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Cage design reduces emotionality in mice.

A S Chamove1

  • 1Stirling University Psychology Department, Scotland.

Laboratory Animals
|July 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Laboratory mice showed less emotional reactivity in more complex, naturalistic cage designs. These findings suggest that enriched housing environments can lead to healthier laboratory animals.

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Area of Science:

  • Animal behavior
  • Laboratory animal science
  • Environmental enrichment

Background:

  • Standard laboratory cages offer limited environmental complexity for rodents.
  • Housing conditions can significantly impact animal welfare and research outcomes.
  • Investigating naturalistic housing is crucial for improving laboratory animal well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of naturalistic cage designs on laboratory mouse behavior and emotional reactivity.
  • To determine if increased environmental complexity influences mouse preference and stress levels.
  • To assess the potential of enriched housing for promoting healthier laboratory animals.

Main Methods:

  • 192 laboratory mice were housed in four different cage conditions: no dividers, five vertical dividers, nine vertical dividers, or nine vertical dividers with a horizontal platform.
  • Behavioral observations and reactivity measures were recorded for mice in each condition.
  • Preference for cage complexity was assessed.

Main Results:

  • Mice showed a clear preference for the most complex cage designs (nine vertical dividers and a horizontal platform).
  • Mice housed in more complex environments exhibited significantly reduced emotional reactivity across most measures.
  • Enriched housing conditions were associated with indicators of improved animal welfare.

Conclusions:

  • More naturalistic and complex cage designs positively influence laboratory mouse behavior and emotional state.
  • Environmental enrichment in housing can lead to reduced stress and potentially healthier laboratory animals.
  • Findings support the implementation of enriched housing strategies in laboratory animal care.

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