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Questions and Answers
What is the term used to describe the pulverized accumulation resulting from laboratory mice gnawing their feed pellets?
Which issue can arise from the accumulation of orts in laboratory cages?
What impact does chewing behavior have on studies measuring feed consumption?
What might necessitate more frequent cage handling in laboratory settings?
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Why is the phenomenon of orts not extensively studied despite being widely recognized?
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What is the primary purpose of chewing behavior in mice?
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What factor is associated with increased chewing behavior in mice?
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Which of the following factors is likely to decrease the chewing behavior in mice?
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What negative effect is associated with diets that exceed the recommended hardness limit for pellets in mice?
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Which abnormal behavior is considered a sign of poor welfare in laboratory mice?
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What relationship has been observed between ort accumulation and mouse body weight?
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What is a likely cause of stereotypical behaviors in laboratory mice?
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Which of the following is a stereotypical behavior observed in laboratory mice?
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What kind of diet do laboratory mice typically receive?
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What can increase chewing behavior in mice aside from caloric intake?
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Study Notes
Orts
- Laboratory mice gnaw on their food pellets, producing orts.
- Orts are the powdered residue left from chewing on food pellets.
- Orts are wasteful of feed and can cause problems in cages, such as clogging water dispensers and flooding.
Importance of Chewing Behavior
- Chewing behavior can be a confounding factor for studies involving food consumption.
Causes of Orts Production
- The exact cause of orts production is unknown, but researchers believe it’s multifactorial.
- Some believe that chewing behavior is associated with energy expenditure, with mice chewing more when they are in a high-energy state.
- Others believe that chewing behavior satisfies the innate gnawing instinct of mice.
The Significance of Mice Teeth
- Mice have continuously growing incisors that require constant mastication for wear.
- This gnawing behavior helps maintain dental health.
The Role of Diet and Environment
- Mice are generally provided with optimized commercial diets in the form of homogenized pellets, allowing ad libitum consumption.
- Dietary components such as cellulose content and pellet hardness can impact chewing behavior.
- There’s a recommended limit of 20 kp/cm3 for pellet hardness.
- High-fat diets and cold temperatures increase chewing behavior
- A running wheel decreases chewing behavior.
- Removal of a running wheel increases chewing behavior.
Addressing Chewing Behavior & Enrichment
- Various enrichment methods, such as adding wood chew blocks or nylon chew objects, have been used to address chewing behavior, but these have shown inconsistent results, with some working temporarily and some having no impact.
Stereotypical Behavior in Laboratory Mice
- Stereotypical behavior in laboratory mice is a sign of poor welfare.
- These behaviors often arise from captivity and the absence of natural environments and activities.
- Some examples of stereotypical behaviors include wire gnawing, circling, cage-top twirling, back flipping, route tracing on the cage lid, and barbering.
- Chewing behavior is considered an abnormal behavior in laboratory rodents and could be a stereotypical behavior in captivity.
- Some scientists believe that stereotypical behavior is a way for mice to cope with stress.
Stress in Laboratory Mice
- Stress is any disturbance to homeostasis (i.e., stability of the body's internal environment) or well-being.
- Several factors can lead to stress in mice: environmental factors, handling, and experimental manipulations.
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Description
This quiz explores the fascinating topic of orts, the powdered residue produced by laboratory mice when they gnaw on food pellets. It covers the significance of chewing behavior, the implications for dental health, and the factors influencing orts production. Test your understanding of these unique aspects of mice behavior and their impact on research.
