Long-Term Effect of Environmental Enrichment on Reproductive Performance of Swiss Webster Mice and Their Female Offspring

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an environmental enrichment (EE) plan on the reproductive performance of Swiss Webster mice and their female offspring used as recipients for embryo transfer. A total of 54 breeder mice and 60 F1 females, used as foster mothers, were allocated in two experimental groups to receive or not receive EE for physical well-being. Reproductive outcomes of the Swiss trios such as birth rate and pup number, litter size, pups’ weight at weaning, interlitter interval and time to first litter were analyzed. Environmental enrichment significantly increased pups weight from breeding trios compared to the control group (14.4 ± 0.1 vs. 13.8g ± 0.1, EE vs. control, respectively; p < 0.01). Other parameters did not differ between both groups. Reproductive parameters of female offspring used as recipients for embryo transfer did not differ among groups subjected or not to EE. These data demonstrate that the EE protocol applied in Swiss Webster breeder mice positively enhanced pups weight, and did not interfere with other reproductive outcomes. In conclusion, this study supports the implementation of EE plans usually applied for animal welfare in mouse facilities with slight improvement in reproductive performance.

Do greater levels of in-cage waking inactivity in laboratory mice reflect a spontaneous depression-like symptom? A pharmacological investigation

“…First, although providing environmental enrichment favors better health and welfare in mice e.g. [22,[37][38][39], it does not encompass the diversity and the complexity of non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches used in humans, and the strength of its predictive validity might be questioned. Furthermore, that enriched preferred environments alleviate a given behavior exacerbated by non-preferred relatively barren environments does not demonstrate on its own that this behavior specifically reflects a depression-like condition.…”

“…Mice prefer, and are willing to pay a cost (e.g. push weighted doors) to access larger, highly enriched cages, which are also associated with signs of enhanced welfare and improved functioning such as reduced levels of stereotypic behaviors and aggression, strengthened immunity, longer life spans, and enhanced breeding performance [22,[37][38][39][40][41].…”

Supplementation with >Your< Iron Syrup Corrects Iron Status in a Mouse Model of Diet-Induced Iron Deficiency

“…Cage enrichment and handling of mice was done by the tunnels made from clear polycarbonate plastic (two inches diameter, four inches long; Otto Environmental, Greenfield USA). This cage enrichment and methods for handling were recently recognised as having positive effects on stress reduction and on variability of results also in the BALB/cOlaHsd strain used here [ 25 , 26 ]. Animals were quarantined for the first 14 days.…”