does a rotational enrichment program improve the well-being of sprague dawley rats?
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Does a Rotational Enrichment Does a Rotational Enrichment Program Improve the Well-being of Program Improve the Well-being of
Sprague Dawley Rats?Sprague Dawley Rats?
Debra L. Hickman, DVM, MS, DACLAM
ENRICHMENT FOR RATSENRICHMENT FOR RATS
Structural & SocialStructural & Social
Nesting/Foraging/GnawingNesting/Foraging/Gnawing
• Can we improve rat well-being by implementing a rotational enrichment scheme?
• We know this is important in other highly social species (e.g. dogs, NHP)
• Proposed use of behavioral and immunological assessment to measure rat well-being
Research QuestionResearch Question
SPATIAL COGNITIVE BIAS ASSAYSPATIAL COGNITIVE BIAS ASSAY
Spatial Cognitive Bias AssaySpatial Cognitive Bias Assay
LEARNING TIMES AND PATH OF LEARNING TIMES AND PATH OF EXPLORATION ANALYSISEXPLORATION ANALYSIS
PASSIVE BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTPASSIVE BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT
Materials and MethodsMaterials and Methods• Male Sprague Dawley rats• Train to Spatial Cognitive Bias Assay• Test on Spatial Cognitive Bias Assay– Initial– Repeat in 3 months– Reverse the location of the rewarded pot and
measure learning and path
Experimental DesignExperimental Design• All individually housed with no enrichment during training• After learn spatial discrimination task:
– Move to treatment condition– Initiate testing 24-36 hours later
• Repeat cognitive bias testing 3 months later• Reverse rewarded vs nonrewarded locations and measure
days to learn and path of exploration
Treatment GroupsTreatment Groups• Controls:– Social isolation– Pair housed
• Intracage shelter• Nesting material• Daily provision of food
treat
• Shelter, nesting material, and daily food treat (“superenriched”)
• Weekly rotation of shelter, nesting material, and daily food treat
RESULTSRESULTS
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
• Melissa Swan• R’nld Wheeler• Tiffany Riddle• Jessica Peveler• Jesus Bazan
Questions?
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