Preferences of mice and rats for types of bedding material - USP

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Bedding materials and rodent preferences237groups of three in metal cages (type KS/4,RUeO Metaalindustrie) with wire meshfloors (stainless steel wire: rod diameter,2mm; mesh size, 10 x 50mm 2 ) and sawdustbedding (Lignocel® S8/15) at 70mm underneath.The rats had free access to foodpellets (RMH-B®) and tap water. Immediatelybefore testing, each rat went through apre-test (habituation) period of 48 h in thetest system with uniform cages. Each testcage was fitted with a wire mesh floor(stainless steel wire: rod diameter, 2 mm;mesh size, 10 x 30 mm 2 ) with sawdust bedding(Lignocel® 58/15) at 25 mm underneath.The animals were kept and tested inconventional rooms with controlled photoperiod(06:00-18:00h: light, approx. 470lx at1m above the floor), temperature (20-22°C),relative humidity [50-70%) and ventilation(18 air changes per hour).Characterization of bedding materialsThe bedding materials were further characterizedin an attempt to explain the observedchoice behaviours. Actual particle size andshape, as well as dust content, was assessedwith the use of a scanning electron microscope(Stereoscan, Cambridge Inc,Cambridge, United Kingdom). The beddingmaterials were also studied for ultrasoundproduction when moved. For this purpose,50 ml of bedding material was put in a250 ml glass beaker and stirred with a glassrod (approx. 60 rotations min -1). Ultrasoundproduction was detected at 25 cm above thebedding material with a sensitive condensermicrophone (Type 4135, Briiel &. Kjaer,Nieuwegein, The Netherlands), preamplifier(Type 2633, Briiel &. Kjaer),measuring amplifier (Type 2610, Briiel &.Kjaer), and programmable dual filter (TypePDF3700 B, Difa Benelux BV, Breda, TheNetherlands).StatisticalproceduresFor statistical analyses, dwelling times (sec)per cage for the 48-h pre-test or test periodwere transformed into their logarithms. APearson correlation matrix for dwelling timesof different cages was constructed to obtaininformation on competition between cages.Differences between mouse strains or sex ofthe rats were evaluated using univariaterepeated measures analysis. Differencesbetween floor covering and interactions offloor covering and either mouse strains or sexof rats or rat preferences during the pre-testperiod was evaluated using multivariaterepeated measures analysis (Wilks' Lambdatest). The level of significance was pre-set atP
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Preferences of mice and rats for types of bedding material - USP

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