IVC - Developing and testing a novel cage insert, the "Mouse House", designed to enrich the lives of laboratory mice without adversely affecting the science

To embrace legal and local ethical codes, a standard environmental enrichment regime was investigated for laboratory mice bred.

This paper describes the reasoning for a permanent cage insert and the design features that were included. It describes the trial that was performed to investigate whether the insert was beneficial, prior to it being adopted. An insert, together with paper nesting material, was to be the environmental enrichment regime of choice.

Several positive, significant, findings are reported. In addition, the insert is reported as practical and easy to use by animal technicians. The cage insert, known as the "Mouse House", has been made available commercially at a low cost. Thus, each of the 3 P's of environmental enrichment (proven, practical and price) suggested in the document has been met.

The paper concludes that the "Mouse House" should satisfy requirements for both environmental enrichment and legislation suggesting the use of cage inserts that allow privacy for the animal but facilitate observation.Key words: environmental enrichment, rodent, mice, cage insert, IVC, animal behaviour, observation.