Effects on mice of numbers of animals per cage: an 18-month study (preliminary results).
Mice were housed 1, 2, 4, or 8 per cage for 18 months. The more densely housed groups showed markedly reduced food consumption, slightly decreased mean body weights, and a smaller variance of body weights. Tumour incidence was not affected, but gastritis was more prevalent in the more densely housed groups.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D003441:Crowding; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012931:Social Environment