Effects of cage size and enrichment on reproductive performance and behavior in C57BL/6Tac mice

Whitaker, Julia; Moy, Sheryl S.; Godfrey, Virginia; Nielsen, Judith N.; Bellinger, Dwight A.; Bradfield, John F.

doi:10.1038/laban0109-24

Cited by 43 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…As also observed in numerous studies, EE resulted in remarkable variations in body weight in all subjects38. Whilst literature data concerning the effects of EE on body weight are inconsistent39, we believe that the presence of a running wheel may have considerably affected energy expenditure, ultimately reducing body weight gain in EE individuals.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

The Directive 2010/63/EU on animal experimentation may skew the conclusions of pharmacological and behavioural studies

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Altabella

et al. 2013

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All laboratory animals shall be provided some form of environmental enrichment (EE) in the nearest future (Directive 2010/63/EU). Displacing standard housing with EE entails the possibility that data obtained under traditional housing may be reconsidered. Specifically, while EE often contrasts the abnormalities of consolidated disease models, it also indirectly demonstrates that their validity depends on housing conditions. We mimicked a situation in which the consequences of a novel pharmacological compound were addressed before and after the adoption of the Directive. We sub-chronically exposed standard- or EE-reared adolescent CD1 mice (postnatal days 23-33) to the synthetic compound JWH-018, and evaluated its short- and long-term potential cannabinoid properties on: weight gain, locomotion, analgesia, motor coordination, body temperature, brain metabolism (1H MRI/MRS), anxiety- and depressive-related behaviours. While several parameters are modulated by JWH-018 independently of housing, other effects are environmentally mediated. The transition from standard housing to EE shall be carefully monitored.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

The Directive 2010/63/EU on animal experimentation may skew the conclusions of pharmacological and behavioural studies

Macrı̀

Ceci

Altabella

et al. 2013

Sci Rep

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“…Given the high pup mortality rate reported for C57BL6 mice [28], pups born in the different parental conditions were left undisturbed to prevent mortality. As a result, pups were not culled nor were the sex ratios of the litter equalized, as this would involve physical displacement of pups and the nest, leading to disturbance of the cage environment, which has been shown to influence pup mortality [29], [30].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bi-Parental Care Contributes to Sexually Dimorphic Neural Cell Genesis in the Adult Mammalian Brain

et al. 2013

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Early life events can modulate brain development to produce persistent physiological and behavioural phenotypes that are transmissible across generations. However, whether neural precursor cells are altered by early life events, to produce persistent and transmissible behavioural changes, is unknown. Here, we show that bi-parental care, in early life, increases neural cell genesis in the adult rodent brain in a sexually dimorphic manner. Bi-parentally raised male mice display enhanced adult dentate gyrus neurogenesis, which improves hippocampal neurogenesis-dependent learning and memory. Female mice display enhanced adult white matter oligodendrocyte production, which increases proficiency in bilateral motor coordination and preference for social investigation. Surprisingly, single parent-raised male and female offspring, whose fathers and mothers received bi-parental care, respectively, display a similar enhancement in adult neural cell genesis and phenotypic behaviour. Therefore, neural plasticity and behavioural effects due to bi-parental care persist throughout life and are transmitted to the next generation.

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“…There are several recent indications that enrichment is a useful approach. Enrichment enhances male mating success in laboratory-reared flies [74],[75]; prolongs reproductive lifespan in domestic hens [76]; and in mammals, enrichment seems to increase the number of infants succesfully weaned by females in laboratory mice [77] (though cf. [78]) and farmed mink [79].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmentally Enriched Male Mink Gain More Copulations than Stereotypic, Barren-Reared Competitors

et al. 2013

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Wild carnivores in zoos, conservation breeding centres, and farms commonly live in relatively small, unstimulating enclosures. Under these captive conditions, in a range of species including giant pandas, black-footed ferrets, and European mink, male reproductive abilities are often poor. Such problems have long been hypothesized to be caused by these animals' housing conditions. We show for the first time that rearing under welfare-improving (i.e., highly valued and stress-reducing) environmental enrichments enhances male carnivores' copulatory performance: in mate choice competitions, enriched male American mink (Neovison vison) mated more often than non-enriched males. We screened for several potential mediators of this effect. First was physiological stress and its impact on reproductive physiology; second, stress-mediated changes in morphology and variables related to immunocompetence that could influence male attractiveness; and third, behavioural changes likely to affect social competence, particularly autistic-like excessive routine and repetition (‘perseveration’) as is reflected in the stereotypies common in captive animals. Consistent with physiological stress, excreted steroid metabolites revealed that non-enriched males had higher cortisol levels and lower androgen levels than enriched conspecifics. Their os penises (bacula) also tended to be less developed. Consistent with reduced attractiveness, non-enriched males were lighter, with comparatively small spleens and a trend to greater fluctuating asymmetry. Consistent with impaired social competence, non-enriched males performed more stereotypic behaviour (e.g., pacing) in their home cages. Of all these effects, the only significant predictor of copulation number was stereotypy (a trend suggesting that low bodyweights may also be influential): highly stereotypic males gained the fewest copulations. The neurophysiological changes underlying stereotypy thus handicap males sexually. We hypothesise that such males are abnormally perseverative when interacting with females. Investigating similar problems in other taxa would be worthwhile, since many vertebrates, wild and domestic, live in conditions that cause stereotypic behaviour and/or impair neurological development.

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Effects of cage size and enrichment on reproductive performance and behavior in C57BL/6Tac mice

Cited by 43 publications

References 27 publications

The Directive 2010/63/EU on animal experimentation may skew the conclusions of pharmacological and behavioural studies

The Directive 2010/63/EU on animal experimentation may skew the conclusions of pharmacological and behavioural studies

Bi-Parental Care Contributes to Sexually Dimorphic Neural Cell Genesis in the Adult Mammalian Brain

Environmentally Enriched Male Mink Gain More Copulations than Stereotypic, Barren-Reared Competitors

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