Long-term metabolic cage housing increases anxiety/depression-related behaviours in adult male rats

Şahin Z., Solak H., Koc A., Koca R. Ö., Ozkurkculer A., Cakan P., ...More

ARCHIVES OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, vol.125, no.2, pp.122-127, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 125 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/13813455.2018.1441314
  • Journal Name: ARCHIVES OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.122-127
  • Keywords: Metabolic cage, corticosterone, stress, anxiety, depression, GROOMING ANALYSIS ALGORITHM, STRESS RESPONSES, SOCIAL-ISOLATION, BODY-WEIGHT, ANXIETY, CORTICOSTERONE, MICE, DEPRESSION, RODENTS, WELFARE
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

There are several reports on unfavourable effects of metabolic cage housing on animal welfare mainly due to the characteristic structures of these cages such as single housing and grid flooring. This study was aimed to compare the effects of long-term metabolic cage housing and conventional housing (normal grouped housing in standard cages) on the anxiety/depression-like behaviours in male rats. Anxiety/depression-related behaviours were evaluated by use of forced swimming test and open field test. Swimming and climbing were significantly lower and immobility duration higher in the metabolic cage group. In the open field test, total distance, mean velocity, time spent in the central area, zone transition, grooming, and rearing scores were significantly lower in the metabolic cage. Moreover, serum corticosterone level was higher in the metabolic cage group. The results of the study indicate that long-term metabolic cage housing may cause an increase in the anxiety- and depression-related behaviours in male rats.