Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice

Abstract Laboratory mice are typically housed in “shoebox" cages that limit the expression of natural behaviours. Temporary access to more complex environments (playpens) may improve their welfare. We aimed to assess if access to playpens is rewarding for conventionally-housed mice and to docum...

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Main Authors:	Anna S. Ratuski, I. Joanna Makowska, Kaitlyn R. Dvorack, Daniel M. Weary
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	Nature Publishing Group 2021-09-01
Series:	Scientific Reports
Online Access:	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98356-3

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spelling	doaj-f7fe31f166544566a76d29431b698a0c2021-09-26T11:29:38ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222021-09-0111111310.1038/s41598-021-98356-3Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory miceAnna S. Ratuski0I. Joanna Makowska1Kaitlyn R. Dvorack2Daniel M. Weary3Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British ColumbiaAnimal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British ColumbiaAnimal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British ColumbiaAnimal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British ColumbiaAbstract Laboratory mice are typically housed in “shoebox" cages that limit the expression of natural behaviours. Temporary access to more complex environments (playpens) may improve their welfare. We aimed to assess if access to playpens is rewarding for conventionally-housed mice and to document mouse behaviour during playpen access. Female C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, and DBA/2J mice were provided temporary access to a large enriched playpen three times per week; control mice remained in their home cages. We measured latency to enter playpens and anticipatory behaviour to determine if access was rewarding, and recorded mouse behaviour during playpen sessions. Over time, playpen mice entered the playpen more quickly; latency declined from 168 ± 22 to 13 ± 2 s over the 14-d trial. As expected, playpen mice showed an increase in anticipatory behaviour before playpen access (mean ± SE = 19.7 ± 2.6 behavioural transitions), while control mice showed no change in anticipatory behaviour relative to baseline values (2.4 ± 1.6 transitions). Mice in the playpen performed more ambulatory behaviours than control mice who remained in home cages (21.5 ± 0.7 vs 6.9 ± 1.1 observations of 25 total observations). We conclude that conventionally-housed mice find voluntary playpen access rewarding, and suggest this as a useful option for providing laboratory mice with access to more complex environments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98356-3
collection	DOAJ
language	English
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	Anna S. Ratuski I. Joanna Makowska Kaitlyn R. Dvorack Daniel M. Weary
spellingShingle	Anna S. Ratuski I. Joanna Makowska Kaitlyn R. Dvorack Daniel M. Weary Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice Scientific Reports
author_facet	Anna S. Ratuski I. Joanna Makowska Kaitlyn R. Dvorack Daniel M. Weary
author_sort	Anna S. Ratuski
title	Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice
title_short	Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice
title_full	Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice
title_fullStr	Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice
title_full_unstemmed	Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice
title_sort	using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice
publisher	Nature Publishing Group
series	Scientific Reports
issn	2045-2322
publishDate	2021-09-01
description	Abstract Laboratory mice are typically housed in “shoebox" cages that limit the expression of natural behaviours. Temporary access to more complex environments (playpens) may improve their welfare. We aimed to assess if access to playpens is rewarding for conventionally-housed mice and to document mouse behaviour during playpen access. Female C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, and DBA/2J mice were provided temporary access to a large enriched playpen three times per week; control mice remained in their home cages. We measured latency to enter playpens and anticipatory behaviour to determine if access was rewarding, and recorded mouse behaviour during playpen sessions. Over time, playpen mice entered the playpen more quickly; latency declined from 168 ± 22 to 13 ± 2 s over the 14-d trial. As expected, playpen mice showed an increase in anticipatory behaviour before playpen access (mean ± SE = 19.7 ± 2.6 behavioural transitions), while control mice showed no change in anticipatory behaviour relative to baseline values (2.4 ± 1.6 transitions). Mice in the playpen performed more ambulatory behaviours than control mice who remained in home cages (21.5 ± 0.7 vs 6.9 ± 1.1 observations of 25 total observations). We conclude that conventionally-housed mice find voluntary playpen access rewarding, and suggest this as a useful option for providing laboratory mice with access to more complex environments.
url	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98356-3
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Using approach latency and anticipatory behaviour to assess whether voluntary playpen access is rewarding to laboratory mice

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