The mouse house: an environmental enrichment for open and IVC cages

When David and Amanda Hewett at NIMR (UK) were challenged by the IAT to follow the spirit of the Home Office Guidelines introducing environmental enrichments to all animals cages, probably did not expect the long scientific and technical work behind a project like this.
Almost two years of research and development were spent in order to achieve an important goal: the design of a piece of cage furniture proven to enrich the life of laboratory rodents.
This is certainly a very ambitious goal because the definition and listing of objective positive behaviours to encourage and negative ones to discourage can be very complex .
Eventually and after long accurate tests and appropriate modifications the mouse house became something more than a red piece of plastic , it is actually a "behavioural laboratory" capable to provide a complex three-dimensional environment, within standard caging. It incorporates entrances, a shelf and a large nesting area. Its design maximises the use of floor area and encourages mice to zone their cage space.
Tests have definitely shown that placing the mouse house in the cages of mice reduces perceived negative behaviours and increases positive ones. Increased self-grooming and investigating activity, running less with decreased herratic behaviour and nesting material taken inside are only some of the many positive behaviours resulting from the use of the mouse house.
Why manufacture in red? Mice see red as black, so will see the mouse house as a dark bolt-hole. Whereas we can see through the transparent plastic, making our daily checks easy without disurbing our charges. The wavelength has been carefully selected, providing the colour the mice prefer.
Other behavioural studies will be carried out with the mouse house during next year but a lot of interest seems to come from neurophysiologists and biologists involved with breeding behaviour and performances.
The mouse house can be cage washed, autoclaved and by using top quality modern plastics, TECNIPLAST expect to enjoy the same life span as their cage bases.
Looking for a proved environmental enrichment for your mice? Or looking for a highly standardize, durable "behavioural laboratory for your studies ? The mouse House from TECNIPLAST is the answer.