Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025
09:30
A Protocol for Housing Mice in an Enriched Environment
Published on: June 8, 2015
18.3K
Environmental Enrichment Cage for Laboratory Mice: A Downloadable Alternative.
Kevin B Smith1, Michael Murack1, Sara Al Sharani1
1NISE Laboratory - University of Ottawa, School of Psychology, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Current Protocols
|January 17, 2024
Summary
This study introduces a cost-efficient and replicable environmental enrichment (EE) housing protocol for laboratory animals. This standardized method enhances animal welfare, brain plasticity, and research outcomes affordably.
Area of Science:
- Laboratory animal science
- Neuroscience
- Animal welfare
Background:
- Environmentally enriched housing (EE) improves brain plasticity and cognition in animals.
- Standardizing EE protocols is difficult due to cost, space, and variability.
- Existing EE methods are often inaccessible to researchers with limited resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a replicable and cost-efficient environmental enrichment cage protocol.
- To provide a standardized method for creating stimulating, species-typical housing.
- To make advanced EE accessible to researchers with space and budget constraints.
Main Methods:
- Developed a low-cost EE cage protocol using 3D printing and laser cutting.
- Protocol includes social interaction, physical exercise, cognitive stimulation, and varied sensory input.
- Provided a step-by-step guide for easy construction within 8 hours.
Main Results:
- The protocol enables the creation of stimulating and species-typical environments.
- Demonstrated potential for similar neuroplastic and health benefits as traditional EE.
- Facilitates standardization of EE across laboratories.
Conclusions:
- This protocol offers a practical solution for implementing EE in research settings.
- It promotes animal welfare and enhances experimental validity.
- Low-cost, replicable EE housing can be achieved with basic technical skills.
