Van de Weerd Heleen A, Aarsen Emma L, Mulder Anne, Kruitwagen Cas L J J, Hendriksen Coenraad F M, Baumans Vera
Department of Laboratory Animal Science Utrecht University.
J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2002;5(2):87-109. doi: 10.1207/S15327604JAWS0502_01.
This study focused on the effects of different enriched environments for mice in a number of behavioral and physiological parameters in 2 routine laboratory testing procedures: potency testing for tetanus vaccine and stress-induced hyperthermia. The variability in the results was studied by calculating and analyzing mean absolute devi-ations. Mice from enriched conditions weighed more and consumed more food than mice from standard housing conditions. However, mice from enriched conditions lost more body weight after being housed individually. Other physiological parameters showed no differences. Mice from standard conditions were more active in an open field, suggesting a tendency to overrespond to various stimuli in a testing environ-ment. Mice from enriched environments were more tranquil and easier to handle. The enrichment did not influence the variability in any of the parameters measured, al-though earlier results and results of other studies suggest that the effects on the vari-ability in results are parameter dependent. When enrichment does not influence vari-ability, there is no reason for not introducing cage enrichment and by doing so contributing to the animals' welfare.
本研究聚焦于在两种常规实验室测试程序中，不同丰富环境对小鼠多项行为和生理参数的影响：破伤风疫苗效力测试和应激诱导的体温过高。通过计算和分析平均绝对偏差来研究结果的变异性。处于丰富环境中的小鼠比处于标准饲养条件下的小鼠体重更重，进食量更多。然而，处于丰富环境中的小鼠在单独饲养后体重减轻得更多。其他生理参数未显示出差异。处于标准条件下的小鼠在旷场中更活跃，表明在测试环境中对各种刺激有过度反应的倾向。来自丰富环境的小鼠更安静，更易于处理。丰富环境并未影响所测量的任何参数的变异性，尽管早期结果和其他研究结果表明对结果变异性的影响取决于参数。当丰富环境不影响变异性时，就没有理由不引入笼内丰富环境，这样做有助于动物福利。
