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?