Refinement Database

Database on Refinement of Housing, Husbandry, Care, and Use of Animals in Research

This database, created in 2000, is updated every four months with newly published scientific articles, books, and other publications related to improving or safeguarding the welfare of animals used in research.

Tips for using the database:

  • This landing page displays all of the publications in the database.
  • Use the drop-down menus to filter these publications by Animal Type, Setting, and/or Topic.
  • Clicking on a parent category (e.g., Rodent) will include publications relating to all the items in that category (e.g., Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, etc.).
  • You may also add a keyword to further narrow your search.
  • Please note that at this time, only publications dated 2010 or later (with some exceptions) can be filtered by Animal Type and Topic, and only publications dated 2020 or later (with some exceptions) can be filtered by Setting. Most publications older than 2010 can only be searched by keyword. 
Hatch, A. M., Wiberg, G. S., Zawidzka, Z. et al. 1965. Isolation syndrome in the rat. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 7, 737-745.

Individual caging induced hypersensitivity to certain toxic agents.

Geller, E., Yuwiler, A., Zolman, J. F. 1965. Effects of environmental complexity on constituents of brain and liver. Journal of Neurochemistry 12, 949-955.
Fullerton, P. M., Gilliatt, R. W. 1965. Changes in nerve conduction in caged guinea-pigs. Journal of Physiology 178, 47-48.

Indirect evidence for localized damage to the plantar nerves were found in guinea pigs kept on wire-mesh flooring for periods of up to a year.

Fox, M. W. 1965. Canine Behavior. Thomas , Springfield, Ill.

Recommendations for appropriate handling and housing of dogs.

Casler, L. 1965. The effects of extra tactile stimulation on a group of institutionalized infants. Genetic Psychology Monographs 71, 137-175.
Ader, R., Friedman, S. B. 1964. Social factors affecting emotionality and resistance to disease in animals: IV. Differential housing, emotionality, and Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in the rat. Psychological Reports 15, 535-541.

Individual caging decreased the subjects' immunocompetence and, hence their resistance.

Robinson, F. R., Gisler, D. B., Dixon, D. F. 1964. Factors influencing normal SGO-T levels in the rhesus monkey. Laboratory Animal Care [Laboratory Animal Science] 14, 275-282.

There can be a rise in SGO-T [serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase] in monkeys due to nonspecific stresses such as fright, handling or clinical procedures.

Levison, P. K., Fester, C. B., Nieman, W. H. et al. 1964. A method for training unrestrained primates to receive drug injection. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior 7, 253-254.

Training technique by which an adult, single-housed male baboon learned to offer his arm through a pothole and accept intramuscular injection in this home cage is described and the result demonstrated with a photo. Injection...

Hediger, H. 1964. Wild Animals in Captivity. Dover Publications, New York, NY.

Recommendations for the species-appropriate housing of captive animals. The quality of the space at the disposal of the animal is of the greatest importance for its welfare. ... We must put ourselves into the animal's...

Goodall, J. 1964. Tool-using and aimed throwing in a community of free-living chimpanzees. Nature 201, 1264-1266 .
Kunkel, P., Kunkel, I. 1964. Beitr?ge zur Ethologie des Hausmeerschweinchens Cavia aperea f. porcellus (L.) [Contribution to the ethology of the domesticated guinea pig (German text with English summary)]. Zeitschrift f?r Tierpsychology [Ethology] 21, 602-641.

Comprehensive report on the behavior of group-housed guinea pigs; with numerous photographs.

Duke, J. D., Seaman, J. L. 1964. Postweaning experiences and emotional responsiveness. Psychological Reports 14, 543-546.

Environmental enrichment reduces emotionality.

Diamond, M. C., Krech, D., Rosenzweig, M. R. 1964. The effects of an enriched environment on the rat cerebral cortex. Journal of Comparative Neurology 123, 111-119.
Bernstein, I. S., Draper, W. A. 1964. The behaviour of juvenile rhesus monkeys in groups. Animal Behaviour 12, 84-91.

Subjects spent 48%-72% of the time in the upper one-third of the compound.

Brant, D. H., Kavanau, I. L. 1964. Unrewarded exploration and learning of compex mazes by wild and domestic mice. Nature 204, 267-269.
Bennett, E. L., Diamond, M. C., Krech, D. et al. 1964. Chemical and anatomical plasticity of brain. Science 146, 610-619.

The control animals are kept under colony conditions, housed three in a cage and exposed to ongoing activity in the room. ... For enhanced experience, animals were given Environmental Complexity and Training [groups of 10...

Anthony, A. 1963. Criteria for acoustics in animal housing. Laboratory Animal Care [Laboratory Animal Science] 13, 340-347.

The pattern of physiological changes elicited by noise is the same in laboratory animals as in humans. It is well established that noise exposure is associated with increased adreno-cortical activity which, in turn, results in...

Walters, R. H., Callagan, J. E., Newman, A. F. 1963. Effect of solitary confinement on prisoners. American Journal of Psychiatry 120, 771-773.
Rowell, T. E., Hinde, R. A. 1963. Responses of rhesus monkeys to mildly stressful situations. Animal Behaviour 11, 235-243.

Signs of behavioral disturbance are usually lower when other animals are present in fear- or stress-inducing situations

Draper, W. A., Bernstein, I. S. 1963. Stereotyped behavior and cage size. Perceptual and Motor Skills 16, 231-234.

It was concluded that spatial restriction which does not permit 'normal' locomotor behavior, e.g., running, climbing, etc., results in substitute motor expression which frequently takes the form of repetitive stereotyped movement.

Kavanau, J. L. 1963. Compulsory regime and control of environment in animal behaviour I. Wheel-running. Behaviour 20, 251-281.
Chance, M. R. A. 1963. The social bond of the primates. Primates 4, 1-22.
Canland, D. K., Nagy, Z. M., Conklyn, D. H. 1963. Emotional behavior in the domestic chicken (White Leghorn) as a function of age and developmental environment. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 56, 1069-1073.

Enrichment (presence of objects) during development decreases open-field emotionality.

Butterworth, T., Strean, L. P. 1963. Behavior disorders of interest to dermatologists. Archives of Dermatology 88, 859-867.

Infrequently, patients may also pull hair from others. Trichotillomania is classified as a behavior disorder .

Berkson, G., Mason, W. A., Saxon, S. U. 1963. Situation and stimulus effect on stereotyped behaviors of chimpanzees. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 56, 786-792.

Stereotyped behaviors are present on many occasions, but observers have noted that they are particularly prevalent when some degree of 'tension' is presumably present. ... The level of stereotyped behaviors was highest in an enclosed...