Using Clicker Training and Social Observation to Teach Rats to Voluntarily Change Cages

Summary

This protocol introduces a method of cage change for rats via clicker training. Rats learn the desired behavior not only by direct training but also by observational learning. The implementation of this fast and easy protocol might help to improve well-being and hygiene in rodent facilities.

Abstract

Cage cleaning is a routinely performed husbandry procedure and is known to induce stress in laboratory rats. As stress can have a negative impact on well-being and can affect the comparability and reproducibility of research results, the amount of stress experienced by laboratory animals should be minimized and avoided when possible. Further, the direct contact between the rat and animal caretaker during the cage change bears hygiene risks and therefore possibly negatively impacts the well-being of the rats and the quality of the research.

Our protocol aims to improve the routinely performed cage changing procedure. For this reason, we present a feasible protocol that enables rats to learn via clicker training and observation to voluntarily change to a clean cage. This training helps to reduce stress caused by the physical disturbance and handling associated with the cage changes and concurrently enables a reduction in direct contact between animal and animal caretaker after the training phase is completed.

The implementation of clicker training to rats is fast and easy. Rats are generally interested in the training and efficiently learn the desired behavior, which entails changing cages through a pipe. Even without training, the rats learn to perform the desired behavior by observation, as 80% of the observational learning group successfully changed cages when tested. The training further helps to establish a relationship of trust between trainer and animal. As hygiene and well-being are both very important in animal experiments, this protocol might also help to improve high-quality research.

Introduction

Routine procedures can cause stress in laboratory animals^1,2,3,4. It has been shown that cage changing does increase cardiovascular parameters and general activity in rats^4,5,6. Such stress responses can at least be partially due to the physical disturbance and handling associated with cage changing procedures rather than the new unfamiliar environment^2,4. Of particular importance is the neg....

Protocol

The handling of the rats and the experimental procedures were conducted in accordance with European, national, and institutional guidelines for animal care.

1. Acclimatization and Habituation

NOTE: If rats were not transported, the acclimatization and habituation time can be reduced. For noninvasive identification, color the tail with skin-friendly marker.

1. Week 1: Acclimatization
   NOTE: Two sessions should be performed during the f.......

Discussion

The protocol described above is a useful extended application of our previously described clicker training protocol for laboratory mice¹⁰. The implementation requires only minutes per day over a total of seven weeks, including acclimatization, habituation and clicker training. For feasibility, this protocol was limited to week days with sessions of approximately ten minutes per pair of rats. The protocol can appear to be time-consuming to establish in large rat colonies, but if the animals are des.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Target Stick with Clicker	Trixie	2282
Metal Pipe (Alu Flexrohr nw 100)	Rotheigner		available in construction marktes
White Chocolate/ white chocolate cream			Company doesn't matter, preferable organic quality
Prism Version 6.0 for Mac	GraphPad Software