Enrichment with wood blocks does not affect toxicity assessment in an exploratory toxicology model using Sprague-Dawley rats.

ABSTRACT: Environmental enrichment in rodents may improve animal well-being but can affect neurologic development, immune system function, and aging. We tested the hypothesis that wood block enrichment affects the interpretation of traditional and transcriptomic endpoints in an exploratory toxicology testing model using a well-characterized reference compound, cyclophosphamide. ANOVA was performed to distinguish effects of wood block enrichment separate from effects of 40 mg/kg cyclophosphamide treatment. Biologically relevant and statistically significant effects of wood block enrichment occurred only for body weight gain. ANOVA demonstrated the expected effects of cyclophosphamide on food consumption, spleen weight, and hematology. According to transcriptomic endpoints, cyclophosphamide induced fe

SUBMITTER: Ditewig AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4128562 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature