An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory—A review

Sørensen, Dorte Bratbo; Krohn, Thomas; Hansen, Helge; Ottesen, Jan Lund; Hansen, Axel Kornerup

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2005.02.004

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 69 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The juveniles usually display alloparental care toward their younger siblings [49]. To prepare for winter, all members in the family group participate in food hoarding [50]. In contrast, solitary Chinese striped hamsters are less social and only participate in prosocial contact with conspecifics during mating [41], [42].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species Differences in the Immunoreactive Expression of Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Estrogen Receptor Alpha in the Brain of Mongolian Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and Chinese Striped Hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis)

Wang

Pan

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Species differences in neurochemical expression and activity in the brain may play an important role in species-specific patterns of social behavior. In the present study, we used immunoreactive (ir) labeling to compare the regional density of cells containing oxytocin (OT), vasopressin (AVP), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), or estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) staining in the brains of social Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and solitary Chinese striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis). Multiple region- and neurochemical-specific species differences were found. In the anterior hypothalamus (AH), Mongolian gerbils had higher densities of AVP-ir and ERα-ir cells than Chinese striped hamsters. In the lateral hypothalamus (LH), Mongolian gerbils also had higher densities of AVP-ir and TH-ir cells, but a lower density of OT-ir cells, than Chinese striped hamsters. Furthermore, in the anterior nucleus of the medial preoptic area (MPOAa), Mongolian gerbils had higher densities of OT-ir and AVP-ir cells than Chinese striped hamsters, and an opposite pattern was found in the posterior nucleus of the MPOA (MPOAp). Some sex differences were also observed. Females of both species had higher densities of TH-ir cells in the MPOAa and of OT-ir cells in the intermediate nucleus of the MPOA (MPOAi) than males. Given the role of these neurochemicals in social behaviors, our data provide additional evidence to support the notion that species-specific patterns of neurochemical expression in the brain may be involved in species differences in social behaviors associated with different life strategies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species Differences in the Immunoreactive Expression of Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Estrogen Receptor Alpha in the Brain of Mongolian Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and Chinese Striped Hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis)

Wang

Pan

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Hence, it is recommended to leave some used bedding when cleaning cages to reduce the resident animal's stress (Sørensen et al . , Hubrecht & Kirkwood , NC3RS ).…”

Section: Scent and The Captive Environmentmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…2006 ) and territory boundaries, helping reduce the intra and inter-group conflict (Gosling & McKay 1990, Alcock 2013. Hence, it is recommended to leave some used bedding when cleaning cages to reduce the resident animal ' s stress (Sørensen et al . 2005, Hubrecht & Kirkwood 2010, NC3RS 2013.…”

Section: Scent and The Captive Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small prey species’ behaviour and welfare: implications for veterinary professionals

McBride

2017

J of Small Animal Practice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

People have obligations to ensure the welfare of animals under their care. Offences under the UK Animal Welfare Act are acts, or failures of action, causing unnecessary suffering. Veterinary professionals need to be able to provide current, scientifically based prophylactic advice, and respect the limits of their expertise. The ethical concept of a life worth living and the Five Freedoms are core to welfare. Behaviour is a central component, both influencing and influenced by physical health. Owners frequently misunderstand the behaviour of small prey mammals and how to meet their needs. This review provides insight into the physical‐social (external) and the cognitive‐emotional (internal) environments of small prey mammals, contextualised within an evolutionary perspective. This is extrapolated to captivity and practical suggestions given for meeting behavioural freedoms and enhancing client understanding and enjoyment of their animals, thereby improving welfare.

show abstract

“…However, wheels are an important enrichment for hamsters and wheel running is a self-reinforcing behaviour [4, 16]. Our wheel count dataset, incomplete though it was, revealed averages of nearly 8,000 revolutions a night.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cause and Possible Treatments of Foot Lesions in Captive Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Veillette

Guitard

Reebs

2010

Veterinary Medicine International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) run extensively in exercise wheels. This running may cause paw lesions. Three treatments of these wounds (topical application of vitamin E, wheel blocking, and a combination of both) were compared using both sexes. A pretreatment period with or without wheels lasted 15 days and the ensuing treatment period lasted 45 days. At the end of the pre-treatment period, none of the animals without wheels had paw wounds, whereas at least 75% of the females and 100% of the males with wheels did. Females had fewer and smaller wounds than males at this point. At the end of the treatment period, no effect of vitamin E could be discerned, but significant wound healing occurred after wheel blocking in both males and females. Wheel blocking is an easy way to prevent or treat paw wounds, but it presents problems in terms of animal welfare, as wheels are an important cage enrichment for hamsters.

show abstract

An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory—A review

Cited by 21 publications

References 69 publications

Species Differences in the Immunoreactive Expression of Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Estrogen Receptor Alpha in the Brain of Mongolian Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and Chinese Striped Hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis)

Species Differences in the Immunoreactive Expression of Oxytocin, Vasopressin, Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Estrogen Receptor Alpha in the Brain of Mongolian Gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and Chinese Striped Hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis)

Small prey species’ behaviour and welfare: implications for veterinary professionals

Cause and Possible Treatments of Foot Lesions in Captive Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About