Publikationsdatenbank

Social enrichment by partner-housing of male C57BL/6JRj mice? (2019)

Art

Poster

Autoren

Ullmann, Kristina

Hohlbaum, Katharina (WE 11)

Frahm-Barske, Silke

Rex, André

Palme, Rupert

Thöne-Reineke, Christa (WE 11)

Kongress

14th FELASA congress 2019

Prag, 10. – 13.06.2019

Quelle

Lab animal

Bandzählung: 53

Heftzählung: S1

Seiten: 150

ISSN: 0093-7355

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0023677219839199

DOI: 10.1177/0023677219839199

Kontakt

Institut für Tierschutz, Tierverhalten und Versuchstierkunde

Königsweg 67
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 61146
tierschutz@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

It is a common code of practice to keep laboratory mice in groups. Due to aggression or experimental conditions, males are often housed individually, though social isolation causes welfare issues and differences in behavior.

To provide social enrichment for individually housed mice, we separated 2 male mice for 8 weeks in cages divided by transparent, perforated walls allowing sensory contact. The effects of partner-housing on behavior and stress hormones were compared with data obtained from single- and group-housed mice. Besides burrowing and nesting, we assessed anxiety-related behavior in the free exploratory paradigm, ease of handling by using a rating scale and social behavior in a social interaction test.

No significant differences were detected in burrowing between the groups. Partner-housed mice built nests of a higher complexity when compared to single- and group-housed mice. Moreover, it took partner-housed mice longer to contact experimenter`s hand than single-housed individuals. Group-housed mice showed a reduced flight reaction compared to single- or partner-housed mice. The free exploratory paradigm did not reveal any difference in the latency to explore, indicating no effect on trait anxiety. Only single-housed mice showed significant preferences for an unknown mouse in the social interaction paradigm. However, partner-housed mice moved significantly less in the test arena.

Preliminary results showed no conclusive differences in behavior. The decrease in activity and increase in latency to hand contact suggested elevated state anxiety, while nesting and burrowing indicated general well-being in partner-housed mice. Levels of stress-hormones will be analyzed but are not available yet.