Influence of environmental enrichment and sex on predator stress response in rats

Sabra L. Klein; Kelly G. Lambert; Dan Durr; Tiffany Schaefer; Robert E. Waring

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(94)90197-X

Influence of environmental enrichment and sex on predator stress response in rats

Sabra L. Klein, Kelly G. Lambert, Dan Durr, Tiffany Schaefer, Robert E. Waring

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Based on sex, rats were randomly assigned to either an enriched or standard environment for 30 days prior to behavioral testing. The predator stress testing consisted of placing the rat in a cat avoidance apparatus so that the rat's behavioral response to a natural stressor, the cat, could be assessed. The rats were subsequently exposed to a partial predator stimulus (cat urine) that was placed in the home cages for 7 days. Each animal was then sacrificed and the stomach, adrenal glands, and thymus gland were removed and assessed. Results indicated that 1) the enriched rats engaged in less defensive behavior than the standard rats during behavioral testing, 2) female rats demonstrated more defensive behavioral patterns compared to male rats, and 3) the enriched environment affected females more than males, as evidenced by the interaction effects on various recorded behaviors.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	291-297
Number of pages	7
Journal	Physiology and Behavior
Volume	56
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(94)90197-X
State	Published - Aug 1994
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Anxiety
Defense behaviors
Environmental enrichment
Predator stress
Sex differences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Behavioral Neuroscience

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10.1016/0031-9384(94)90197-X

Cite this

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title = "Influence of environmental enrichment and sex on predator stress response in rats",

abstract = "Based on sex, rats were randomly assigned to either an enriched or standard environment for 30 days prior to behavioral testing. The predator stress testing consisted of placing the rat in a cat avoidance apparatus so that the rat's behavioral response to a natural stressor, the cat, could be assessed. The rats were subsequently exposed to a partial predator stimulus (cat urine) that was placed in the home cages for 7 days. Each animal was then sacrificed and the stomach, adrenal glands, and thymus gland were removed and assessed. Results indicated that 1) the enriched rats engaged in less defensive behavior than the standard rats during behavioral testing, 2) female rats demonstrated more defensive behavioral patterns compared to male rats, and 3) the enriched environment affected females more than males, as evidenced by the interaction effects on various recorded behaviors.",

keywords = "Anxiety, Defense behaviors, Environmental enrichment, Predator stress, Sex differences",

author = "Klein, {Sabra L.} and Lambert, {Kelly G.} and Dan Durr and Tiffany Schaefer and Waring, {Robert E.}",

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T1 - Influence of environmental enrichment and sex on predator stress response in rats

AU - Klein, Sabra L.

AU - Lambert, Kelly G.

AU - Durr, Dan

AU - Schaefer, Tiffany

AU - Waring, Robert E.

PY - 1994/8

Y1 - 1994/8

N2 - Based on sex, rats were randomly assigned to either an enriched or standard environment for 30 days prior to behavioral testing. The predator stress testing consisted of placing the rat in a cat avoidance apparatus so that the rat's behavioral response to a natural stressor, the cat, could be assessed. The rats were subsequently exposed to a partial predator stimulus (cat urine) that was placed in the home cages for 7 days. Each animal was then sacrificed and the stomach, adrenal glands, and thymus gland were removed and assessed. Results indicated that 1) the enriched rats engaged in less defensive behavior than the standard rats during behavioral testing, 2) female rats demonstrated more defensive behavioral patterns compared to male rats, and 3) the enriched environment affected females more than males, as evidenced by the interaction effects on various recorded behaviors.

AB - Based on sex, rats were randomly assigned to either an enriched or standard environment for 30 days prior to behavioral testing. The predator stress testing consisted of placing the rat in a cat avoidance apparatus so that the rat's behavioral response to a natural stressor, the cat, could be assessed. The rats were subsequently exposed to a partial predator stimulus (cat urine) that was placed in the home cages for 7 days. Each animal was then sacrificed and the stomach, adrenal glands, and thymus gland were removed and assessed. Results indicated that 1) the enriched rats engaged in less defensive behavior than the standard rats during behavioral testing, 2) female rats demonstrated more defensive behavioral patterns compared to male rats, and 3) the enriched environment affected females more than males, as evidenced by the interaction effects on various recorded behaviors.

KW - Anxiety

KW - Defense behaviors

KW - Environmental enrichment

KW - Predator stress

KW - Sex differences

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Influence of environmental enrichment and sex on predator stress response in rats

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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