title: Effect of Housing Types on Growth, Feeding, Physical Activity, and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animal welfare and accurate data collection are equally important in rodent research. Housing influences study outcomes and can challenge studies that monitor feeding, so housing choice needs to be evidence-based. The goal of these studies was to (1) compare established measures of well-being between rodents housed in wire grid-bottom floors with a resting platform compared to solid-bottom floors with bedding and (2) determine whether presence of a chewable device (Nylabone) affects orexin-A-induced hyperphagia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rodents were crossed over to the alternate housing twice after 2-week periods. Time required to complete food intake measurements was recorded as an indicator of feasibility. Food intake stimulated by orexin-A was compared with and without the Nylabone. Blood corticosterone and hypothalamic BDNF were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Housing had no effect on growth, energy expenditure, corticosterone, hypothalamic BDNF, behavior, and anxiety measures. Food intake was disrupted after housing cross-over. Time required to complete food intake measurements was significantly higher for solid-bottom bedded cages. The Nylabone had no effect on orexin-A-stimulated feeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Well-being is not significantly different between rodents housed on grid-bottom floors and those in solid-bottom-bedded cages based on overall growth and feeding but alternating between housing confounds measures of feeding.
authors: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Obesity Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA.
authors: Jennifer A
authors: JA
authors: Teske
authors: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Center for Integrative Medicine and Innovative Science, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Claudio Esteban
authors: CE
authors: Perez-Leighton
authors: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA.
authors: Emily E
authors: EE
authors: Noble
authors: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Obesity Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA.
authors: Chuanfeng
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Obesity Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Charles J
authors: CJ
authors: Billington
authors: Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Obesity Center, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors: Catherine M
authors: CM
authors: Kotz
keywords: anxiety; cognition; environmental enrichment; microenvironment; stress