Simple shelter-style environmental enrichment alters behavior in mice

AbstractEnvironmental enrichment aims to improve the well-being of laboratory animals and provides an opportunity to improve experimental reliability and validity. Animals raised in more stimulating environments have improved learning and memory as well as more complex brain architecture. However, the effects of environmental enrichment on motor performance, anxiety and emotional development have been poorly studied. Moreover, most investigators studying the effects of enrichment provide extremely large and complex housing conditions to maximize the likelihood of finding effects. These situations are difficult to replicate across animal facilities and are not operationally practical. In this experiment, we investigated how simple, inexpensive disposable shelterstyle enrichment items alter behavior in C57Bl/6 and 129S6 mice. Breeding pairs were established in the presence of a Ketchum “Refuge”, Shepherd Shack “Dome”, or no enrichment. Offspring were assessed neurobehaviorally, either just after weaning (pre-adolescent, P22–P25), or as young adults (P60–P90). Major strain differences were observed in open field activity, elevated maze exploration, and Y-maze activity levels. The presence of the Refuge and/or Dome enrichment shelters significantly altered motor activity, coordination and some measures of anxiety. Mice housed in the presence of shelters were also less dominant than control mice in a tube test assay. Our experiments provide a detailed analysis of the effects of inexpensive and practical methods of housing enrichment on biobehavioral phenotypes in these two commonly used strains of laboratory mice, and suggest that the effects of these shelters on mouse neurobiology and behavior need to be rigorously analyzed before being adopted within vivariums.

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Impact of environmental enrichment in mice. 1: Effect of housing conditions on body weight, organ weights and haematology in different strains

Laboratory Animals ◽

10.1258/002367702320389071 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 411-419 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

P.-P. Tsai ◽

U. Pachowsky ◽

H. D. Stelzer ◽

H. Hackbarth

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Blood Cells ◽

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Strain Differences ◽

Well Being ◽

Experimental Results ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Housing Conditions ◽

Organ Weights ◽

Nesting Material

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 CO2 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.

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Environmental Enrichment of Nonhuman Primates, Dogs and Rabbits Used in Toxicology Studies

Toxicologic Pathology ◽

10.1080/01926230390175020 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 31 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. 132-137 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Kathryn A.L. Bayne

Keyword(s):

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Animal Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Positive Interactions ◽

Regulatory Requirements ◽

Scientific Enterprise ◽

Confounding Variables ◽

The Subject ◽

Animal Care

The increasing emphasis on the provision of environmental enrichment to laboratory animals, vis-à-vis the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC 1996), and a potential forthcoming policy from the USDA on the subject, can be difficult to accommodate in a toxicology research environment. A summary will be provided of current requirements and recommendations. Then, strategies for meeting regulatory requirements will be described for non-rodent animals used in toxicology research. These strategies will address methods of both social enrichment, such as pair or group housing, as well as non-social enrichment, such as cage furniture, food enrichments, and toys. In addition, the value of positive interactions with staff (e.g., through training paradigms or socialization programs) will also be discussed. Apparent in the discussion of these strategies will be an overarching recognition of the necessity to avoid introducing confounding variables into the research project and to avoid compromising animal health. The roles of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the attending veterinarian in helping scientists balance animal well-being, the scientific enterprise and the regulatory environment will be described.

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Preferences for nesting material as environmental enrichment for laboratory mice

Laboratory Animals ◽

10.1258/002367797780600152 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 133-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

H. A. Van de Weerd ◽

P. L. P. Van Loo ◽

L. F. M. Van Zutphen ◽

J. M. Koolhaas ◽

V. Baumans

Keyword(s):

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Preference Test ◽

Well Being ◽

Psychological Needs ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Laboratory Mice ◽

Simple Method ◽

Specific Behaviour ◽

Nesting Material ◽

Species Specific

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.

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Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals in practice

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.14929 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 222

Author(s):

N. KOSTOMITSOPOULOS (Ν. ΚΩΣΤΟΜΗΤΣΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ)

Keyword(s):

Physical Environment ◽

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Close Contact ◽

Group Formation ◽

Well Being ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

The Social ◽

Species Specific ◽

The Impact

During the last decades there has been an increased scientific interest in the improvement of housing conditions for laboratory animals by providing them with opportunities to perform more species - specific behavioural repertoires through enriching their environment. Environmental enrichment is, by definition, any modification in the environment of the captive animals that seeks to enhance their physical and physiological wellbeing by providing stimuli that meet the animals' species-specific needs. An enrichment scheme can be focused on the social and the physical environment. The social environment of animals can be enriched by housing them together with conspecifics in pairs or in groups. Procedures to achieve group formation need careful introduction of individuals which are compatible, a factor which is strongly dependent upon age, sex and hierarchical rank. Social housing will be beneficial only if the pairs or groups are harmonious and stable. The close contact with humans could be also considered as social improvement. Strategies to improve physical environment of laboratory animals should include provision of stimuli (materials or devices) that are biologically meaningful to them, with which they can choose to interact or not and which are not harmful to them. In practice, any enrichment scheme should be well designed before its implementation. In depth knowledge of the behavioural needs of the animals is prerequisite. Close collaboration between the scientific and the technical personnel is also necessary. Environmental changes need to be carefully evaluated in order to establish whether the improvement of animal welfare has been really achieved and to determine the impact on the obtained experimental results. The assessment of improved well-being as a result of environmental changes is based on a complex of behavioural and physiological parameters.

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Enclosure Utilization and Enrichment Structure Preferences of Captive Coyotes

Journal of Zoo Biology ◽

10.33687/zoobiol.002.01.2336 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 05-19

Author(s):

Jeffrey T. Schultz ◽

Julie K. Young

Keyword(s):

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Complex Structure ◽

Well Being ◽

Structure Design ◽

Gps Collars ◽

Biological Responses ◽

Breeding Seasons ◽

And Behavior ◽

Statistical Preference ◽

Discrete Complex

Environmental enrichment improves well-being of captive animals using a variety of tools, including adding complexity to the physical environment. Designing enrichment structures requires an understanding of behavioral and biological responses to enrichment efforts. Captive coyotes (Canis latrans) utilize shelter structures to hide, rest, and display vigilant behavior. Because these simple structures are regularly used, new and more complex enrichment structures could enhance enclosure enrichment. This study examined the time captive coyotes spent at discrete, complex enclosure features to determine: (1) how coyotes utilize enclosure space and shelter structures; and (2) if coyotes have a preferred enrichment structure design. Three enrichment structure designs (ramp, closed, and neutral) were installed simultaneously in 0.6-ha enclosures during two breeding seasons (January – March). Additional coyote pairs were monitored in control enclosures with simple structures. GPS-collars and scan sampling were used throughout a 28-day testing period to record space use and behavior. Coyotes spent most of their time at perimeter and open areas, but also exhibited a preference for shelter structures. Coyotes utilized the complex enrichment structures in treatment enclosures more than simple structures in control enclosures. Although there was no statistical preference for one specific type of complex structure, composite evidence from GPS-collars and behavioral data suggested that coyotes were most frequently located at ramp structures. Coyotes utilized ramp structures more during the daytime and demonstrated higher rates of vigilance there. This study advances the knowledge of captive coyote spatial patterns while helping improve environmental enrichment planning for captive facilities through the exploration of adding complexity to animal enclosures.

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Evaluation of the preference of mice on food intake - Preliminary study

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.14957 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 168

Author(s):

E. PARONIS (Ε. ΠΑΡΩΝΗΣ) ◽

P. ALEXAKOS (Π. ΑΛΕΞΑΚΟΣ) ◽

C. DIMITRIOU (Κ. ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ) ◽

E. BALAFAS (Ε. ΜΠΑΛΑΦΑΣ) ◽

N. KOSTOMITSOPOULOS (Ν. ΚΩΣΤΟΜΗΤΣΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ)

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Steel Wire ◽

Well Being ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Food Hopper ◽

High Concern ◽

Group B ◽

Species Specific

One of the possible ways to improve the housing conditions of laboratory animals is to give animals opportunities to perform more species-specific behavioural repertoires through providing enrichment of their environment. Environmental enrichment is, by definition, any modification in the environment of the captive animals that seeks to enhance their physical and physiological well being by providing stimuli meeting the animals' species-specific needs. Food intake is of high concern as this should be promoting the expression of physical feeding behaviour and improves the welfare of the captive animals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the preference of mice to receive their food from a feeding cup located inside the cage or from the classical food hopper located on the stainless steel wire lid of the cage. Twenty four male C57BL/6 mice, at the age of 5-7 weeks, originated from the breeding colony of the animal facility of the Foundation, were randomly divided into two groups. In group A (n=12) the food was supplied through the food hopper. In group Β (n=12) food was supplied through the feeding cup located in the front side of the cage, as well as through the classical food hopper on the wire lid of the cage. A statistically significant preference of the mice to use the feeding cup instead of the food hopper was noticed (p<0.05). A preference of animals to empty the feeding cup from the food pellets, eat them directly from the bedding and use the feeding cup as a shelter was also observed in all the cages of group B. Based on the above preliminary observations it is concluded that the placement of a feeding cup within the cage could improve the welfare of the animals housed in individual ventilated cages and trigger the expression of a more species-specific feeding behaviour.

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Assessment of health related issues in individuals’, couples’, and families’ daily life

Zeitschrift für Gesundheitspsychologie ◽

10.1026/0943-8149.16.3.146 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 146-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Meinrad Perrez ◽

Michael Reicherts ◽

Yves Hänggi ◽

Andrea B. Horn ◽

Gisela Michel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Daily Life ◽

Ecological Validity ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Well Being ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Emotional States ◽

Self Reports ◽

Health Related ◽

Lower Variability

Abstract. Most research in health psychology is based on retrospective self reports, which are distorted by recall biases and have low ecological validity. To overcome such limitations we developed computer assisted diary approaches to assess health related behaviours in individuals’, couples’ and families’ daily life. The event- and time-sampling-based instruments serve to assess appraisals of the current situation, feelings of physical discomfort, current emotional states, conflict and emotion regulation in daily life. They have proved sufficient reliability and validity in the context of individual, couple and family research with respect to issues like emotion regulation and health. As examples: Regarding symptom reporting curvilinear pattern of frequencies over the day could be identified by parents and adolescents; or psychological well-being is associated with lower variability in basic affect dimensions. In addition, we report on preventive studies to improve parental skills and enhance their empathic competences towards their baby, and towards their partner.

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TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE OF “BIOSOLBI” DRUG

Vestnik of the Russian agricultural science ◽

10.30850/vrsn/2020/1/67-69 ◽

1970 ◽

pp. 67-69

Author(s):

E. K. Rakhmatullin ◽

O. D. Sklyarov

Keyword(s):

Drug Toxicity ◽

Probit Analysis ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Control Group ◽

Hazard Class ◽

Water Ingestion ◽

White Rats ◽

Poorly Soluble ◽

And Behavior ◽

Purebred Dogs

The article presents the results of a study of the "Bisolbi" drug toxicity (powder of light ash color, poorly soluble in water). When it is mixed with water it forms a suspension of particles that settle rapidly. Values of acute drug toxicity were determined on rats. We studied groups of six animals of the same sex, as well as similar control ones. The "Bisolbi" drug was injected to white rats intragastrically, males weighing 310 ... 320 g in doses of 2500 and 2740 mg / kg. Each dose was used in six animals; distilled water (3 ml) was used for the controls. The LD50 was calculated by the probit analysis method proposed by Litchfield and Wilcoxon modified by Z. Roth. When administered orally, an atraumatic metal probe was immersed in the stomach. Within 14 days monitored the overall health status and behavior of animals, the manifestation or absence of symptoms of intoxication; noted the features of feed and water ingestion, assessed the condition of the coat, physiological functions. Then groups of experimental rats were euthanized and pathomorphologically examined. We studied the effect of "Bisolbi" with repeated introduction and on not purebred dogs. Two groups of 3-4 years of age were completed with an average initial body weight of 13.63 ... 15.11 kg. Before use, the additive was thoroughly mixed with feed. The drug was injected during 31 days at a dose of 0.5 g / kg. Dogs of the control group (three) were fed wheat flour. After 15 and 31 days in laboratory animals in order to characterize the general condition in the blood, the amount of protein, urea, glucose, creatinine, cholesterol were determined. Based on studies it was found that the drug daily application by animals, is low toxic and safe, does not provoke the development of pathological reactions. According to the Hodge and Sterner classification "Bisolbi" can be attributed to the 6th class of toxicity - relatively harmless. Accordingto GOST 12.1.007-76 LD50 of the drug is more than 151 mg / kg, but less than 5000 mg / kg it is the 3rd hazard class (moderately hazardous).

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Temporal Focus

The Oxford Handbook of Psychology of Time Travel and Temporality ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190256685.013.9 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Abbie J. Shipp

Keyword(s):

Well Being ◽

Psychology Research ◽

The Past ◽

Research Areas ◽

The Future ◽

Behavior Based ◽

The Individual ◽

And Behavior ◽

Temporal Focus

Temporal focus is the individual tendency to characteristically think more or less about the past, present, and future. Although originally rooted in early work from psychology, research on temporal focus has been steadily growing in a number of research areas, particularly since Zimbardo and Boyd’s (1999) influential article on the topic. This chapter will review temporal focus research from the past to the present, including how temporal focus has been conceptualized and measured, and which correlates and outcomes have been tested in terms of well-being and behavior. Based on this review, an agenda for research is created to direct temporal focus research in the future.

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