain of rat, and nature of the procedure to which animals were exposed. In general, HR varied more than SBP; enrichment affected SH rats more than SD rats; effects of enrichment were more consistently observed under undisturbed conditions than after manipulations of the rats; moderate responses to acute husbandry and experimental procedures were affected more than the larger changes produced by very stressful procedures; and responses to social interactions were unaffected by the enrichment program. What accounts for these variable effects of enrichment is unclear, and more studies are required to resolve the mechanisms. Whether this enrichment program should be used in an animal facility depends on several factors, particularly the professional judgment of the research, veterinary, and animal care staffs involved.
Descriptors: enrichment, rats, effects, heart rate, blood pressure, Sprague Dawley rats, radiotelemetry, activity, hypertensive.

Sharp, J., T. Zammit, T. Azar, and D. Lawson (2003). Are "by-stander" female Sprague-Dawley rats affected by experimental procedures. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(1): 19-27. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, female animals, laboratory animals, animal stress, animal welfare, gender differences, group housing, animal behavior, euthanasia, animal use refinement, heart rate, animal handling, animal physiology, individual housing.

Sharp, J., T. Zammit, T. Azar, and D. Lawson (2003). Stress-like responses to common procedures in individually and group-housed female rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(1): 9-18. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, animal stress, animal welfare, animal handling, group housing, gender differences, cages, heart rate, blood pressure, female animals, circadian rhythm, animal use refinement, restraint of animals, subcutaneous injection, odors, intravenous injection, animal behavior, animal physiology, individual housing.

Sharp, J., T. Zammit, T. Azar, and D. Lawson (2002). Does witnessing experimental procedures produce stress in male rats? Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(5): 8-12. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Abstract: The objective of this study was to test the hypotheses that male rats are stressed by being in the same room as animals subjected to common husbandry and experimental procedures and that the level of stress is affected by housing density. Two commonly used indices of stress, heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), were determined by using radiotelemetry for 2 h before and 3 h after rats witnessed the following procedures: decapitation, decapitation and necropsy, cage change, restraint and subcutaneous injection, and restraint and tail-vein injection. In addition, home cage behaviors (sleeping, awake, moving, rearing, and grooming) were scored once each minute for 15 min before and 45 min after the procedures. Witnessing decapitation or decapitation and necropsy of 6 other rats induced small, but significant, increases in HR and MAP in animals housed alone, whereas responses in animals housed with one or three cagemates were more transient or not significant. Witnessing a routine cage change also induced small increases in HR and MAP in rats housed alone or with one cagemate, but HR and MAP decreased in rats housed four per cage. HR and MAP did not change in rats witnessing restraint and a subcutaneous injection of other rats, but these indices were transiently increased when rats witnessed animals being restrained in a rodent restrainer and given a tail-vein injection. Home cage behaviors were significantly altered only in rats witnessing decapitation and necropsy and then only in rats housed alone. We conclude that male Sprague-Dawley rats are not significantly stressed when present in the same room in which decapitation or other common experimental procedures are being performed, especially when the animals are housed with cagemates.
Descriptors: animal husbandry methods, blood pressure physiology, heart rate physiology, stress physiopathology, vision, autopsy, euthanasia, animal housing, injections, photic stimulation, rats, Sprague Dawley rats, physical restraint, specific pathogen free organisms, time factors.

Sharp, J.J., C.C. Linder, and L.E. Mobraaten (2001). Genetically engineered mice. Husbandry and resources. Methods in Molecular Biology 158: 381-96. ISSN: 1064-3745.
Descriptors: mice, mutant strains, animal husbandry, genetic engineering, mice, resources.

Sharp, J.L., T.G. Zammit, T.A. Azar, and D.M. Lawson (2002). Stress-like responses to common procedures in male rats housed alone or with other rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(4): 8-14. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, laboratory mammals, male animals, stress, stress factors, heart rate, blood pressure, group size, stocking density, cages, physical activity, restraint of animals, injection, odors, animal welfare, animal husbandry, telemetry, data collection, group housing, cage changing.

Sherwin, C.M. (1998). The use and perceived importance of three resources which provide caged laboratory mice the opportunity for extended locomotion. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 55(3-4): 353-367. ISSN: 0168-1591.
NAL Call Number: QL750.A6
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, cages, movement, microenvironments, enrichment, animal welfare, toys, usage, environmental enrichment, cost of access, running wheels, tunnel system, locomotion loops.

Sherwin, C.M. (1997). Observations on the prevalence of nest-building in non-breeding TO strain mice and their use of two nesting materials. Laboratory Animals 31(2): 125-132. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: The spontaneous performance of nest-building behaviour by non-breeding laboratory mice suggests that routinely providing nesting material might be a suitable environmental enrichment. If nesting material is to be provided routinely, this should have characteristics which are preferred, or at least accepted by a considerable proportion of the animal population; it should also be inexpensive. The present study therefore examined the prevalence of nest-building behaviour in 39 individually-housed, non-breeding, female mice, and their preferences for a commercial nesting product and a less expensive source of material (paper towels). Within minutes of the materials being placed in the cages, the mice began manipulating the paper towels. Thirty-six of the mice subsequently constructed nests during the first dark phase after the materials had been placed in the cage-the remaining three mice constructed nests during the following 48 h. The nests were usually constructed from a mixture of the two materials, though observations indicated the mice might have preferred characteristics of the inexpensive paper towels. There was a strong tendency to build nests in the same location used for sleeping prior to the nesting material being provided, and similarly, the mice were conservative in the site chosen to build a second nest after the first was removed. The most frequently chosen site for nest-building was under the feeder. Other studies have reported a high motivation for nest-building behaviour, widespread performance amongst many strains, and nest-building as a thermoregulatory behaviour by animals housed in standard laboratory air temperature. In conjunction with these. findings, the present results suggest that routinely providing paper towels is an inexpensive and practical means of environmental enrichment for non-breeding, laboratory mice.
Descriptors: mice, animal housing, nesting, enrichment, behavior patterns, animal welfare, environmental enrichment, nesting materials.

Sherwin, C.M. (2004). Mirrors as potential environmental enrichment for individually housed laboratory mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 87(1-2): 95-103. ISSN: 0168-1591.
NAL Call Number: QL750.A6
Descriptors: mice, animal welfare, behavior, mirrors, individually housed, environmental enrichment, feeding, nest position.

Sida, P., M. Koupilova, S. Hynie, and V. Klenerova (2003). Effects of two types of restraint stress on the learned behaviour in rats. Acta Medica Hradec Kralove Universitas Carolina, Facultas Medica Hradec Kralove 46(4): 153-6. ISSN: 1211-4286.
Abstract: To study the effects of stress on cognitive functions, Wistar and Lewis rats were exposed to restraint (immobilization stressor) (IMO) or restraint combined with partial immersion into water (IMO+C). Learned discriminatory avoidance response in Y-maze, with foot-shock as an unconditioned stimulus, was used as a memory test. The latency to enter the correct arm and number of wrong entries were daily recorded during the training period (20 days) until the criterion was reached, which was set at 90% avoidances (choosing the correct arm). After exposure of rats to one of the stressors for 60 min, the rats were returned to the home cage; the latency to enter the safe arm was recorded in 6 daily trials that started 1 h after application of stressor. Both stressors significantly prolonged the avoidance latencies for 2 or 3 days in Wistar and Lewis rats, respectively; then the latencies returned to the values obtained before the stress exposure. In Lewis rats, the latencies more increased after IMO+C than after IMO stressor, and the maximal increase in latencies was higher in Lewis rats than in Wistar rats. The latency did not reach the time limit for foot-shock delivery, and the number of correct choices remained unchanged in both strains. The results indicate that the used restraint stressors did not affect the long-term memory; rather a transient impairment of retrieval can be considered. Further, differences in response of Lewis and Wistar rats may be interpreted by different activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in used strains.
Descriptors: avoidance learning, immobilization, stress, maze learning, rats, inbred Lewis rats, Wistar rats.

Silveira, P.P., A.K. Portella, Z. Clemente, E. Bassani, A.S. Tabajara, G.D. Gamaro, G. Dantas, I.L. Torres, A.B. Lucion, and C. Dalmaz (2004). Neonatal handling alters feeding behavior of adult rats. Physiology and Behavior 80(5): 739-45. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Abstract: Stress during the neonatal period leads to a large number of behavioral and biochemical alterations in adult life. The aim of this study is to verify the effects of handling and tactile stimulation during the first 10 days of life on feeding behavior in adult rats. Litters were divided into (1). intact; (2). handled (10 min/day); and (3). handled and tactile stimulated (10 min/day). Procedures were performed on Days 1-10 after birth. When adults, rats were tested for ingestion of sweet and savory snacks. We also measured body weight, ingestion of standard lab chow, and consumption of water and 1% glucose and 1.5% NaCl solutions. Stressed rats (handling and handling+tactile stimulation groups) consumed more sweet (two-way ANOVA, P=.008) or savory snacks (P=.001) than intact ones. This effect was observed in males and females. There were no differences in body weight, ingestion of standard lab chow, water, or in the ingestion of sweetened or salty solutions between groups. The same animals were tested later in life (15 months of age), and the effect was still evident. We suggest that handling during the neonatal period leads to alterations in the CNS of rats, causing an increased ingestion of palatable food in adult life, and this alteration probably persists throughout the whole life.
Descriptors: newborn animals psychology, appetite physiology, feeding behavior physiology, handling psychology, stress, psychological physiopathology, age factors, analysis of variance, animals, newborn physiology, feeding behavior psychology, Wistar rats, taste physiology, touch physiology.

Silveira, P.P., M.H. Xavier, F.H. Souza, L.P. Manoli, R.M. Rosat, M.B.C. Ferreira, and C. Dalmaz (2000). Interaction between repeated restraint stress and concomitant midazolam administration on sweet food ingestion in rats. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 33(11): 1343-1350. ISSN: 0100-879X.
Descriptors: rats, food ingestion, feeding behavior, restraint stress, midazolam administration, interaction, pellets, effect.

Smith, D.E., J.B. Blumberg, and R.D. Lipman (1999). Improved survival rates in mice that received prophylactic fluids after carcinogen treatment. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 38(1): 84-86. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: mice, animal models, mortality, dehydration physiological, fluid therapy, prophylaxis, subcutaneous injection, carcinogens, animal welfare.

Smith, G.D., W.P. Hoffman, E.M. Lee, and J.K. Young (2000). Improving the environment of mice by using synthetic gause pads. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 39(6): 51-53. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, cages, floor type, wire netting, dermatitis, ears, feed intake, body weight, incidence, animal welfare, environmental enrichment, progressive necrotizing dermatitis, animal preferences.

Smith, K.R. and R.A. Markle (1998). Capsaicin use in neonatal rats: husbandry and welfare concerns. Lab Animal 27(10): 38-40. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: rats, capsaicin, newborn animals, urination, dyspnea, animal welfare, skin lesions, complications.

Smith, M.M. and M. Hargaden (2001). Developing a rodent enrichment program. Lab Animal 30(8): 36-41. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: mice, rats, hamsters, laboratory mammals, enrichment, animal welfare, nests, animal behavior, abnormal behavior, record keeping, communication, barbering.

Soffie, M., K. Hahn, E. Terao, and F. Eclancher (1999). Behavioural and glial changes in old rats following environmental enrichment. Behavioural Brain Research 101(1): 37-49. ISSN: 0166-4328.
Abstract: The effects of enriched environment on short-term memory for event durations and on astrocytes (cell density, cell area and % of GFAP immunoreactivity) in hippocampus (Hi), frontal cortex (FC) and corpus callosum (CC) were analysed in old rats housed from weaning to the end of behavioural testing (23 months) either in standard (SC) or in enriched (EC) conditions and in young adults (5 months) all housed in SC. Old SC and EC and young SC rats trained (for 2 months) or not, in a Symbolic Delayed Matching to Sample Task, had to discriminate and remember two (2- and 10-s) signals after short retention intervals. Results confirm the aging-related acquisition and memory deficit. EC reduced the slowness of acquisition, reversed the short-term memory deficit and promoted the retention of the short signal (choose short effect). Old SC naive rats had many hypertrophied astrocytes with long processes in Hi and CC while old EC rats had decreased astrocytes number and size. The behavioural testing resulted in young adult SC rats in Hi and CC, in increased astrocytes number, size and GFAP% and in their decrease in old SC rats. EC and testing have additive effects (very low astrocytes number, size and GFAP%) to compensate for the aging-induced gliosis, mostly in Hi.
Descriptors: aging psychology, behavior, animal physiology, brain physiology, environment, neuroglia physiology, astrocytes physiology, brain cytology, cell count, conditioning, operant physiology, corpus callosum cytology, corpus callosum physiology, discrimination psychology physiology, frontal lobe cytology, frontal lobe physiology, glial fibrillary acidic protein immunology, glial fibrillary acidic protein metabolism, hippocampus cytology, hippocampus physiology, immunohistochemistry, memory, short term physiology, neuronal plasticity physiology, Wistar rats.

Song, C.W., S.J. Lee, J.R. Kim, and S.S. Han (1992). Reproductive performance of SPF ICR mice under single paired mating. Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction 16(3): 261-267.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, reproductive performance, mating systems, statistical methods, animal husbandry methods, animal performance, mammals, methods, Rodentia, useful animals.

Soriano, O., C. Torrero, M. Regalado, O. Casta Cervantes, and M. Salas (2002). Effects of handling and undernourishing on the development of huddling in rats. Society for NeuroScience Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner: Abstract No. 878.4.
Online: http://sfn.scholarone.com
Descriptors: rats, handling, undernourishing, effects, huddling, development, thermoregulation, diet, nutrition.
Notes: Meeting Information: 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Neuroscience, November 02-07, 2002, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Sternberg, W.F. and C.G. Ridgway (2003). Effects of gestational stress and neonatal handling on pain, analgesia, and stress behavior of adult mice. Physiology and Behavior 78(3): 375-83. ISSN: 0031-9384.
Abstract: Stressors presented during the late prenatal and early postnatal periods can have long-term effects on offspring behavior, due to the sensitive periods in the formation of brain circuitry associated with early development. This study investigated the long-term effects of prenatal (restraint during the last week of gestation) and postnatal (daily handling for 14 days postnatal) stress, alone and in combination, on adulthood pain behavior, analgesic responses to stress and morphine, and on behavioral indices of stress reactivity. We found that all of the adult responses measured were altered by perinatal manipulations. Nociceptive thresholds were increased by prenatal or by postnatal stress in males and females; application of both stressors in combination negated these effects. Elevations in morphine analgesia were also observed in animals undergoing either perinatal stressor, but not in those who received both stressors. Behavioral and analgesic responses to stress were consistent with previous observations of reduced stress responsiveness following neonatal handling, with some sex-specific findings. Male and female handled subjects exhibited decreases in stress behavior, and both groups of female handled subjects (regardless of prenatal stress [PS] condition) exhibited decreases in stress-induced analgesia (SIA). Males, on the other hand, exhibited decreases in SIA only if they were prenatally stressed (regardless of handling condition). Thus, prenatal and postnatal stressors have differing effects on the neural circuitry underlying pain, pain inhibition, and stress behavior.
Descriptors: handling psychology, pain threshold physiology, prenatal exposure delayed effects, stress physiopathology, adaptation, physiological physiology, analgesia, analgesics, opioid pharmacology, analysis of variance, newborn animals, mice, morphine pharmacology, pain drug therapy, pain threshold drug effects, pain threshold psychology, reaction time physiology, sex factors, stress, psychological.

Stewart, L.S.A. and W.J. Martin (2003). Evaluation of postoperative analgesia in a rat model of incisional pain. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 42(1): 28-34. ISSN: 1060-0558.
NAL Call Number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: rats, laboratory animals, postoperative care, pain, analgesia, flunixin, acetaminophen, fentanyl, opioid peptides, dosage, dose response, liveweight gain, distress, animal use refinement, animal welfare, buprenorphine.

Tabata, H., T. Kitamura, and N. Nagamatsu (1998). Comparison of effects of restraint, cage transportation, anaesthesia and repeated bleeding on plasma glucose levels between mice and rats. Laboratory Animals 32(2): 143-148. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: We examined the effects of handling, cage transportation, anaesthesia and repeated bleeding on plasma glucose levels in mice and rats. Plasma glucose was determined using a compact glucose analyser Antsense, which provides a quick and accurate method without the necessity for special specimen preparation. In mice, plasma glucose was significantly elevated after primary handling or cage transportation. Anaesthesia increased plasma glucose levels two-fold, whilst repeated bleeding induced a rapid but transient increase. However, it was found to be possible to sample plasma glucose levels at one-hour intervals without any apparent effect on plasma glucose level as a result of stress from the sampling procedure. In contrast, the same set of procedures i.e. handling, cage transportation and anaesthesia, when performed on rats, seemed to have small or no observable effect on levels of plasma glucose. These results show the importance of the sampling procedure when determining plasma glucose in mice. It is recommended that the procedure which causes the least influence on endogenous glucose levels should be the method of choice and that animals should be acclimatized to the procedure, by appropriate handling, prior to sampling.
Descriptors: mice, rats, blood sugar, blood plasma, restraint of animals, transport of animals, cages, anesthesia, blood, sampling.

Tamada, A., S. Emura, D. Hayakawa, H. Chen, M. Jamali, T. Yamahira, K. Yoshida Terasawa, H. Isono, and S. Shoumura (1998). Effect of immobilization on the ultrastructure of the golden hamster parathyroid gland. Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica 74(6): 259-69. ISSN: 0030-154X.
Abstract: To investigate the morphological changes of the parathyroid gland of the immobilized hamsters, we studied the ultrastructure of the parathyroid gland of golden hamsters kept in special small cage (Ballman cage II). All hamsters of the control group were kept in one ordinary cage. Each hamster of the isolated group was kept in ordinary cage individually. Each hamster of the immobilized group was kept in Ballman cage II individually. All hamsters were kept for 5 days. On the first and fifth day of the experiment, bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of whole body were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In the control and isolated groups, BMD of the fifth day was significantly increased as compared to that of the first day. In the immobilized group BMC and body weight were significantly decreased. There was no significant difference among 3 groups concerning the mean serum calcium level. Volume density of the cell organelles and inclusions was estimated and compared among 3 groups. Volume density of the lysosomes and large vacuolar bodies of the isolated and immobilized groups was significantly higher than that of the control group. Much more lipid droplets were observed in the immobilized group than the control and isolated groups. No particular differences were observed as to the Golgi complex in the isolated and the immobilized groups compared to the control group. These findings suggest that the cellular activity of the parathyroid gland is suppressed with immobilization.
Descriptors: immobilization physiology, parathyroid glands physiology, parathyroid glands ultrastructure, body weight physiology, bone density, calcium blood, densitometry, x ray, hamsters, Mesocricetus, microscopy, electron.

Tasker, R.A.R., B.J. Connell, S.J. Ross, and C.M. Elson (1998). Development of an injectable sustained-release formulation of morphine: antinociceptive properties in rats. Laboratory Animals 32(3): 270-275. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Descriptors: rats, drug formulations, controlled release, morphine, chitosan, gels, adverse effects, analgesics, pain, animal welfare.

Tiba, P.A., B.D. Palma, S. Tufik, and D. Suchecki (2003). Effects of early handling on basal and stress-induced sleep parameters in rats. Brain Research 975(1-2): 158-66. ISSN: 0006-8993.
Abstract: Exposure of humans and animals to stressful events early in life leads to significant and often permanent behavioural, neuroendocrine and central alterations. Early handling consists of removing the litter from the nest for 15 min/day, from post-natal days 2 to 14 and results in lowered ACTH and corticosterone stress response and reduced anxiety-like and fear behaviours. Stress-induced sleep alterations usually consists of increased sleep time, known as sleep rebound. In the present study, basal and stress-induced sleep pattern of control non-manipulated (CTL) and early handled (EH) adult male rats was investigated. Sleep was evaluated by 21-h polysomnographic recordings (from 10:00 to 07:00 h of the next day) before and after a 1-h session of restraint stress. The results showed that in the first 3 h following stress, both CTL and EH animals exhibited an impairment of sleep, with a reduction of sleep efficiency, duration of slow wave sleep and of paradoxical sleep. On the contrary, time awake and awakening bouts were augmented in this period. Sleep rebound was observed mainly in the dark period of the light-dark cycle. Stress-induced sleep changes were similar between CTL and EH animals for most sleep parameters. However, EH animals exhibited more bouts of paradoxical sleep on the night following stress exposure and longer bouts of paradoxical sleep in the light period that followed restraint stress. These data indicate that stress-induced alterations of sleep in early handled animals are similar to that observed in control animals, except for some parameters related to paradoxical sleep.
Descriptors: handling psychology, sleep physiology, stress, psychological physiopathology, newborn animals, electrodes, implanted, polysomnography, Wistar rats, physical restraint, sleep, REM physiology.

Torbati, D., J. Ramirez, E. Hon, M.T. Camacho, J.B. Sussmane, A. Raszynski, and J. Wolfsdorf (1999). Experimental critical care in rats: gender differences in anesthesia, ventilation, and gas exchange. Critical Care Medicine 27(9): 1878-84. ISSN: 0090-3493.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare normative ventilatory and gas-exchange data and anesthetic requirements in male and female rats subjected to critical care conditions. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Critical care research laboratory in a hospital. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two age-matched young male and female rats (Sprague-Dawley, Long Evans strain). INTERVENTIONS: Anesthesia was induced with 65 and 45 mg/kg pentobarbital in male and female rats, respectively. The rats were then tracheostomized and cannulated in one femoral vein and artery. Anesthesia was maintained using 8-15 mg/kg/hr pentobarbital (iv) and controlled by continuous hemodynamic monitoring. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Normoxic baselines for breathing frequency, tidal volume, minute volume, inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio, inspiratory drive (tidal volume/inspiratory time), respiratory system compliance, peak airway pressure, and gas-exchange profiles were established. Ventilatory and gas-exchange responses to oxygen and CO2 were then determined by exposure to 10 mins of hyperoxia (100% oxygen), two levels of mild and severe hypercapnic hyperoxia (inspired Pco2 of 30 and 60 torr; 4 and 8 kPa), and two levels of mild and severe normocapnic hypoxia (inspired PO2 of 81 and 48 torr; 10.7 and 6.3 kPa). The average anesthetic requirement (during a 5- to 6-hr experiment) was 30% less in the female rats than in the male rats (p < .05). Female rats showed significantly lower breathing frequency, minute volume (mL/min/kg), and inspiratory drive (mL/kg/sec) during hyperoxia, mild and severe hypercapnia, and mild hypoxia. Pulmonary peak airway pressure was significantly lower in the female rats, consistent with a significantly higher weight-indexed compliance during all exposures. The female rats also had significantly higher inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio and higher PaCO2 with lower pH during normoxia, hyperoxia, and mild hypercapnia. These gender differences had no effect on PaO2, which was similar in all exposures. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant gender differences in ventilation, gas exchange, and anesthetic requirements in rats subjected to critical care conditions. The gas-exchange values observed in these spontaneously breathing rats may represent the optimal levels attainable during pentobarbital anesthesia with normal lungs. They may serve as standards for ventilator settings in the rat models used for critical care studies.
Descriptors: anesthesia, critical care, respiration, artificial, respiratory mechanics drug effects, sex characteristics, anesthetics pharmacology, anoxia physiopathology, animal disease models, drug dose response relationship, hypercapnia physiopathology, hyperoxia physiopathology, pentobarbital pharmacology, prospective studies, pulmonary gas exchange drug effects, pulmonary ventilation drug effects, Long Evans rats, Sprague Dawley rats, sex factors.

Torbati, D., B.R. Totapally, M.T. Camacho, and J. Wolfsdorf (1999). Experimental critical care in ventilated rats: effect of hypercapnia on arterial oxygen-carrying capacity. Journal of Critical Care 14(4): 191-7. ISSN: 0883-9441.
Abstract: PURPOSE: We have previously demonstrated an increased arterial O2-carrying capacity in normal ventilated dogs subjected to both acute and prolonged exogenous hypercapnia. In the present study, we tested if arterial hypercapnia, during controlled ventilation, can increase O2-carrying capacity also in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty young male Sprague Dawley rats were anesthetized (60 mg/kg pentobarbital), tracheostomized, intubated, and one femoral vein and artery were cannulated. Anesthesia and paralysis were maintained using 15 mg/kg/h pentobarbital intravenously, and 2 mg/kg/h vecuronium bromide. The fluid balance (5 mL/kg/h saline), normothermia, and minute volume were maintained. The mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were continuously monitored. Experiments included the following: (1) a control group, ventilated with normoxic air for 150 minutes (n = 5); (2) mild hypercapnia, a group of eight rats ventilated with normoxic air for 30 minutes and then ventilated with a mixture of normoxic air at 60 mm Hg CO2 (8 kPa) for 1 hour; and (3) severe hypercapnia, a group of seven rats were treated exactly as in group II, except a 90 mm Hg (12 kPa) CO2 during hypercapnia. Gas-exchange profile, arterial hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, arterial Hb-oxygen saturation (Hb-O2), and arterial O2 content were periodically determined during normocapnia and 1 hour of hypercapnia. RESULTS: Exposures to mild and severe hypercapnia, in rats with maintained ventilation, significantly reduced the arterial O2 content by 20% and 33%, respectively, without significant changes in the arterial Hb concentration (-2%). Severe hypercapnia generated a significant reduction of -14% in the PaO2, but not in PaO2/ FiO2 ratio. CONCLUSION: Rats subjected to controlled ventilation and permissive hypercapnia, unlike dogs and perhaps humans, show no augmentation of Hb concentration. Hypercapnia in rats also provokes much stronger Bohr effect than in dogs. Hypercapnia-induced Bohr effect in rats is accompanied with extreme desaturations of Hb-O2, and substantial reduction in the O2-carrying capacity. We speculate that the strong hypercapnia-induced Bohr effect in rats may prevent hypoxia at the tissue level. However, to maintain a stable oxygen-carrying capacity in rats used for pulmonary critical care studies with hypercapnia, we suggest to use hyperoxia, with or without a mild hypothermia.
Descriptors: hypercapnia blood, oxygen blood, respiration, artificial, analysis of variance, pulmonary gas exchange, Sprague Dawley rats.

Tsai, P.P., U. Pachowsky, H.D. Stelzer, and H. Hackbarth (2002). Impact of environmental enrichment in mice. 1. Effect of housing conditions on body weight, organ weights and haematology in different strains. Laboratory Animals 36(4): 411-9. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Currently, environmental enrichment is a very common means of improving animal well-being, especially for laboratory animals. Although environmental enrichment seems to be a possible way for improving the well-being of animals, the consideration of housing laboratory animals should not only focus solely on animal well-being, manpower and economics but also on the precision and accuracy of the experimental results. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of enriched cages (nest box, nesting material, climbing bar) on body weight, haematological data and final organ weights. BALB/c, C57BL/6 and A/J mice, originated from Harlan Winkelmann, were used for the experiments - 16 animals of each strain. Animals at 3 weeks of age were marked and separated randomly to enriched or non-enriched cages, in groups of four, half for each housing condition. Both cages were type III Makrolon cages, only the enriched cages contained a nest box, a wood bar for climbing and nesting material. Animals were kept in a clean animal room under specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions. Body weights were recorded every week. Blood samples were collected at 14 weeks of age (white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), and haematocrit (HCT) were analysed). At 15 weeks of age, the animals were euthanized by CO(2) in their home cages, and final body weight and organ weights (heart, liver, kidney, adrenal, spleen and uterus) were recorded immediately. Although nearly all the test variables were not affected by environmental enrichment in their mean values, the enriched group showed higher coefficients of variation in many variables, and strain differences of both housing conditions were not consistent. The influences of enrichment were shown to be strain- and test-dependent. Such effects may lead to an increase in the number of animals which is necessary or may change the experimental results, especially when a study, using enriched housing conditions, focuses on strain differences. Since the same enrichment design can result in different influences, a positive or a negative or no adverse effect, due to the strain and the variables studied, researchers need to collect more information before enrichment designs are introduced into experimental plans.
Descriptors: animal husbandry methods, body weight physiology, organ size physiology, social environment, age factors, hematologic tests, mice, inbred mice strains, reproducibility of results, variation genetics.

Van de Weerd, H.A. (1996). Environmental Enrichment for Laboratory Mice: Preferences and Consequences, Utrecht University: Utrecht, Netherlands, 138 p. ISBN: 90-393-1487-X.
Descriptors: battery husbandry, laboratory animals, mice, Muridae, rats, animal housing, enrichment, nesting, animal husbandry methods, behavior, farming systems, intensive farming, intensive husbandry, mammals, Rodentia, useful animals.

Van de Weerd, H.A., E.L. Aarsen, A. Mulder, C.L. Kruitwagen, C.F. Hendriksen, and V. Baumans (2002). Effects of environmental enrichment for mice: variation in experimental results. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 5(2): 87-109. ISSN: 1088-8705.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.J68
Abstract: This study focused on the effects of different enriched environments for mice in a number of behavioral and physiological parameters in 2 routine laboratory testing procedures: potency testing for tetanus vaccine and stress-induced hyperthermia. The variability in the results was studied by calculating and analyzing mean absolute devi-ations. Mice from enriched conditions weighed more and consumed more food than mice from standard housing conditions. However, mice from enriched conditions lost more body weight after being housed individually. Other physiological parameters showed no differences. Mice from standard conditions were more active in an open field, suggesting a tendency to overrespond to various stimuli in a testing environ-ment. Mice from enriched environments were more tranquil and easier to handle. The enrichment did not influence the variability in any of the parameters measured, al-though earlier results and results of other studies suggest that the effects on the vari-ability in results are parameter dependent. When enrichment does not influence vari-ability, there is no reason for not introducing cage enrichment and by doing so contributing to the animals' welfare.
Descriptors: animal husbandry standards, animal welfare, laboratory animals physiology, animal housing standards, mice physiology, analysis of variance, animal husbandry methods, laboratory animals psychology, animal eating behavior, handling psychology, mice psychology, inbred BALB c mice, motor activity, multivariate analysis, social environment, tetanus toxoid standards, vaccines, inactivated standards, weight gain.

Van de Weerd, H.A. and V. Baumans (1999). Evaluation of environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Animal Welfare Information Center Bulletin 9(3-4): 1-2, 18-19. ISSN: 1522-7553.
Online: http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/newsletters/v9n3/9n3weerd.htm
NAL Call Number: aHV4701.A952
Descriptors: mice, cages, nesting, enrichment, evaluation, body weight, literature reviews.

Van de Weerd, H.A., V. Baumans, J.M. Koolhaas, and L.F.M. Zutphen (1996). ICLAS proceedings: Nesting material as enrichment in two mouse strains. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 23(Supplement 1): 119-123. ISSN: 0901-3393.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, nesting, litter for animals, animal housing, behavior, enrichment, Rodentia.
Notes: Meeting Information: Frontiers in Laboratory Animal Science. Helsinki (Finland), June 1995.

Van de Weerd, H.A., P.L.P. Van Loo, L.F.M. Van Zutphen, J.M. Koolhaas, and V. Baumans (1998). Strength of preference for nesting material as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 55(3-4): 369-382. ISSN: 0168-1591.
NAL Call Number: QL750.A6
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, litter, materials, cages, microenvironments, enrichment, animal welfare, animal behavior.

Van de Weerd, H.A., P.L.P. Van Loo, L.F.M. Van Zutphen, J.M. Koolhaas, and V. Baumans (1998). Preferences for nest boxes as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Animal Welfare 7(1): 11-25. ISSN: 0962-7286.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.A557
Descriptors: mice, strains, enrichment, animal housing, behavior patterns, animal welfare.

Van de Weerd, H.A., P.L.P. Van Loo, L.F.M. Van Zutphen, J.M. Koolhaas, and V. Baumans (1997). Preferences for nesting material as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals 31(2): 133-143. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Behavioural and psychological needs of laboratory animals generally cannot adequately be met in standard laboratory cages. Environmental enrichment, which provides a more structured environment can enhance the well-being of laboratory animals. They may perform more of their species-specific behaviour and may control their environment in a better way. An easily applicable form of enrichment for laboratory mice is nesting material. Six different types of nesting materials were evaluated in a preference test with male and female animals of two strains (C57BL/6J or BALB/c, n=48). No significant differences in preference were found between the strains or between the sexes. All mice showed a clear preference for cages with tissues or towels as compared to paper strips or no nesting material, and for cages with cotton string or wood-wool as compared to wood shavings or no nesting material. Paper-derived materials were preferred over wood-derived materials, although the results also suggest that the nature (paper or wood) of the nesting material is less important than its structure, which determines the nestability of the material. Nesting material may be a relatively simple method to contribute to the well-being of laboratory mice.
Descriptors: mice, animal housing, nesting, materials, enrichment, animal welfare, environmental enrichment.

Van der Harst, J.E., A.M. Baars, and B.M. Spruijt (2003). Standard housed rats are more sensitive to rewards than enriched housed rats as reflected by their anticipatory behaviour. Behavioural Brain Research 142(1-2): 151-6. ISSN: 0166-4328.
Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of potentially stressful standard housing conditions for laboratory rats on the sensitivity to rewards as reflected by their anticipatory behaviour for sucrose. This anticipatory response is evoked in a conditioning paradigm in which a sucrose reward is repeatedly announced by a stimulus. The underlying neurocircuitry of this anticipatory response in expectation of a reward involves mesolimbic dopaminergic systems of which it is known that they can be sensitised by stressors. The results show that the anticipatory response for the sucrose reward is stronger in the standard housed animals which indicates that these animals are more sensitive to the reward than the enriched animals. From this, it is concluded that standard housed rats are stressed which is likely to be caused by deprivation of the ability to satisfy behavioural needs in these impoverished housing conditions.
Descriptors: appetitive behavior, reinforcement psychology, social environment, stress, psychological psychology, analysis of variance, conditioning psychology, housing, animal, Wistar rats, reward, sensory thresholds.

Van der Harst, J.E., P.C.J. Fermont, A.E. Bilstra, and B.M. Spruijt (2003). Access to enriched housing is rewarding to rats as reflected by their anticipatory behaviour. Animal Behaviour 66(3): 493-504. ISSN: 0003-3472.
NAL Call Number: 410 B77
Descriptors: enrichment, housing, environmental effects, reinforcement, classical conditioning, appetitive behavior, arousal, anticipation, rats.

Van der Meer, E., P.L. Van Loo, and V. Baumans (2004). Short-term effects of a disturbed light-dark cycle and environmental enrichment on aggression and stress-related parameters in male mice. Laboratory Animals 38(4): 376-83. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: In the laboratory setting, environmental factors have a major influence on the well-being of laboratory animals. The present study shows the importance of a semi-natural light-dark cycle. In this experiment one cohort of mice was kept with a continuous lighting for one week. After the first week the artificial light-dark cycle was 12:12 with lights on at 07:00 h. The second cohort of mice was kept with this 12:12 h light-dark cycle from the start. Half of each cohort received environmental enrichment. In order to analyse corticosterone levels, urine samples were collected. To measure agonistic behaviour, the behaviour of the mice was recorded on videotape immediately after cage cleaning. A significant difference in corticosterone levels between cohorts was found during disturbed lighting, but not after lighting conditions were reset to 12:12 h. In the first test week, mice subjected to disturbed lighting also showed a significantly shorter agonistic latency than control mice. This difference had disappeared when in the second test week all mice experienced 12:12 h lighting. No effects of enriched housing were found. This experiment has shown that disturbed lighting for socially-housed male mice caused physiological and behavioural changes indicative of stress, not only leading to much higher levels of corticosterone but also to shorter agonistic latency within the groups.
Descriptors: agonistic behavior physiology, behavior, animal physiology, inbred BALB c mice physiology, inbred BALB c mice psychology, photoperiod, body weight physiology, cohort studies, corticosterone urine, creatinine urine, drinking physiology, eating physiology, eating psychology, mice, random allocation, statistics, nonparametric, videotape recording.

Van Loo, P.L. and V. Baumans (2004). The importance of learning young: the use of nesting material in laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 38(1): 17-24. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Unlike mice, adult laboratory rats do not spontaneously build nests when nesting material is offered. As a result, nesting material is often regarded as unsuitable environmental enrichment for laboratory rats. Wild rats and pet rats, however, have been observed to build complex nests from nesting material at hand. It was hypothesized that nest building in rats is an acquired behaviour, rather than genetically predisposed. To test this hypothesis, the progeny of three Wistar rats provided with nesting material (Kleenex tissues) during pregnancy and three standard-housed rats were divided in 34 same-sex couples with access to nesting material: (1) from the age of 8 weeks (n=7); (2) from weaning (n=8); (3) from birth (n=17). The latter were subdivided into two groups after weaning, one provided with Kleenex tissues (n=9), the other with Enviro-dri (n=8). At the age of 12 weeks, all couples were provided with both types of nesting material for one week. Amount, shape, and soiling of the nesting material were scored on weekdays, and behaviour of the rats was scored twice weekly. Results indicated that the older the rats were when first provided with nesting material, the greater the amount of nesting material eaten and soiled, and the nests built were less elaborate. Overall, Enviro-dri was eaten less than Kleenex tissues. It is concluded that rats need to learn the proper use of nesting material. When provided from birth, nesting material is a suitable type of environmental enrichment for laboratory rats.
Descriptors: aging, laboratory animal physiology, learning physiology, nesting behavior, rats physiology, newborn animals, behavior, weaning.

Van Loo, P.L., H.J. Blom, M.K. Meijer, and V. Baumans (2005). Assessment of the use of two commercially available environmental enrichments by laboratory mice by preference testing. Laboratory Animals 39(1): 58-67. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: In the field of biomedical research, the demand for standardization of environmental enrichment for laboratory animals is growing. For laboratory mice, a wide variety of environmental enrichment items are commercially available. Most of these comply with the demands for standardization, hygiene and ergonomics. Whether these items also comply with their actual purpose, to enhance the well-being of the mice, is often not assessed scientifically. In this study, we tested the preference of mice for two commercially available nest boxes differing in shape and material: the Shepherd Shack/DesRes (SS/DR) and the Tecniplast Mouse House (TMH), in a simple preference test. To indicate strength of preference, both nest boxes were also tested against a highly preferred nesting material. Preference for the most preferred nest box was investigated further. Our results indicated a strong preference by mice for the SS/DR, but not for the TMH. Furthermore, nesting material was almost always combined with the SS/DR, but not with the TMH. More elaborate testing of the SS/DR in an automated preference test system confirmed that mice spent significantly more time in a cage in which an SS/DR is provided. Differences between both nest boxes are discussed with regard to their attractiveness to mice. It is also argued that enrichment should primarily be developed in concordance with the animals' needs prior to the marketing of enrichment tools.
Descriptors: environmental enrichment, assessment, commercially available, mice, testing, standardization, needs.

Van Loo, P.L., H.A. Van de Weerd, L.F. Van Zutphen, and V. Baumans (2004). Preference for social contact versus environmental enrichment in male laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals 38(2): 178-88. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: Due to their aggressive nature, male mice are less frequently used than female mice in biomedical research. When aggressive males are being used, individual housing is common practice. The question arises whether this is an acceptable housing for a social species. The present study was designed to gain more insight into the nature of inter-male social contact and into the potential of a form of environmental enrichment (nesting material) to compensate for the lack of social contact. In a series of tests, we analysed whether male mice of different ages preferred to spend time (1) near a familiar cage mate versus an empty cage, or (2) near to a familiar cage mate versus direct contact with nesting material (tissues). Dwelling time in each of the test cages and sleeping sites was recorded, as was the behaviour of the test mice. Results indicated that when other conditions were similar, male mice preferred to sleep in close proximity to their familiar cage mate. Furthermore, the need to engage in active social behaviour increased with age. Tissues were used to a large extent for sleeping and sleep-related behaviour. It is concluded that single housing in order to avoid aggression between male mice is a solution with evident negative consequences for the animals. When individual housing is inevitable due to excessive aggressive behaviour, the presence of nesting material could partly compensate for the deprivation of social contact.
Descriptors: agonistic behavior, animal welfare, animal behavior, inbred BALB c mice psychology, social dominance, animal housing, mice, inbred BALB c mice physiology, random allocation.

Van Loo, P.L., E. Van der Meer, C.L. Kruitwagen, J.M. Koolhaas, L.F. Van Zutphen, and V. Baumans (2004). Long-term effects of husbandry procedures on stress-related parameters in male mice of two strains. Laboratory Animals 38(2): 169-77. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: In socially unstable groups of male laboratory mice, individuals may experience a chronic stress situation. Previous experiments have shown that the transfer of specific olfactory cues during cage cleaning, and the provision of nesting material decrease aggression and stress in group-housed male mice. In this study, the combined effect of these husbandry procedures were tested for their long-term effect on stress in groups of moderately aggressive (BALB/c) and severely aggressive (CD-1) male mice. The physiological and behavioural stress-related parameters used were body weight, food and water intake, spleen and thymus weight, adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase activity, urine corticosterone levels and behaviour in a cage emergence test. Long-term provision of nesting material and its transfer during cage cleaning was found to influence several stress-related physiological parameters. Mice housed in cages enriched with nesting material had lower urine corticosterone levels and heavier thymuses, and they consumed less food and water than standard-housed mice. Furthermore, marked differences were found between strains. CD-1 mice were less anxious in the cage emergence test, weighed more, ate and drank more, and had heavier thymuses but lighter spleens and lower corticosterone levels than BALB/c mice. We conclude that the long-term provision of nesting material, including the transfer of nesting material during cage cleaning, reduces stress and thereby enhances the welfare of laboratory mice.
Descriptors: agonistic behavior physiology, animal husbandry methods, behavior, animal physiology, inbred BALB c mice psychology, inbred ICR mice psychology, social dominance, stress, psychological psychology, body weight physiology, corticosterone urine, creatinine urine, drinking physiology, eating physiology, eating psychology, inbred BALB c mice physiology, inbred ICR mice physiology, organ size, random allocation, spleen physiology, stress, psychological etiology, thymus gland physiology, tyrosine 3 monooxygenase metabolism, husbandry procedures, stress, male, long term effects, nesting material, animal welfare, enrichment.

Van Loo, P.L., L.F. Van Zutphen, and V. Baumans (2003). Male management: Coping with aggression problems in male laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals 37(4): 300-13. ISSN: 0023-6772.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L3
Abstract: In a laboratory environment, aggressive interactions between male mice may exceed normal levels leading to negative effects both on the well-being of the animals and on the validity of experimental results. In this paper 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 short, it is recommended to avoid individual housing, to transfer odour cues from the nesting area during cage cleaning and to apply nesting material as environmental enrichment. Furthermore, group size should be optimized to three animals per cage. Further research, in particular into the effects of frequency, duration, type and severity of disturbances during an experiment on the degree of aggression, is recommended.
Descriptors: aggression, laboratory animals, sex characteristics, animal husbandry, animal behavior, environment, animal housing, mice, species specificity, male mice, aggression problems, coping, management, negative effects, review, recommendations, care, cage cleaning.

Van Loo, P.L.P., A.C. De Groot, B.F.M. Van Zutphen, and V. Baumans (2001). Do male mice prefer or avoid each other's company? influence of hierarchy, kinship, and familiarity. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 4(2): 91-103. ISSN: 1088-8705.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.J68
Descriptors: mice, male animals, laboratory mammals, social dominance, animal welfare, cages, group size, aggressive behavior, feed intake, water intake, nests, animal preferences.

Van Loo, P.L.P., C.L.J.J. Kruitwagen, J.M. Koolhaas, H.A. Van de Weerd, L.F.M. Van Zutphen, and V. Baumans (2002). Influence of cage enrichment on aggressive behaviour and physiological parameters in male mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 76(1): 65-81. ISSN: 0168-1591.
NAL Call Number: QL750.A6
Descriptors: mice, laboratory mammals, male animals, aggressive behavior, enrichment, litter, nesting, shelter, group size, agonistic behavior, social dominance, age differences, fighting, liveweight gain, feed intake, water intake, urine, corticosterone, creatinine, thymus gland, spleen, testes, vesicular gland, weight, tyrosine 3 monooxygenase, enzyme activity, testosterone, bites, environmental enrichment.

Van Loo, P.L.P., C.L.J.J. Kruitwagen, L.F.M. Van Zutphen, J.M. Koolhaas, and V. Baumans (2000). Modulation of aggression in male mice: influence of cage cleaning regime and scent marks. Animal Welfare 9(3): 281-295. ISSN: 0962-7286.
NAL Call Number: HV4701.A557
Descriptors: mice, male animals, laboratory animals, age differences, fighting, odors, litter, sawdust, nests, social dominance, body weight, testes, testosterone, adrenal cortex, territoriality, cages, cleaning, animal welfare, urine, group housing, nesting material.

Van Loo, P.L.P., H.A. Van de Weerd, and V. Baumans (1996). ICLAS proceedings: Short and long-term influence of an easy applicable enrichment device on the behaviour of the laboratory mouse. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science Supplement 23(Supplement 1): 113-118. ISSN: 0901-3393.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, environmental factors, behavior, cages, nest boxes, animal welfare, animal housing, enrichment, Rodentia.
Notes: Meeting Information: ICLAS, Scand LAS, FinLAS, Helsinki (Finland). Frontiers in Laboratory Animal Science. Helsinki (Finland), June 1995.

Van Loo, P.L.P., E. Van der Meer, C.L.J.J. Kruitwagen, J.M. Koolhaas, L.F.M. Van Zutphen, and V. Baumans (2003). Strain-specific aggressive behavior of male mice submitted to different husbandry procedures. Aggressive Behavior 29(1): 69-80. ISSN: 0096-140X.
Descriptors: mice, male, behavior, aggression, husbandry procedure, strain specific, animal welfare, nesting material.

Van Ruiven, R., G.W. Meijer, L.F.M. Van Zutphen, and J. Ritskes Hoitinga (1996). Adaptation period of laboratory animals after transport: a review. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 23(4): 185-190. ISSN: 0901-3393.
Descriptors: mice, rats, rabbits, laboratory animals, transport, adaptation, physiological functions, lagomorphs, mammals, Rodentia, useful animals.

Varty, G.B., M.P. Paulus, D.L. Braff, and M.A. Geyer (2000). Environmental enrichment and isolation rearing in the rat: effects on locomotor behavior and startle response plasticity. Biological Psychiatry 47(10): 864-73. ISSN: 0006-3223.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Laboratory rats exhibit behavioral changes that reflect a continuum of early life experience, from isolation-reared to socially reared to enrichment-reared conditions. In this study, we further characterize the behavioral effects of isolation, social, and enriched rearing on locomotor activity, patterns of movement and exploration, startle reactivity, prepulse inhibition (PPI), and habituation in adult rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rat pups (21 days old) were housed under enrichment (three per cage with toys and exposure to enriched environments), normal social (three per cage), or isolation (one per cage) conditions. Eight weeks later, locomotor and exploratory behaviors, acoustic startle reactivity, PPI, and habituation were measured in the three groups. RESULTS: Enrichment-reared rats exhibited reduced exploration and rapid habituation of locomotor activity, increased startle reactivity, and normal PPI and startle habituation compared with socially reared controls. Isolation-reared rats exhibited increased exploration and normal habituation of locomotor activity, increased startle reactivity, reduced PPI, and normal startle habituation. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation- and enrichment-reared rats exhibited opposite changes in some behaviors and similar changes in other behaviors. Specifically, rats raised in enriched conditions appear more efficient at assimilating stimuli from their environment than do rats reared in isolation. Nevertheless, both enrichment- and isolation-rearing conditions increased startle reactivity, whereas only isolation rearing led to disruptions of PPI in adulthood. These results suggest that isolation- and enrichment-rearing conditions produce some common and some differential effects on how rats process environmental stimuli. For studies of isolation-rearing effects on PPI, however, the complex and resource-intensive enrichment condition seems to offer few advantages over the normal social condition.
Descriptors: locomotion physiology, social environment, social isolation, startle reaction physiology, auditory perception physiology, behavior, animal physiology, exploratory behavior physiology, habituation psychophysiology physiology, rats, Sprague Dawley rats psychology, social behavior, spatial behavior physiology.

Von Frijtag, J.C., M. Schot, R. Van den Bos, and B.M. Spruijt (2002). Individual housing during the play period results in changed responses to and consequences of a psychosocial stress situation in rats. Developmental Psychobiology 41(1): 58-69. ISSN: 0012-1630.
Descriptors: aggression psychology, animal behavior physiology, animal housing, animal, play and playthings psychology, social behavior, social isolation psychology, stress psychology, analysis of variance, body weight physiology, rats, Wistar rats.

Wahlsten, D., P. Metten, and J.C. Crabbe (2003). A rating scale for wildness and ease of handling laboratory mice: results for 21 inbred strains tested in two laboratories. Genes, Brain, and Behavior 2(2): 71-9. ISSN: 1601-1848.
Abstract: Rating scales for difficulty in capturing and holding mice were devised that proved to be easy to use and highly sensitive to differences among mouse strains on the A and B priority lists of the Mouse Phenome Project. The simplicity of the scales makes it feasible to rate wildness during behavioral test sessions without adding much to testing time or distracting the technician from the principal task at hand. Overall wildness and placidity ratings obtained by combining capture and hold ratings provide a good impression of the difficulties encountered while working with lab mice in the course of complex experiments. Ratings of 21 inbred strains during the course of 15 behavioral tests in two laboratories demonstrated that the SPRET/Ei, PERA/Ei, CAST/Ei and SWR/J strains were particularly difficult to handle. The NOD/LtJ strain posed no special challenge in the Edmonton laboratory but was very difficult to handle in the Portland lab. The rating scales should be useful for judging the difficulties in working with novel targeted or induced mutations in mice as well as effects of a variety of environmental treatments or drugs.
Descriptors: wild animals psychology, behavior, animal, handling psychology, mice, inbred mice strains psychology, species specificity.

Waiblinger, E. and B. Konig (2004). Refinement of gerbil housing and husbandry in the laboratory. ATLA, Alternatives to Laboratory Animals 32(Supplement 1A): 163-169. ISSN: 0261-1929.
NAL Call Number: Z7994.L3A5
Descriptors: gerbil, housing, husbandry, behavior, stereotypic, digging, chewing, refinement, welfare.

Ward, L.E. (2001). Handling the cotton rat for research. Lab Animal 30(5): 45-50. ISSN: 0093-7355.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1L33
Abstract: First used as an animal model of poliomyelitis in the late 1940s, the cotton rat is currently used in biomedical research for studies of human respiratory syncytial virus and filariasis. The author provides useful information relevant to the care of these research animals, including husbandry considerations, proper handling, and common laboratory procedures.
Descriptors: animal husbandry methods, laboratory animals, Hesperomyinae physiology, animal husbandry standards, animal nutrition, animal disease models, health status, animal housing standards, rats, reproduction, research.

Weaver, S.A., J. Diorio, J. Rochford, and M.J. Meaney (1999). Maternal separation and neonatal handling have differential effects on pain thresholds and morphine-induced analgesia in female diestrous rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 25(1-2): 507. ISSN: 0190-5295.
Descriptors: rats, maternal separation, neonatal handling, effects, pain thresholds, morphine, analgesia, female.
Notes: Meeting Information: 29th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Part 1, October 23-28, 1999, Miami Beach, Florida, USA.

Weisbroth, S.H., R. Peters, L.K. Riley, and W. Shek (1998). Microbiological assessment of laboratory rats and mice. ILAR Journal 39(4): 272-290. ISSN: 1084-2020.
NAL Call Number: QL55.A1I43
Descriptors: rats, mice, surveillance, disease transmission, diagnostic techniques, serological surveys, immunological techniques, sampling, cages, animal husbandry, accuracy, Parvoviridae, Helicobacter, zoonoses, literature reviews.

Wenny, D.G. (2002). Effects of human handling of seeds on seed removal by rodents. American Midland Naturalist 147(2): 404-408. ISSN: 0003-0031.
Descriptors: rodents, seeds, human handling, seed removal, olfactory cues, human skin.

Whary, M.T., J.H. Cline, A.E. King, C.A. Corcoran, S. Xu, and J.G. Fox (2000). Containment of Helicobacter hepaticus by use of husbandry practices [laboratory mice]. Comparative Medicine 50(1): 78-81. ISSN: 1532-0820.
NAL Call Number: SF77.C65
Descriptors: mice, Helicobacter, containment, husbandry practices, disease control.

Wolfer, D.P., O. Litvin, S. Morf, R.M. Nitsch, H.P. Lipp, and H. Wurbel (2004). Laboratory animal welfare: cage enrichment and mouse behaviour. Nature 432(7019): 821-2. ISSN: 1476-4687.
Abstract: Mice housed in standard cages show impaired brain development, abnormal repetitive behaviours (stereotypies) and an anxious behavioural profile, all of which can be lessened by making the cage environment more stimulating. But concerns have been raised that enriched housing might disrupt standardization and so affect the precision and reproducibility of behavioural-test results (for example, see ref. 4). Here we show that environmental enrichment increases neither individual variability in behavioural tests nor the risk of obtaining conflicting data in replicate studies. Our findings indicate that the housing conditions of laboratory mice can be markedly improved without affecting the standardization of results.
Descriptors: animal welfare standards, laboratory animal physiology, laboratory animal psychology, animal behavior, animal physiology, animal housing, analysis of variance, laboratory animal genetics, brain physiology, brain physiopathology, hybridization, genetic, maze learning, mice, inbred C57BL mice, inbred DBA mice, phenotype, reproducibility of results.

Wurbel, H., R. Chapman, and C. Rutland (1998). Effect of feed and environmental enrichment on development of stereotypic wire-gnawing in laboratory mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 60(1): 69-81. ISSN: 0168-1591.
NAL Call Number: QL750.A6
Descriptors: mice, cages, enrichment, abnormal behavior, animal welfare, behavior patterns, physical activity, grooming, tubes, pelleted feeds, hardness, stereotypies, cardboard tubes.

Xi, X., D. Mcginty, and R. Szymusiak (2001). Acute handling stress induces respiratory depression in rats. Sleep (Rochester) 24(Abstract Supplement): A296. ISSN: 0161-8105.
Descriptors: rats, acute handling stress, induces, respiratory depression, husbandry procedures.
Notes: Meeting Information: 15th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, June 05-10, 2001, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Yerroum, M., F. Braconnier, and P. Chariot (1999). Influence of handling procedures on rat plasma creatine kinase activity. Muscle and Nerve 22(8): 1119-21. ISSN: 0148-639X.
Descriptors: alanine transaminase blood, creatine kinase blood, specimen handling adverse effects, anesthetics administration and dosage, injections, intraperitoneal, Sprague Dawley rats.

Zhang, D. and Y. Wang (2000). Yingxiang xiaoshu peitai xianwei zhushe chenggonglu de ruogan yinsu. [Some factors affecting microinjection success rate in the production of transgenic mice]. Shanghai Nongye Xuebao (China) [Acta Agriculturae Shanghai (China)] 16(4): 57-59. ISSN: 1000-3924.
Descriptors: mice, laboratory animals, genetic transformation, mammals, Rodentia, useful animals, microinjection, fertilized egg, pronuclei.
Language of Text: Chinese with an English summary.

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