Behavioural demand functions of caged laboratory mice for additional space

Sherwin, CM; Nicol, Christine J

doi:10.1006/anbe.1996.0278

Cited by 68 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Trained female CB57 mice (n ¼ 24) housed in groups of three in standard laboratory cages continued to work by pressing a lever over a six-day period to gain access to additional space, even though it lacked food, water and other mice (Sherwin 2004). Male mice (n ¼ 7) presented with cages of various sizes showed a statistically significant preference for more floor space by making more visits to larger cages, spending more time in them, and performing more lever switch actions to gain access to them (Sherwin & Nicol 1997).…”

Section: F Mobilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory environments and rodents' behavioural needs: a review

Balcombe

2006

Lab Anim

148

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SummaryLaboratory housing conditions have significant physiological and psychological effects on rodents, raising both scientific and humane concerns. Published studies of rats, mice and other rodents were reviewed to document behavioural and psychological problems attributable to predominant laboratory housing conditions. Studies indicate that rats and mice value opportunities to take cover, build nests, explore, gain social contact, and exercise some control over their social milieu, and that the inability to satisfy these needs is physically and psychologically detrimental, leading to impaired brain development and behavioural anomalies (e.g. stereotypies). To the extent that space is a means to gain access to such resources, spatial confinement likely exacerbates these deficits. Adding environmental 'enrichments' to small cages reduces but does not eliminate these problems, and I argue that substantial changes in housing and husbandry conditions would be needed to further reduce them.

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Section: F Mobilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Laboratory environments and rodents' behavioural needs: a review

Balcombe

2006

Lab Anim

148

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“…Studies of this kind have considerably improved our understanding of the preferences or motivations of laboratory rodents for a variety of environmental features not ditectly related to simple maintenance activities e.g. cage shape or complexity (Weiss & Taylor 1984, Chamove 19891,floor type (Manser et al 1995), cage wall colour or opacity (Weiss & Taylor 1984, Baumans et al 1987, Van den Broek et al 1995), selective use of the cage periphery (White et al 19891,additional space (Sherwin 1995, 1996, Sherwin & Nicol 1996, a running Laboratory Animals (1996) 30, 245-251 wheel (Collier et a1. 1990, Mather 1981, Sherwin 1996, nesting material (Roper 1975, Mulder 1975, Sherwin 1996, and latrines or clean areas within the cage (Ward & DeMille 1991, Blom 1993.…”

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confidence: 99%

Preferences of individually housed TO strain laboratory mice for loose substrate or tubes for sleeping

Sherwin

1996

Lab Anim

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SummaryIf we are to improve welfare by appropriate environmental design, it is important to determine which characteristics of prefabricated shelters are preferred by laboratory mice. Three investigations were conducted to determine the preferences of individually housed mice for shape, opacity and openness of tubes for sleeping in. During all three investigations, it was evident that the mice preferred to sleep in sawdust when this was available. The mice slept in the tubes only after the sawdust was removed, and then slept in the tubes rarely once the sawdust was replaced. Individual mice were generally consistent in their choice of tube type, even when the position was changed. However, there were no overwhelming group-preference for shape, opacity or openness of the tubes, though a short, wide tube was used more frequently than a long, or short narrow structure. Several mice performed shelter-building activities when using the tubes, indicating that either some characteristic of the tubes was unsatisfactory or that the mice were motivated to perform shelter-building activities despite the presence of a satisfactory structure. Providing pre-formed tubes might not improve welfare if mice are motivated to perform the activities of shelter-building themselves, rather than achieving the functional consequences. However, the repeated use of tubular structures for other purposes, e.g. as a refuge or latrine, indicates that providing such structures is likely to enhance the welfare of laboratory mice.

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“…measuring the strength of preference by examining the strength of motivation for a certain option makes preference tests even more valuable [36,38]. Behavioral observations in the home cage can be used to study such factors as differences in the behavioral repertoire after changing the living conditions of the animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Color Preferences of Laboratory Mice for Bedding Materials: Evaluation Using Radiotelemetry

et al. 2012

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Preferences for different housing conditions in mice were evaluated by radiotelemetry. Male C57BL/6J and ICR mice were used. Preference for bedding materials in mice was compared among three materials, wood shavings (WS), paper (CF) and cloth (AG), using the length of stay in cages as a parameter. The results indicated that mice stayed longer in a cage with AG than in cages with other bedding materials. The present study confirmed our previous results and thereby indicated that radiotelemetry is a useful method to evaluate impacts of housing conditions on animal welfare. In the second part of this study, we used radiotelemetry to evaluate color preference of the mice for cloth bedding material. In C57BL/6J mice, staying time in black cloth was significantly longer than that in white cloth. In ICR mice, staying time in white cloth was significantly longer than that in black cloth. The mice preferred the environment with the same color as their fur, which may be important for animal welfare.

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Behavioural demand functions of caged laboratory mice for additional space

Cited by 68 publications

References 21 publications

Laboratory environments and rodents' behavioural needs: a review

Laboratory environments and rodents' behavioural needs: a review

Preferences of individually housed TO strain laboratory mice for loose substrate or tubes for sleeping

Color Preferences of Laboratory Mice for Bedding Materials: Evaluation Using Radiotelemetry

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