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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Heleen Van de Weerd
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Due to their aggressive nature, male mice are less frequently used than female mice in biomedical research. When aggressive males are being used, individual housing is common practice. The question arises whether this is an acceptable housing for a social species. The present study was designed to gain more insight into the nature of inter-male social contact and into the potential of a form of environmental enrichment (nesting material) to compensate for the lack of social contact. In a series of tests, we analysed whether male mice of different ages preferred to spend time (1) near a familiar cage mate versus an empty cage, or (2) near to a familiar cage mate versus direct contact with nesting material (tissues). Dwelling time in each of the test cages and sleeping sites was recorded, as was the behaviour of the test mice. Results indicated that when other conditions were similar, male mice preferred to sleep in close proximity to their familiar cage mate. Furthermore, the need to engage in active social behaviour increased with age. Tissues were used to a large extent for sleeping and sleep-related behaviour. It is concluded that single housing in order to avoid aggression between male mice is a solution with evident negative consequences for the animals. When individual housing is inevitable due to excessive aggressive behaviour, the presence of nesting material could partly compensate for the deprivation of social contact.
Author(s): Van Loo PLP, Van De Weerd HA, Van Zutphen LFM, Baumans V
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Laboratory Animals
Year: 2004
Volume: 38
Issue: 2
Pages: 178-188
ISSN (print): 0023-6772
ISSN (electronic): 1758-1117
Publisher: Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1258/002367704322968867
DOI: 10.1258/002367704322968867
PubMed id: 15070458
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