Linear data representation of behavior counts, faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and selected organ weights of Sprague Dawley rats housed in semi-natural cage system and standard cages

For this study, a complex caging system (semi-natural cages) was designed furnished with different types of enrichment items together with increased cage space to determine if this could promote species-specific behaviour as a means of reducing stress and improving laboratory animal welfare. The study utilised previously described methods for welfare monitoring in animals namely: change in home cage behaviour, monitoring of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites and monitoring changes in body weights and selected organ weights.

本研究设计了一套复杂的笼养系统（半自然笼），配备了多种类型的丰富物品，并增加了笼内空间，以探究其是否能通过促进物种特异性行为来缓解压力，从而提升实验室动物福利。研究采用了先前描述的动物福利监测方法，包括：家笼行为的变化、粪便糖皮质激素代谢物的监测以及体重和选定器官重量变化情况的监控。