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Effects of housing on consummatory successive negative contrast in rats: wire-bottom cages versus polycarbonate tubs

Lab Animal volume 35, pages 34–38 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

In consummatory successive negative contrast, rats that have had experience drinking 32% sucrose solution drink significantly less 4% sucrose solution than rats that have drunk only 4% solution. This contrast effect occurs reliably when rats are housed in wire-bottom cages, but it occurs significantly less frequently when rats are housed in polycarbonate tubs. Although it is unclear what causes these differences among housing conditions, the present study underscores the impact that housing conditions outside the domain of the training environment can have on behavioral outcomes.

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Figure 1: Animals from two experiments run separately.
Figure 2: Animals housed in polycarbonate tubs (T) or wire-bottom cages (W) received access to 32% sucrose solution for 10 trials, followed by access to 4% sucrose solution for an additional 5 trials.
Figure 3: Rats (group 32/T/effort) housed in polycarbonate tubs had exposure to a food hopper with a metallic grid similar to that used in wire-bottom cages and then received training in the cSNC as described in the present experiment for group 32/T.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported with funds from the Department of Psychology at TCU.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Box 298920, Fort Worth, 76129, TX

    Michael Wood,  Alan M. Daniel &  Mauricio R. Papini

  2. Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 76107, TX

    Egeenee Daniels

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Correspondence to Mauricio R. Papini.

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Wood, M., Daniel, A., Daniels, E. et al. Effects of housing on consummatory successive negative contrast in rats: wire-bottom cages versus polycarbonate tubs. Lab Anim 35, 34–38 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0306-34

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