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Enriching the metabolic cage: effects on rat physiology and behaviour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

DB Sørensen ,
K Mortensen ,
T Bertelsen  and
K Vognbjerg
DB Sørensen*
Affiliation:
Division of Laboratory Animal Science and Welfare, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Gronnegaardsvej 15, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
K Mortensen
Affiliation:
Division of Laboratory Animal Science and Welfare, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Gronnegaardsvej 15, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
T Bertelsen
Affiliation:
LEO Pharma, Industriparken 55, DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark
K Vognbjerg
Affiliation:
Scanbur BK A/S, Silovej 16-18, DK-2690 Karlslunde, Denmark
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Metabolic cages are used for housing rats and mice for up to five days for collection of urine and/or faeces. The small, barren area of the metabolic cage compromises animal welfare as the animals lack a solid floor, shelter, nest material and social contact. We constructed and tested a practically-applicable enrichment device designed to meet behavioural needs for environmental complexity. The influence of this device on the cage preferences and stress levels of the animals was evaluated. A box-shaped enrichment device was designed and implemented in existing metabolic cages. Male Tac:SD rats were housed for five days in an enriched metabolic cage (EMC; n = 12) or a standard metabolic cage (SMC; n = 12), and data were collected on bodyweight, food and water intake, urination and defaecation, as well as urinary corticosterone and creatinine. Moreover, open-field behaviour and cage preferences were assessed. Rats in both groups gained significantly less weight when housed in metabolic cages. Furthermore, SMC rats failed to increase their weight gain after being housed in the metabolic cage. Defaecation was significantly higher in the SMC than in the EMC and so was urinary creatinine. No group differences were found in open-field behaviour. However, in comparing activity before and after housing in the metabolic cage, only SMC animals exhibited significantly lower total activity. In a preference test, a preference for the tunnel connecting the cages in the preference test and a side preference for the left side were found. This side preference was eliminated when the EMC was placed on the right side, whereas the right side was significantly avoided when the EMC was placed on the left side. Based on these results, we conclude that, to some extent, the enrichment device improved the welfare of rats housed in EMC, compared to those in SMC.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourenrichmentmetabolic cagepreferencerat
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , November 2008 , pp. 395 - 403
Copyright
© 2008 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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