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Hang on: an evaluation of the hemp rope as environmental enrichment in C57BL/6 mice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

K Gjendal ,
DB Sørensen ,
MK Kiersgaad  and
JL Ottesen
K Gjendal*
Affiliation:
Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Måløv, Denmark
DB Sørensen
Affiliation:
Section of Experimental Animal Models, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 15, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
MK Kiersgaad
Affiliation:
Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Måløv, Denmark
JL Ottesen
Affiliation:
Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo Nordisk Park, DK-2760 Måløv, Denmark
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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When introducing environmental enrichment in laboratory animals, positive and/or negative effects on behavioural and physiological parameters should be evaluated. This three-step randomised controlled trial in male C57BL/6 mice investigated the effect of supplementing the environment with one or more hemp ropes. In part 1, the effect of a hemp rope on aggressive and social behaviour, stress and anxiety levels was assessed by social interaction test, elevated plus maze behaviour, and faecal corticosterone metabolites, respectively (n = 224 mice). In part 2, the effect of 1, 2 or 7 hemp ropes on aggressive behaviour in mice subjected to routine handling was evaluated by assessing the number of wounded companion animals and wounds per animal (n = 224). In part 3, climbing activity in the rope and amount of material shredded from the rope was assessed (n = 56). Mice housed with one hemp rope engaged in social behaviour for longer time than mice housed without a hemp rope, while no difference was detected in stress and anxiety levels. No difference was seen in the number of wounded animals or wounds per animal when adding 1, 2 or 7 hemp ropes to the existing environment in mice undergoing minimal human handling. The mice continuously shredded and climbed the rope, even when provided with a new rope, although time spent climbing decreased slightly over time. Thus, a hemp rope can be used as additional environmental enrichment amongst male C57BL/6 mice.

Keywords

aggressionanimal welfareenvironmental enrichmentmicestresswounds
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , November 2017 , pp. 437 - 447
Copyright
© 2017 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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