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ABSTRACT The stress‐coping ability (SCA) is one of the core aspects of fish welfare and is of vital importance for fish production in the aquaculture industry and for fish fitness in hatchery release. Environmental enrichment (EE), a method of introducing external stimuli into the husbandry environment, has been recently proposed to improve fish SCA, but the present experimental evidence is mixed, and the reasons for these discrepancies are unclear. Here, we conducted a global meta‐analysis using a data set that consists of 1786 cases from 107 studies across 42 fish species to solve this problem. Overall, we found that enriched fish had significantly higher SCA than control fish, reflected in either basal stress levels or stress responses. Meta‐regression analyses showed that specific subgroups of enrichment type, fish developmental stage, stress category, stress duration, stress place, sample tissue and indicator system showed significant positive EE effects on SCA. Multi‐model inference indicated that the indicator system, fish developmental stage, stress characteristic and enrichment mode are important drivers for the high heterogeneity among effect sizes. These results highlight the importance of introducing EE into the rearing systems, which will not only increase the welfare of aquaculture fish but also improve the ecological adaptability of released fish. The comprehensive knowledge obtained in this analysis will provide insights into fish ontogenetic plasticity and its responses to EE and have important implications for improving the production cycle in fish aquaculture and fisheries conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently available conventional breeding methods for broilers often result in impaired biomechanics and skeletal growth for the animals. The addition of environmental enrichment is an alternative which can help alleviate these effects. This study examines the effects of environmental enrichment on biomechanics, morphometry, and bone mass of broilers across various age groups. In total, 112 Cobb 500 chicks (50% male and 50% female) were used in a completely randomized design experiment, with 56 broilers per treatment (T1 and T2), carried out in subdivided plots. Each plot was subjected to a different treatment, as follows: all plots were subjected to the treatments (T1 = environmental enrichment and T2 = no environment enrichment) and the sub-plots held the broilers' age groups (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days old). Eight broilers were euthanized on a weekly basis for two production cycles in order to perform morphometric (diameter and length) and biomechanical analysis of the response variables. These measurements were performed on the femur and tibia. Birds were subjected to classical linear fixed effects model and compared through Tukey's mean test. Significant interactions between environmental enrichment and broiler age were noticed, particularly at 42 days, which displayed bone development for all variables under study. Except for the length of the femur of broiler chickens (p = 0.4638). Therefore, simple effects will not be evaluated. Environmental enrichment had a notable impact on tibia length (p = 0.0035), femur weight (p = 0.0014), and tibia weight (p<0.0001) at 42 days, indicating a favorable effect on skeletal growth in broilers. Enrichment resulted in a 1% increase in femur inertia, a 2% rise in tibia inertia, and a 1% enhancement in ultimate bending stress for both bones, displaying improved structural integrity and durability. Beneficial changes in bone morphology and biomechanics were observed at 42 days after enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policies vary substantially in terms of providing sources of psychosocial enrichment. Behavioral economic models of substance use and addiction emphasize that deficits in access to substance‐free sources of reward increase substance reinforcing value and risk for addiction. The current study used an alcohol demand curve approach to test the hypothesis that various indices of reward deprivation would be associated with elevated alcohol reinforcing efficacy. We examined associations between alcohol demand indices and several facets of reward deprivation in a sample of young adults (N = 1,331; ages 19–25 years) recruited from the United States and Canada who reported recent binge drinking. Additionally, we created an index of cumulative reward deprivation that integrated the various reward facets and examined its association with alcohol demand intensity and maximum expenditure on alcohol. Our findings indicate that reward deprivation is associated with elevated alcohol demand and provide support for alcohol prevention and intervention approaches that emphasize environmental enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Human GH transgenic rats exhibit hyperphagia and obesity from a young age. • TG rats showed hypercorticosteronemia accompanying enlarged adrenal glands. • ADX blunted, and glucocorticoids supplement alleviated hyperphagia only in TG rats. • Group housing prevented hyperphagia and hypercorticosteronemia in TG rats. Hyperphagia and subsequent obesity are important public health issues due to the associated risks of developing serious diseases. Certain stressors play a major role in the development of hyperphagia. In previous studies, we established a line of human growth hormone transgenic (TG) rats that exhibit hyperphagia and obesity from a young age. We recently demonstrated that voluntary running on a running wheel alleviates hyperphagia in TG rats. Wheel running provides environmental enrichment for rodents and plays a role in relieving stress. These results suggested that stress is the major factor inducing hyperphagia in TG rats. Thus, in the present study, we evaluated activation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. TG rats showed bilateral enlargement of adrenal glands and hypercorticosteronemia, although their hypothalamic CRH level was comparable to that of wild-type (WT) rats. The ACTH-immunoreactive area was larger and the serum ACTH level in the dark phase was higher in TG rats than in WT rats. Adrenalectomy reduced the food intake of TG rats to a level comparable to that in WT rats, and supplying glucocorticoids recurred hyperphagia in TG rats. These treatments did not affect the food intake of WT rats. Rearing TG rats under group housing prevented hyperphagia and hypercorticosteronemia. These results suggest that glucocorticoids are appetite stimulants, and that TG rats exhibit increased sensitivity to the appetite-stimulating effect of glucocorticoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have found long-term effects of early musical environmental enrichment in the NICU on preterm infant's development. This study examines how early music enrichment affects emotional development and effortful control abilities in 12- and 24-month-old very preterm (VPT) infants. Methods: One hundred nineteen newborns were recruited, including 83 VPTs and 36 full-term (FT) infants. The VPT infants were randomly assigned to the music intervention (44 VPT-Music) or control (39 VPT-control) groups. VPTMusic infants listened specifically designed music intervention from the 33rd week of gestation until hospital discharge. At 12 and 24 months, children were clinically evaluated using the Bayley-III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery, and at 24 months, with 3 additional episodes of the Effortful Control Battery. Results and discussion: Our analysis showed that during a fear eliciting task, the VPT-Music group expressed lower level of fear reactivity and higher positive motor actions than VPT-controls and FT infants. At 24 months, the VPT-music group had lower scores for negative motor actions in the joy task, compared to both VPT-control and FT groups. In addition, both FT and VPT-music had higher scores of sustained attention compared to VPT-controls, but the contrasts were not significant. No significant effects on mental, language and motor outcomes were identified and for all three dimensions of the ECBQ. Conclusion: The present study suggests that an early music intervention in the NICU might influence preterm children's emotional processing at 12 and 24 months. Limitations and suggestions for future research are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Unlike enriched environments for rodents, human-built environments often hinder neuroplasticity through sedentary lifestyles, to which exercise can merely overcome its adverse effects. This paper introduces "environmental affordance for physical activity" to quantify the potential of spatial layout designs to stimulate activity and sustain neuroplasticity, mainly hippocampal neurogenesis. Methods: A novel framework links metabolic equivalents (METs) that can be afforded by the spatial layout of the built environment to its role in increasing the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)—a biomarker that promotes and sustains adult hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Equations are developed to assess the built environment's affordance for physical activity through BDNF changes measurable after brief exposure to the built environment for 20–35 min. Results: The developed equations are evidenced to be feasible to cause BDNF release through low- to moderate-intensity physical activity. This model provides a feasible assessment tool to test the built environment's effectiveness towards neurosustainability. Conclusions: By sustaining neurogenesis, the environmental affordance for physical activity holds promise for improving mental health and preventing cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a neuropsychiatric condition whose neurobiological characteristics include alterations in brain plasticity, modulated by Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). In animal models, environmental enrichment promotes neuroplasticity and reduces depressive-like behaviors. In humans, we proposed to assess the level of Enriched Environment (EE) using a questionnaire that includes different domains of the EE (cognitive, social, and physical), which we named the EE Indicator (EEI). Objective: To determine the relationship between the level of EE and serum BDNF in participants with MDD and healthy controls. Materials: Participants with MDD without antidepressant treatment and healthy controls were recruited, and their EE level and serum BDNF concentration were determined looking for correlations between their clinical characteristics and the cognitive, social, and physical activities according to the EEI. Results: A total of 25 participants were recruited, of which 6 participants with MDD and the same number of controls were selected in a paired manner. Although no differences were found in the concentration of BDNF between the groups, positive correlations were observed between cognitive EE and BDNF (r = 0.62, p = 0.035), as well as negative social EE and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) (r = −0.86, p = 0.001). The sum between cognitive and social EE showed a positive correlation with the serum concentration of BDNF (r = 0.34, p = 0.0451). Conclusions: The level of EE is potentially modulating the presence and severity of MDD at a clinical level, but it can also influence at a neuroplastic level through promoting or limiting the concentration of BDNF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Physiological equilibrium preservation is essential for an animal's survival, and any event that may disturb this equilibrium is defined as a stressor. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of scratch brushes and stages as an environmental enrichment to reduce stress in dairy goats. Twenty-four mixed-breed goats were divided into two groups according to common physiological conditions in breeding farms: milking and dry (milk-producing and non-milk-producing, respectively). Blood was sampled ten days post-exposure to enrichment treatment or not (control). Following the enrichment, we observed a reduction in dry goats' oxidative stress products and their binding protein, transferrin. In contrast, no change in these products, along with an increase in transferrin levels, was observed in milking goats. Moreover, the anti-stress hormones, oxytocin and serotonin, levels changed differentially between the dry- and milking-goat groups. Additionally, gene expression of immune-related and antioxidant molecules in white blood cells isolated from the goats' blood presented the same pattern: down-regulation in dry or up-regulation in milking goats. In conclusion, a reliable methodology was developed for measuring husbandry stress in goats. Current environmental enrichment produced different responsiveness in goats correlated to their physiological status: beneficial effect in dry goats, detrimental effect in milking goats. Homeostasis preservation is essential for animal survival, and any event that causes a disturbance in homeostasis is defined as a stressor. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of scratch brushes and stages as an environmental enrichment to alleviate stress in dairy goats. Twenty-four mixed-breed goats were divided into two groups according to common physiological conditions in breeding farms: milking and dry (milk-producing and non-milk-producing, respectively). Ten days after exposure to environmental enrichment treatment or not (control), blood was sampled. Following the enrichment, we observed a reduction in reactive oxidative stress metabolites, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and their binding protein (transferrin) in the dry goats, as determined by an ELISA. In contrast, no change in AGEs, along with an increase in transferrin levels, was observed in the milking goats. Moreover, oxytocin levels decreased in the dry and increased in the milking goats, while serotonin levels increased in the dry and remained unchanged in the milking goats. Additionally, gene expression of the cytokines, IL-6 and IL-1ß, and anti-oxidative proteins, lysozyme and transferrin (in peripheral blood leukocytes), as determined by qPCR, presented the same pattern: down-regulation in the dry or up-regulation in the milking goats. In conclusion, a reliable methodology was developed for measuring husbandry stress in goats and to improve dairy goats' husbandry practice. Current environmental enrichment produced different responsiveness in goats correlated to their physiological status: beneficial effect in dry goats, detrimental effect in milking goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to determine whether environmental enrichments (EE) can mitigate the adverse effects of chronic low-dose-rate radiation exposure in mice. Female B6C3F1 mice were continuously exposed to 20 mGy d−1 gamma-rays under specific-pathogen-free conditions since 8 weeks of age for 400 d. After completion of the radiation exposure, OV3121 cells, derived from an ovarian granulosa cell tumor, were inoculated subcutaneously alongside age-matched non-irradiated control mice. Irradiated mice were shown to have a significantly reduced ability to eliminate inoculated tumors. The results indicate that EE may be able to mitigate the adverse effects of low-dose-rate radiation exposure, but the effects vary greatly and are complex depending on the type of EE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and risk-taking in Chinese A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2020. It seeks to understand the influence of CER on risk-taking behavior and explore potential moderating factors. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach is used, using data from Chinese A-share listed companies over the specified period. Regression analysis is used to examine the relationship between CER and risk-taking, while considering moderating variables such as performance aspiration, environmental enrichment and contextual factors. Findings: The findings indicate that CER positively influences corporate risk-taking, with significant impacts on information asymmetry and corporate reputation. Moreover, positive performance aspiration strengthens the effect of CER on risk-taking, while negative performance aspiration and environmental enrichment weaken this effect. Cross-sectional analysis shows that the positive association between CER and risk-taking is more prominent for firms located in areas with strict environmental regulation, for nonstate-owned firms, and for firms with higher levels of internal control. Originality/value: This research contributes to the literature by providing insights into the dynamics between CER and risk-taking in the Chinese market context. It expands existing knowledge by considering the influence of performance aspiration on this relationship, offering practical implications for firms seeking to enhance corporate performance through strategic management of environmental responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the modern perspective on evaluating animal welfare, it is important to consider both negative and positive experiences. This study investigated the impact of group composition and environmental enrichments on the behaviours of free-ranging pigs, focusing on anxiety-related behaviours, aggression, affiliation, post-conflict affiliation, excavation, and non-invasive exploration activities. Data were collected on three different groups (allfemale: N=10; all-male: N=13; mixed-sex: N=12) of free-ranging pigs raised in a natural woodland habitat at the ethical farm "Parva Domus" (Turin, Italy). To evaluate the impact of environmental enrichment, further data collection was carried out on the mixed-sex group under three different enrichment conditions (absence; dry leaves; straw) provided in a rotational scheme. Group composition did not affect levels of anxiety-related behaviours, aggression, and non-invasive exploration. However, it did impact other social aspects (affiliation: One-way ANOVA: p=0.003; post-conflict affiliation: Kruskal-Wallis: p=0.005). In particular, the mixed-sex and the all-male groups showed higher levels of affiliation than the all-female group and the mixed-sex group showed higher levels of post-conflict affiliation than the all-male group. Moreover, we found differences in excavation behaviour levels (Kruskal-Wallis: p=0.001), with higher levels of excavation behaviour in the mixed-sex group compared to the allfemale group. Regarding the impact of enrichments, we found differences in levels of anxiety-related behaviours (One-way ANOVA: p = 0.046), affiliation (One-way ANOVA: p = 0.006), excavation (One-way ANOVA: p<0.001), and non-invasive exploration activities (One-way ANOVA: p<0.001). In enrichment conditions with straw, we found a significant decrease in anxiety-related, affiliation, and excavation behaviours levels, and a significant increase in noninvasive exploration behaviours. A trend with lower levels of aggression was observed in straw enrichment condition compared to the absence of enrichment, although the difference was not significant. Moreover, there were no differences in post-conflict affiliation frequencies. Our findings suggest that forming mixed-sex groups and providing environmental enrichments such as the straw could be suitable solutions to effectively reduce invasive excavation behaviours without preventing pigs from expressing their natural behavioural repertoire, thus maintaining high standards of animal welfare. This study highlights behavioural aspects to be considered in extensive farming, confirming the importance of ethology as a tool for assessing pig welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in memory performance are one of the main symptoms of normal aging. The storage of similar experiences as different memories (ie. behavioral pattern separation), becomes less efficient as aging progresses. Studies have focused on hippocampus dependent spatial memories and their role in the aging related deficits in behavioral pattern separation (BPS) by targeting high similarity interference conditions. However, parahippocampal cortices such as the perirhinal cortex are also particularly vulnerable to aging. Middle age is thought to be the stage where mild mnemonic deficits begin to emerge. Therefore, a better understanding of the timing of the spatial and object domain memory impairment could shed light over how plasticity changes in the parahipocampal-hippocampal system affects mnemonic function in early aging. In the present work, we compared the performance of young and middle-aged rats in both spatial (spontaneous location recognition) and non-spatial (spontaneous object recognition) behavioral pattern separation tasks to understand the comparative progression of these deficits from early stages of aging. Moreover, we explored the impact of environmental enrichment (EE) as an intervention with important translational value. Although a bulk of studies have examined the contribution of EE for preventing age related memory decline in diverse cognitive domains, there is limited knowledge of how this intervention could specifically impact on BPS function in middle-aged animals. Here we evaluate the effects of EE as modulator of BPS, and its ability to revert the deficits caused by normal aging at early stages. We reveal a domain-dependent impairment in behavioral pattern separation in middle-aged rats, with spatial memories affected independently of the similarity of the experiences and object memories only affected when the stimuli are similar, an effect that could be linked to the higher interference seen in this group. Moreover, we found that EE significantly enhanced behavioral performance in middle-aged rats in the spatial and object domain, and this improvement is specific of the high similarity load condition. In conclusion, these results suggest that memory is differentially affected by aging in the object and spatial domains, but that BPS function is responsive to an EE intervention in a multidomain manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Billions of fishes are kept in captivity for research and food production world‐wide, with a strong impetus for maintaining high welfare standards. Accordingly, the importance of empirical research into the welfare and husbandry of captive fishes is increasingly acknowledged in both science and aquaculture, alongside growing public and governmental interest. Physical enrichment can have an important influence on welfare in of captive fishes, but many questions remain. Here, we summarise the current state of research and outline knowledge gaps in the area of physical enrichment, which is a fundamental aspect to improving welfare of captive fishes. To explore the level of research interest this area across time we conducted a series of surveys, using the number of papers published per year as a metric. These surveys highlight that work on fish welfare, while representing a relatively low proportion of fish research overall, is increasing rapidly. For species that are of aquaculture importance or used commonly as laboratory subjects, we show a positive relationship between general research interest and number of welfare‐related papers. However, for many, particularly relatively less studied, species the proportion of papers on enrichment remains low, with a slower increase compared to welfare‐related papers in general. In terms of common metrics used to quantify fish welfare, there is a reliance on growth and behaviour, with scope for inclusion and combination of a more comprehensive range of reproducible measures. We finish by highlighting recent progress, promising areas for future research and suggestions for advances in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to summarize the available evidence in the literature regarding the effects generated by exposure to an enriched environment (EE) on the modulation of epigenetic processes in the central nervous system under adverse environmental conditions. Searches were conducted in three databases: PubMed/Medline (1053 articles), Scopus (121 articles), and Embase (52 articles), which were subjected to eligibility criteria. Of the 1226 articles found, 173 duplicates were removed. After evaluating titles/abstracts, 904 studies were excluded, resulting in 49 articles, of which 14 were included in this systematic review. EE was performed using different inanimate objects. Adverse environmental conditions included CUMS, sepsis, nicotine exposure, PCP exposure, early stress, WAS, high fructose intake, TBI, and sevoflurane exposure. Regarding microRNA expression, after exposure to EE, an increase in the expression of miR-221 and miR-483 was observed in the prefrontal cortex, and a reduction in the expression of miR-92a-3p and miR-134 in the hippocampus. Regarding histone modifications, in the hippocampus, there was a reduction of HAT, HDAC/HDAC4, H3 (acetyl K14), H4 (acetyl K15), H3K4me3, K3k27me3, and HDAC2/3/5. In the cortex, there was a reduction of HDAC2, and in the prefrontal cortex, there was an increase in acetylated H3. Regarding DNA modifications, there was a reduction of DNMT in the hippocampus. This systematic review concludes that the benefits of EE on the brain and behavior of animals are directly related to different epigenetic mechanisms, reflecting in cell growth and neuroplasticity. EE may be a non-pharmacological and easy-to-apply alternative to prevent symptoms in disorders affecting brain tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Weaning is one of the most stressful phases in intensive pig production. The mixing of unknown litters initiates the establishment of a new social order through conflicts, which are abnormally increased under commercial farming conditions due to several other sudden changes in the piglets' environment, such as the separation of the piglets from the sow and changes in feeding and space. Providing appropriate environmental enrichment is a possible solution to mitigate stress and aggression after weaning. In the present study, we used a combination of toys and pieces of wood as enrichment and adjusted the number of enrichment objects to the number of weaned litters. In the control group, one toy and one piece of wood were provided for the entire weaning group, while in the test group, one piece of wood and one toy were provided per each mixed litter. The piglets from more enriched pens showed more enrichment-directed behaviours and consequently less negative social and damaging behaviours. Adjusting enrichment to the number of weaned litters proved to be an effective solution to reduce aggression and improve the welfare of weaned piglets. It is also easily applicable in commercial facilities, cost-effective and of sustainable interest. Environmental enrichment is one of the methods used to reduce conflicts at weaning, which erupt when mixing unknown litters and are known to negatively affect growth and welfare of piglets. Here we aimed to test a simple approach of increasing the amount of existing enrichment objects to mitigate post-weaning aggression. The experiment comprised ten groups of piglets (five controls, five tests) with 3–4 litters weaned in each of them. In the control group, a red hanging plastic object (biting ring) and a piece of spruce wood (7 cm × 7 cm × 30 cm) were used for enrichment. In the test group, the enrichment was multiplied according to the number of weaned litters (one toy and one piece of wood was provided per each mixed litter). On days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 after weaning, behaviours (negative social behaviours, pen equipment-directed and enrichment-directed behaviours) and injuries (on different parts of the body, tail lesions, lameness) were recorded. On day 21 after weaning, the overall welfare status of the piglets was assessed using the Welfare Quality® protocol for pigs. A significant (4-fold) increase in the enrichment-directed behaviours was observed in the test group (p < 0.001). Consequently, there were 3.5 times fewer negative social behaviours (p < 0.001), 38–52% fewer injuries on different body parts (p < 0.001) and higher overall welfare status of the piglets in the test group. Adjusting enrichment to the number of weaned litters proved to be an effective solution to reduce aggression at weaning and improve piglets' welfare. The study provides important information on the use of enrichment material in commercial weaner pens and demonstrates the possibility of significantly improving pig welfare with low effort, input and cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compulsive- and anxiety-like behaviour can be efficiently modelled in SAPAP3 knockout (KO) mice, a preclinical model of relevance to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although there is emerging evidence in the clinical literature of gastrointestinal dysfunction in OCD, no previous studies have investigated gut function in preclinical models of relevance to OCD. Similarly, the effects of voluntary exercise (EX) or environmental enrichment (EE) have not yet been explored in this context. We comprehensively phenotyped the SAPAP3 KO mouse model, including the assessment of grooming microstructure, anxiety- and depressive-like behaviour, and gastrointestinal function. Mice were exposed to either standard housing (SH), exercise (EX, provided by giving mice access to running wheels), or environmental enrichment (EE) for 4 weeks to investigate the effects of enriched housing conditions in this animal model relevant to OCD. Our study is the first to assess grooming microstructure, perseverative locomotor activity, and gastrointestinal function in SAPAP3 KO mice. We are also the first to report a sexually dimorphic effect of grooming in young-adult SAPAP3 KO mice; along with changes to grooming patterning and indicators of gut dysfunction, which occurred in the absence of gut dysbiosis in this model. Overall, we found no beneficial effects of voluntary exercise or environmental enrichment interventions in this mouse model; and unexpectedly, we revealed a deleterious effect of wheel-running exercise on grooming behaviour. We suspect that the detrimental effects of experimental housing in our study may be indicative of off-target effects of stress—a conclusion that warrants further investigation into the effects of chronic stress in this preclinical model of compulsive behaviour. • We investigated grooming microstructure and gastrointestinal function in SAPAP3 KO mice, a model of compulsive-like behaviour • In the first gastrointestinal study of an OCD-relevant preclinical model, we found gut dysfunction in the absence of dysbiosis • We also identified sexually dimorphic grooming effects in young-adult SAPAP3 KO mice, along with changes to grooming patterning • There was no beneficial impact of exercise or environmental enrichment • In fact, wheel-running exercise worsened grooming behaviour, which may be indicative of off-target effects of stress [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental enrichment could lower stress in farm animals; however, inadequate data is offered on the level of productivity and welfare indicators in rabbits reared with or without environmental enrichment. 84 young White New Zealand rabbits were used to identify two examples of environmental enrichment (gnawing sticks and sibling) influences on the behavior, production, and stress level of growing rabbits. Two experiments were done; In experiment one; 36 young rabbits were used to test the effect of sex and sibling relationship on the behaviour and weight gain of the growing rabbits, four groups G1 male sibling, G2 male unsibling, G3 female sibling, and G4 female unsibling. In experiment two; 48 young rabbits were used in two steps; in the first step of the trial the preference test of gnawing sticks tree species was performed by using visual evaluation and the second step was to test the influence of the prefered gnawing sticks tree species in the 1st step on the behaviour, performance, and stress level of growing rabbits. They were classified in to two groups G (1) with the prefered G.S and G (2) rabbits without any gnawing sticks. The behaviour of the rabbit groups was recorded at 4 week old till 11 weeks old using focal sampling technique. Weekly body weight and serum cortisole level at 6 and 10 weeks in both experiment was recorded. Gnawing sticks and sibling housing during the growing period result in improvement in growing rabbits behavior (feeding, self grooming, and social smelling), lowering biting wire and feeder, and decrease cortisole hormone level. So that this study recommends to use them for growing rabbit cages during the growing periods to override the barren environment adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Maternal immune challenge associated to perinatal anoxia and hindlimbs sensorimotor restriction in rats leads to musculoskeletal and brain damage observed in spastic Cerebral Palsy. • We show that one week exposure to environmental enrichment combined to 15 min daily treadmill training (EETT) from P21 to P28 improved gross locomotion with minor effects on gait parameters. • EETT decreased brain inflammation and astrogliosis, preserved myelination, without major effects on brain microstructure. • EETT upregulated BDNF signaling and modulated the expression of proteins involved in excitatory synaptic function in brain and spinal cord. Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a major cause of motor and cognitive disability in children due to injury to the developing brain. Early intensive sensorimotor rehabilitation has been shown to change brain structure and reduce CP symptoms severity. We combined environmental enrichment (EE) and treadmill training (TT) to observe the effects of a one-week program of sensorimotor stimulation (EETT) in animals exposed to a CP model and explored possible mechanisms involved in the functional recovery. Pregnant Wistar rats were injected with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS − 200 µg/kg) intraperitoneally at embryonic days 18 and 19. At P0, pups of both sexes were exposed to 20′ anoxia at 37 °C. From P2 to P21, hindlimbs were restricted for 16 h/day during the dark cycle. EETT lasted from P21 to P27. TT − 15 min/day at 7 cm/s. EE − 7 days in enriched cages with sensorimotor stimulus. Functional 3D kinematic gait analysis and locomotion were analyzed. At P28, brains were collected for e x-vivo MRI and histological assessment. Neurotrophins and key proteins involved in CNS function were assessed by western blotting. CP model caused gross and skilled locomotor disruption and altered CNS neurochemistry. EETT reversed locomotor dysfunction with minor effects over gait kinematics. EETT also decreased brain inflammation and glial activation, preserved myelination, upregulated BDNF signaling and modulated the expression of proteins involved in excitatory synaptic function in the brain and spinal cord. Using this translational approach based on intensive sensorimotor rehabilitation, we highlight pathways engaged in the early developmental processes improving neurological recovery observed in CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that low socioeconomic status (SES) home environments may play a role by promoting excess energy intake through a lack of access to non-food reinforcers. Because of the deleterious effects of SES-related disparities on child health and development, feasible and culturally acceptable interventions are urgently needed. Community-based music enrichment programs may be an ideal intervention strategy. Methods: In collaboration with a local non-profit organization and music studio, we conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of a music enrichment program versus a play date control in a group of 9–24-month-old healthy infants (N = 16). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City. This study is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05868811). Results: Overall, we found some intervention effects on the relative reinforcing value of food (RRVfood) and the home environmental enrichment measures (i.e., increased music use at home and the home language environment). Our intervention demonstrated large effects on the increased use of music at home. We did not find significant group differences in the RRVfood and home language environment, but some of the effect sizes were medium-to-large. Results also suggest that our intervention is feasible and acceptable. Parent feedback indicated that the intervention was well-liked and that the steps we took to help reduce barriers worked. Conclusions: Music enrichment programs may be a high-impact, low-cost strategy to address socioeconomic disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental stress poses serious threats to animal welfare and production, particularly in poultry, which are susceptible to such stress. It can increase susceptibility to diseases and infections, reduce growth rates and reproductive performance, and increase behavioral issues. Environmental stress caused by conventional housing conditions can negatively affect well-being and productivity. High temperature, overcrowding, poor ventilation, insufficient lighting, and wire cages are some of the most prominent stressors in conventional housing systems. To address environmental stress in chicken farms, some strategies and tools, such as using anti-stress feed additives and enriching cages, can help improve bird behavioral activities and welfare. Breeders can improve overall bird performance by implementing these strategies and creating a more enriched and comfortable environment. Thus, this review discusses the importance of using different feed additives and environmental enrichment materials to reduce stress in chicken farms (broiler and layer) and improve bird productivity and well-being.

Abstract Intensification of swine production can predispose pigs to chronic stress, with adverse effects on the neuroendocrine and immune systems that can lead to health problems, poor welfare, and reduced production performance. Consequently, there is an interest in developing tools to prevent or eliminate chronic stress. Music is widely used as a therapeutic strategy for stress management in humans and may have similar benefits in non-human animals. This study evaluated the effects of a music-based auditory enrichment program in pigs from a multidimensional perspective by assessing psychophysiological responses. Two experimental groups of 20 pigs each were selected for the study: one enriched, exposed to a program of functional veterinary music designed for pigs, and a control group without auditory stimulation. Qualitative behavior assessment (QBA) and skin lesions indicative of agonistic behavior were used to evaluate the psychological determinants underlying the observed behaviors. Physiological assessment included hemograms, with the determination of the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio and daily measurements of cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase levels. The results demonstrated a positive effect of a music-based auditory program on psychophysiological responses. Therefore, this strategy developed for environmental enrichment may be beneficial in reducing stress and contributing to the welfare and health of pigs under production conditions.

Abstract Laboratory mice are typically housed in “shoebox” cages with limited opportunities to engage in natural behaviour. Temporary access to environments with increased space and complexity (playpens) may improve mouse welfare. Previous work by our group has shown that mice are motivated to access and use these environments, but it is unknown how other aspects of welfare are impacted. Female C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ, and DBA/2J mice (n = 21; 7 mice per strain) were housed in mixed-strain trios and given temporary access to a large playpen with their cage mates three times per week. Control mice (n = 21; 7 mice per strain) remained in their home cages. Home cage behaviour (development of stereotypic behaviour over time, aggression following cage-changing) and anxiety tests were used to assess how playpen access impacted welfare. Contrary to our predictions, we found increased time spent performing stereotypies in playpen mice; this difference may be related to negative emotional states, increased motivation to escape the home cage, or active coping strategies. Playpen access resulted in strain-dependent improvements in aggression and some measures of anxiety. Aggression was lower for C57BL/6J mice in the playpen treatment following cage changing than it was for C57BL/6J control mice, while playpen mice, and particularly the C57BL/6J strain, spent more time in the center of the open field test and produced fewer fecal boli during anxiety testing, supporting other research showing that strain differences play an important role in behaviour and stress resiliency.

An environmental enrichment protocol is essential for testing experimental models because it upholds animal welfare, aligns with ethical principles in animal experimentation, and reduces the number of animals needed. Calomys callosus, a South American rodent from the Cricetidae family, is bred in rodent animal facilities for its ease of handling, longevity, prolificacy, and effectively mimicking diseases like Toxoplasmosis, Leishmaniasis, Chagas, and Schistosomiasis. There are no reports on environmental enrichments for this species or their impact on reproductive parameters. This study aimed to analyze the influence of the Environmental Enrichment Program (EEP) on the reproductive and zootechnical performance of C. callosus kept in the Rodents Animal Facilities Complex of Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU). Two experimental groups were established: with environmental enrichment EE+ and without environmental enrichment EE-. The materials used in the experimental design were changed weekly and alternated between dietary, occupational, physical/cognitive, and non-enrichment items. After the inclusion of the EEP, an improvement in the reproductive indices of C. callosus was identified in the EE+ group. These improvements included increased female precocity, a decreased interbirth interval, and a higher number of pairs producing more offspring. The postpartum zootechnical indices were also better, such as the number of animals born alive, improved weaning rates, and a reduced average number of deaths from birth to weaning. After the inclusion of the EEP, the general health status of C. callosus improved, reducing cases of non-infectious lumbar alopecia. Therefore, EEP allows C. callosus to express natural reproductive behaviors and improves parental care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the medium‐ and long‐term effects of early environmental enrichment (EE) on neuromotor, nociceptive, cognitive, behavioral, and neurochemical parameters in newborn rats repeatedly exposed to morphine. The study employed 90 Wistar rats: 10 adult nulliparous females and 80 male pups. Litter was split into standard and EE housing. Following, half of each litter received saline (S) or morphine (M) injections, resulting in four groups: SC + S, EE + S, SC + M, and EE + M. EE was applied from PND1 to PND21, while morphine or saline was given daily (5 μg/s.c.) from PND8 to PND14. Neuromotor development was similar between groups. In the OF test, morphine reduced outer and total crossings, whereas EE increased inner crossings and rearings. Adult rats showed a decrease in outer and total crossings and grooming and an increase in rearing. EE increased the number of protected and unprotected head dipping. Adult rats showed an increase in protected head dipping. Adult rats showed a lower recognition index, and, when exposed to EE, a lower anxiety index and analgesia. EE increased brainstem and hippocampal BDNF levels. Adult rats had increased hypothalamus, spinal cord, and brainstem BDNF levels, an increase in the spinal cord, and decreased hypothalamus TNF‐α levels. This study demonstrated that early‐life EE raises BDNF levels in the brainstem and hippocampus of rats and modifies their behaviors (such as nociception, exploration, and anxiety) in a state‐dependent manner (morphine and age). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The environmental enrichment (EE) framework has inspired several early intervention (EI) approaches. This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, caregiver acceptance, and satisfaction of implementing the HEP Approach intervention, a novel EI model based on the EE paradigm. Outcome measures for motor development, individual functional goals, sensory functions, caregiver-provided environmental affordances, and motivation for movement were examined. Methods: A pre-post-study design examined 18 premature infants (<33 weeks six days gestation) with a corrected age of 4–10 months. A 21-item Likert scale survey assessed the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and satisfaction of implementing the HEP Approach intervention. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2, Test of Sensory Functions in Infants, Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development, and Infant Movement Motivation Questionnaire were used for outcomes. The goal attainment scale measured progress toward parent goals. The HEP Approach consisted of 12 one-hour sessions implemented over three months. Results: Most participating parents found the HEP Approach intervention feasible, safe, acceptable, and satisfactory. GAS scores demonstrated significant gains with a mean t-score of 67.75 (SD = 2.00). Results found significant improvement (p ≤ 0.05) in all outcome measures. Conclusions: Results suggest that the HEP Approach intervention is safe, feasible, and acceptable to implement. Outcome measures were meaningful and sensitive in identifying improved motor development, individualized parental goals, sensory functions, caregivers' use of environmental opportunities, and movement motivation in premature at-risk infants. Results suggest further studies on the HEP Approach are feasible, and highlight the potential of this intervention to inspire and guide future research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the human brain has evolved extraordinary abilities to dominate nature, modern living has paradoxically trapped it in a contemporary "cage" that stifles neuroplasticity. Within this modern environment lurk unseen natural laws with power to sustain the human brain's adaptive capacities - if consciously orchestrated into the environments we design. For too long our contemporary environments have imposed an unyielding static state, while still neglecting the brain's constant adaptive nature as it evolves to dominate the natural world with increasing sophistication. The theory introduced in this article aims to go back in nature without having to go back in time, introducing and expounding Neurosustainability as a novel paradigm seeing beyond the contemporary confines to architect environments and brains in parallel. Its integrated neuroevidenced framework proposes four enrichment scopes--spatial, natural, aesthetic, and social--each holding multifaceted attributes promising to sustain regions like the hippocampus, cortex and amygdala. Neurosustainability aims to liberate the quintessential essence of nature to sustain and enhance neuroplastic processes through a cycle that begins with design and extends through epigenetic changes. This paradigm shift aims to foster cognitive health and wellness by addressing issues like stress, depression, anxiety and cognitive decline common in the contemporary era thereby offering a path toward a more neurosustainable era aiming to nurture the evolution of the human brain now and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall beneficial effect of live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on the welfare of broiler chickens, turkeys, and laying hens has already been discussed in the literature. However, scant information is available regarding the benefits of feeding live BSFL to medium‐growing chicken hybrids reared under organic/free‐range conditions, and whose welfare is frequently cited as being inadequate. The aim of this research was to advance our knowledge of this topic. To this end, 240 label naked neck birds (Hubbard JA57 hybrid) were assigned, at 21 days of age, to four experimental groups (6 replicates/treatment, 10 chickens/replicate), created according to sex (M/F) and the provision of a 10% live BSFL dietary supplementation (control males, control females, larvae males, and larvae females), and raised until 82 days of age. We performed behavioural observations, a tonic immobility test, and an avoidance distance (AD) test. We assessed feather damage and cleanliness, hock burn, footpad dermatitis, and skin lesion scores, and determined the concentration of excreta corticosterone metabolites (ECM) and the heterophile to lymphocyte heterophile/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio. The behavioural observations demonstrated increased physical and foraging activity (p < 0.05) in the live BSFL administered groups compared with C ones, providing valuable data on the explorative and recreational behaviour of this chicken genotype. The results also evidenced the usefulness of live BSFL as a fear reducer in females, as those receiving the BSFL supplement moved closer to the operator during the AD test (p < 0.01). No physical injuries or damage were observed on the birds, regardless of whether they received the BSFL supplementation or not. The ECM were unaffected by BSFL supplementation, while the H/L ratio was higher in the larvae groups than in the control ones (p = 0.050). In conclusion, live BSFL provision could constitute a powerful tool for improving life quality in medium‐growing chickens. Further research is required to clarify the stress modulation role of live BSFL on poultry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental stress poses serious threats to animal welfare and production, particularly in poultry, which are susceptible to such stress. It can increase susceptibility to diseases and infections, reduce growth rates and reproductive performance, and increase behavioral issues. Environmental stress caused by conventional housing conditions can negatively affect wellbeing and productivity. High temperature, overcrowding, poor ventilation, insufficient lighting, and wire cages are some of the most prominent stressors in conventional housing systems. To address environmental stress in chicken farms, some strategies and tools, such as using anti-stress feed additives and enriching cages, can help improve bird behavioral activities and welfare. Breeders can improve overall bird performance by implementing these strategies and creating a more enriched and comfortable environment. Thus, this review discusses the importance of using different feed additives and environmental enrichment materials to reduce stress in chicken farms (broiler and layer) and improve bird productivity and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with behavioral and cognitive impairments. Unfortunately, the drugs the Food and Drug Administration currently approved for AD have shown low effectiveness in delaying the progression of the disease. The focus has shifted to non‐pharmacological interventions (NPIs) because of the challenges associated with pharmacological treatments for AD. One such intervention is environmental enrichment (EE), which has been reported to restore cognitive decline associated with AD effectively. However, the therapeutic mechanisms by which EE improves symptoms associated with AD remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the mechanisms underlying the alleviating effects of EE on AD symptoms using histological, proteomic, and neurotransmitter‐related analyses. Wild‐type (WT) and 5XFAD mice were maintained in standard housing or EE conditions for 4 weeks. First, we confirmed the mitigating effects of EE on cognitive impairment in an AD animal model. Then, histological analysis revealed that EE reduced Aβ accumulation, neuroinflammation, neuronal death, and synaptic loss in the AD brain. Moreover, proteomic analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry showed that EE enhanced synapse‐ and neurotransmitter‐related networks and upregulated synapse‐ and neurotransmitter‐related proteins in the AD brain. Furthermore, neurotransmitter‐related analyses showed an increase in acetylcholine and serotonin concentrations as well as a decrease in polyamine concentration in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of 5XFAD mice raised under EE conditions. Our findings demonstrate that EE restores cognitive impairment by alleviating AD pathology and regulating synapse‐related proteins and neurotransmitters. Our study provided neurological evidence for the application of NPIs in treating AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Children in low socioeconomic status (SES) communities are at higher risk of exposure to lead (Pb) and potentially more severe adverse outcomes from Pb exposures. While the factors encompassing SES are complex, low SES households often have less enriching home environments and parent–child interactions. This study investigated the extent to which environmental/behavioral factors (quality of maternal care and richness of the postnatal environment) may modify adverse effects from Pb exposure. Methods: Long‐Evans female rats were randomly assigned to Control (no Pb), Early Postnatal (EPN: birth through weaning), or Perinatal (PERI: 14 days pre‐mating through weaning) Pb exposure groups. From postnatal days (PNDs) 2–9, maternal care behaviors were observed, and dams were classified as low or high maternal care based on amounts of licking/grooming and arched back nursing. At weaning, pups were randomly assigned to enriched or non‐enriched environments. At PND 55, animals began trace fear conditioning and associative memory was tested on days 1, 2, and 10 postconditioning. Results: Control offspring showed no significant effects of maternal care or enrichment on task performance. Females with EPN‐Pb exposure and males with PERI‐Pb exposure living in the non‐enriched environment and having an LMC mother had significant memory impairments at days 2 and 10 that were not observed in comparably housed animals with HMC mothers. Enriched animals had no deficits, regardless of maternal care status. Conclusion: These results show the potential for modulatory influences of maternal care and housing environment on protecting against or reversing at least one aspect of Pb‐induced cognitive/behavioral dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategically enriching the environment of zoo felids to encourage innate behaviors is essential to good welfare. To investigate how engagement differs among sensory-based enrichment, six items representing tactile (firehose log, Jolly Eggs), visual (mirror, movie), and olfactory (cinnamon, cologne) sensory categories were offered to three adult cheetah siblings. Each item was offered four times: twice during daytime hours and twice overnight (≥5 h/occasion). Static video monitoring was used to investigate engagement frequency and duration for each item and to observe grooming behaviors. Cheetahs engaged with visual enrichment more frequently (p < 0.05) and for greater (p < 0.05) periods than other items. Allogrooming occurred most frequently (p < 0.05) when the movie was provisioned at night. Tactile enrichment was only modestly engaged, with fewer but longer engagements (p < 0.05) at nighttime than at daytime. Autogrooming frequency did not vary among enrichment items but was greater (p < 0.05) at night than day. These findings showed that zoo cheetah responses to sensory enrichment items differed based on type and time of day. Visual stimuli were favored, whereas olfactory stimuli were generally ignored. This illustrates the benefit of diverse sensory-specific enrichment strategies. Such dynamic strategies can help overcome the challenge of individual preferences to encourage engagement reflective of the animal's natural behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on environmental enrichment for captive bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) are still very scarce in the literature, but they are of the utmost importance in the search for quality of life for these animals when they are under human care. Environmental enrichment items should be inclusive, allowing disabled animals to explore them and providing good experiences. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate food enrichment strategies to increase the foraging behavior of captive non-disabled and disabled bearded dragons. This work was carried out with six adult bearded dragons, three of which had one limb amputated and three that had all limbs, kept at the São Paulo Aquarium. Live kingworm larvae (Zophobas morio) were offered as food in three different levels of enrichment challenge (low, medium, high). Behavioral data were collected using focal sampling with instantaneous recording, with a time interval of every 30 s. Results showed that the more complex the food enrichment challenge, the greater the frequency of bearded dragon foraging. In addition, both amputees and non-amputees responded similarly to the enrichment items, differing primarily in their activity levels, where amputee individuals showed more tendencies toward 'stationary' and 'lying down' behaviors. More studies with reptiles should be encouraged so that good management practices become daily protocols for a better quality of life and for rescuing the natural behaviors of animals kept under human care, even those with anatomical disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of environmental enrichment on the growth and welfare level of the Chinese hooksnout carp (Opsariichthys bidens), an experiment was carried out for 56 d with four types of enrichment environments: low-density physical enrichment, high-density physical enrichment, low-density social enrichment, and high-density social enrichment. The experimental results revealed that both physical and social enrichment treatments positively affected the growth and gonadal development of O. bidens. The physical enrichment treatment was found to increase the antioxidants' content, such as CAT, SOD, and GSH, in the liver of O. bidens. Moreover, this treatment was able to lead to a reduction in MDA content and enhancement of the fish's antioxidant capabilities. Behavioral observations, cortisol level analysis, and pcna gene expression analysis indicated that the physical enrichment treatment redused the clustering, aggression, and stress behaviors of O. bidens, maintaining them in a low-stress state. In most respects, the high-density physical enrichment has more positive effects than the low-density one. In contrast, the social enrichment treatments resulted in higher stress levels for O. bidens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure good welfare of animals in human hands, it is essential to modify housing conditions according to the animals’ needs. Traditionally, the effects of such modifications are studied by means of group-level comparisons, thereby widely neglecting consistent inter-individual differences (i.e., so-called ‘animal personalities’). However, as animals with distinct personality types might differ in their environmental needs and hence react differently to the same environment, such systematic inter-individual differences might have important welfare consequences. This becomes particularly apparent under laboratory conditions, where animals are typically housed under highly standardized and barren environments. Against this background, we here aim to investigate personality-dependent welfare consequences in response to different housing conditions in laboratory mice. Female C57BL/6J mice were characterized for their personality type in exploration behavior and the most and the least explorative individuals were set up in either simple or in highly complex housing conditions that included constantly changing environmental enrichment items. We monitored individual welfare by studying behavioral, physiological, and immunological outcome measures. Besides personality dependent differences in immune parameters and overall improved welfare under complex housing conditions, we indeed found hints that individual mice were differently affected in their welfare depending on the specific combination of personality type and housing condition. Specifically, highly explorative mice appeared to be more adversely affected by simple housing, but also profited more from complex housing compared to low explorative mice. These findings indicate that welfare promoting adjustments do not necessarily benefit all individuals equally and therefore, call for a shift of perspectives in the evaluation of animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The evolution of the ever-changing neuroplastic human brain is inseparably linked to its environment. While early humans evolved in response to nature’s complexity and unpredictability, over millennia, the housing trajectory has increasingly prioritized sedentary behaviors, predictability, and comfort at the expense of cognitive stimulation. Modern life stress, mental health issues, and cognitive decline are markers of a poor environment. The pandemic lockdown has implicitly exposed that we need better houses for our brains. This paper goes back in time, navigating the cross-cultural evolution of environmental complexity to escape the contemporary dead end for the human brain that needs to evolve further. The paper advocates for a paradigm shift in housing design, emphasizing the need to foster neuroplasticity rather than constrain it. By reconceptualizing houses as architects of our brains, architecture becomes an independent variable embedding what the brain needs rather than embodying what the brain wants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental enrichment combined with the glycine transporter-1 inhibitor Org24598 (EE+ORG) during cocaine-cue extinction (EXT) inhibited reacquisition of 1.0mg/kg cocaine self-administration in male but not female rats in a previous investigation. In this investigation, we determined if this treatment benefit in males required EXT training and ascertained the molecular basis for the observed sex difference in treatment efficacy. Nine groups of male rats trained to self- administer 1.0 mg/kg cocaine or receiving yoked-saline underwent EXT or NoEXT with or without EE and/or ORG. Next, they underwent reacquisition of cocaine self-administration or were sacrificed for molecular analysis of 9 protein targets indicative of neuroplasticity in four brain regions. Two groups of female rats trained to self-administer 1.0 mg/kg cocaine also underwent EXT with or without EE + ORG and were sacrificed for molecular analysis, as above. EE + ORG facilitated the rate of EXT learning in both sexes, and importantly, the therapeutic benefit of EE + ORG for inhibiting cocaine relapse required EXT training. Males were more sensitive than females to neuroplasticity-inducing effects of EE + ORG, which prevented reductions in total GluA1 and PSD95 proteins selectively in basolateral amygdala of male rats trained to self-administer cocaine and receiving EXT. Females were deficient in expression of multiple protein targets, especially after EE + ORG. These included total GluA1 and PSD95 proteins in basolateral amygdala, and total TrkB protein in basolateral amygdala, dorsal hippocampus, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Together, these results support the clinical view that sex-specific pharmacological and behavioral treatment approaches may be needed during cue exposure therapy to inhibit cocaine relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The behaviours and needs of nocturnal animals can be overlooked by humans, potentially because of our poor night vision and diurnal waking hours. Despite certain challenges in studying many nocturnal animals, appropriate provisions for their welfare should be supported in both wild and managed environments. To investigate this issue and explore ways to offer technology-enhanced welfare, husbandry practices and enrichment opportunities for nocturnal species, we conducted a multidisciplinary workshop (Moon Jam). During the event, species experts provided animal welfare briefs that related to specific challenges for nocturnal animals in different contexts. Teams of participants addressed these challenges in collaborative design sessions, producing a collection of hand-crafted models to share their ideas. An important aspect of the workshop was to be inclusive of all the stakeholders involved, including zoo management teams, animal stewards and zoo visitors, as well as the individual species. In this paper, we present our reflections on managed nocturnal animal welfare, framing these within current practices and Moon Jam workshop outputs. We contribute a set of guidelines for those involved with caring for zoo-housed nocturnal species, emphasizing the provision of technology-enhanced husbandry and enrichment opportunities. This paper addresses the potential for technology to support husbandry and enrichment opportunities that enhance the welfare of zoo and sanctuary-housed nocturnal and crepuscular species. This topic was investigated through the medium of a multidisciplinary workshop (Moon Jam) that brought together species experts, zoo designers, Animal-Computer Interaction researchers and post-graduate students in collaborative discussions and design sessions. We explain the context through an examination of existing research and current practices, and report on specific challenges raised and addressed during the Moon Jam, highlighting and discussing key themes that emerged. Finally, we offer a set of guidelines to support the integration of technology into the design of animal husbandry and enrichment that support wellbeing, to advance the best practices in keeping and managing nocturnal and crepuscular animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Rabbit meat is consumed in both developing and developed countries. Intensive animal housing systems often subject animals to challenging environmental conditions, resulting in behavioral changes and the activation of stress responses at the neurological and hormonal levels, adversely affecting their health and productivity. Environmental enrichment strategies aim to mitigate these impacts by facilitating animals' adaptation to their farming environment, thereby reducing stress. This review comprehensively examines the efficacy of various environmental enrichments, whether implemented individually or in combination, in enhancing the welfare and performance of rabbits within intensive farming settings. Furthermore, this review discusses future developments and the integration of precision rabbit farming approaches aimed at further improving animal welfare. Rabbits are highly susceptible to environmental stress. Such stress, stemming from conventional housing conditions, can negatively impact well-being and productivity. Some of these negative consequences are increased susceptibility to diseases and infections and reduced growth rates and reproductive performance, as well as increased behavioral issues such as aggression. Environmental enrichment is the modification of the environment in which a domesticated animal lives in order to meet the species' behavioral needs. The objective of providing enrichment is to facilitate animals in expressing natural behaviors, thereby preventing behavioral frustration and negative affective states. Several inexpensive and safe materials can be used to enrich rabbit enclosures. This review emphasizes the significance of implementing diverse environmental enrichments to alleviate stress in rabbit farming. It summarizes their effects on animal performance and welfare while exploring potential future perspectives in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensification of swine production can predispose pigs to chronic stress, with adverse effects on the neuroendocrine and immune systems that can lead to health problems, poor welfare, and reduced production performance. Consequently, there is an interest in developing tools to prevent or eliminate chronic stress. Music is widely used as a therapeutic strategy for stress management in humans and may have similar benefits in non-human animals. This study evaluated the effects of a music-based auditory enrichment program in pigs from a multidimensional perspective by assessing psychophysiological responses. Two experimental groups of 20 pigs each were selected for the study: one enriched, exposed to a program of functional veterinary music designed for pigs, and a control group without auditory stimulation. Qualitative behavior assessment (QBA) and skin lesions indicative of agonistic behavior were used to evaluate the psychological determinants underlying the observed behaviors. Physiological assessment included hemograms, with the determination of the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio and daily measurements of cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase levels. The results demonstrated a positive effect of a music-based auditory program on psychophysiological responses. Therefore, this strategy developed for environmental enrichment may be beneficial in reducing stress and contributing to the welfare and health of pigs under production conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male Zucker Diabetic Sprague Dawley rats were housed in standard individually ventilated cages with floor area of 1500 cm2, and were placed in a 'playcage' (a large open cage) for three visits per week from the age of 16–18 weeks. The playcage was introduced in an attempt to reverse the compulsive behaviour that the rats displayed in the individually ventilated cages, with the purpose to increase their well-being and to provide cognitive as well as physical stimulation. After two weeks of periodic stays in the playcage, the rats' repetitive behaviour in their home cage ceased, and the rats displayed signs of happiness and excitement when they were in the playcage. The observations strongly indicate that periodic stays in a larger playcage can be an alternative environmental enrichment for laboratory rats when housing in a larger home cage is not an option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Environmental stressors refer to the various factors in the surrounding environment that impose serious threats to animal welfare and production. They can increase susceptibility to behavioral issues and infections, as well as reduce growth rates and reproductive performance. Conventional housing systems represent one of the critical environmental stressors that have a significant negative impact on rabbits' well-being and productivity. Therefore, enriching rabbit cages helps to reduce stress and promote natural behaviors, enhancing the health and productivity of rabbits. Environmental enrichment is about improving the surroundings in which your animal lives by providing opportunities to express behavioral activity normally, which in turn has a great impact on the animal's welfare and productivity. The aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of using different enrichment cage tools (a rubber floor, plastic-colored balls, and a mirror) on rabbits' physiology, productivity, carcass quality, behavior, and welfare. A total of 84 weaned rabbits (V-line) were randomly and equally assigned to 4 groups, each with 7 replicates (3 rabbits/replicate). The 1st rabbit group (T1) served as a control, while the 2nd group (T2) was enriched with rubber floors. The 3rd group (T3) was enriched with plastic-colored balls, and the 4th group (T4) was enriched with mirrors. Productive traits, including the weekly body weight and feed intake, as well as the carcass characteristics, were measured. Hematological parameters and biochemical constituents were determined according to the reference's description. Furthermore, behavioral activities, such as walking, resting, feeding, and drinking, were observed. According to the results, enriching the rabbit cages with plastic-colored balls and mirrors improved the marketing body weight and feed conversion rate. It also improved carcass quality characteristics, such as the carcass weight and dressing percentage. The T3 and T4 rabbits had higher RBCS, Hb, and hematocrit levels as well as lower WBCS levels. They also had significantly higher total protein, globulin, glucose, AST, and IgG values than other treatments. In addition, they had significantly lower corticosterone levels and fear responses. Therefore, it is recommended to use plastic-colored balls and mirrors for rabbit farming for better productivity, behavior, and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many species exhibit aggressive behaviors, and the intensity of aggression can be modulated by different factors. For instance, the neurotransmitter serotonin is negatively correlated with aggression, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are drugs used to increase the extracellular serotonin levels by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin into presynaptic neurons, leading to decreased aggression. Also, environmental enrichment--when an animal is placed in an artificial habitat that tries to mimic its natural habitat--has been shown to decrease aggression in captive animals. However, research on the interaction of factors that regulate aggression are not completely known and, specifically, the relationship between serotonin and environmental enrichment is not completely understood. The purpose of the experiment was to determine if environmental enrichment and SSRIs will decrease aggressive behaviors more so than each factor alone. It was hypothesized that male Betta fish (Betta splendens) exposed to SSRIs and held in enriched environments will show lower levels of aggression compared with controls, SSRIs alone, or enriched environments alone. The results revealed that SSRIs decrease aggressive behaviors, but environmental enrichment was not a significant predictor of aggressive behaviors. Likewise, the interaction between the SSRIs and environmental enrichment was not a significant predictor of aggressive behaviors. Therefore, our study supports previous studies that found SSRIs decrease aggression but also suggests that environmental enrichment either does not affect aggression in Betta fish or that our operationalization of environmental enrichment was not sufficient to change aggressive behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise has been recognized as a beneficial factor for cognitive health, particularly in relation to the hippocampus, a vital brain region responsible for learning and memory. Previous research has demonstrated that exercise-mediated improvement of learning and memory in humans and rodents correlates with increased adult neurogenesis and processes related to enhanced synaptic plasticity. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. With the aim to further elucidate these mechanisms, we provide a comprehensive dataset of the mouse hippocampal transcriptome at the single-cell level after 4 weeks of voluntary wheel-running. Our analysis provides a number of interesting observations. For example, the results suggest that exercise affects adult neurogenesis by accelerating the maturation of a subpopulation of Prdm16-expressing neurons. Moreover, we uncover the existence of an intricate crosstalk among multiple vital signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and retinoic acid (RA) pathways altered upon exercise in a specific cluster of excitatory neurons within the Cornu Ammonis (CA) region of the hippocampus. In conclusion, our study provides an important resource dataset and sheds further light on the molecular changes induced by exercise in the hippocampus. These findings have implications for developing targeted interventions aimed at optimizing cognitive health and preventing age-related cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses non-invasive sampling methods for genotyping in research involving genetically modified mice, aligning with the 4R principle of animal welfare. The study focuses on using oral swabs and hair samples as alternatives to invasive biopsies, showcasing benefits such as decreased risk of cross-contamination, large-scale automated workflow, and faster turnaround times. The research demonstrates the efficacy of non-invasive methods for genotyping, providing a more humane and efficient approach in line with European regulations and animal welfare guidelines. [Extracted from the article]

Restricted, repetitive behaviors are common symptoms in neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder. Despite being associated with poor developmental outcomes, repetitive behaviors remain poorly understood and have limited treatment options. Environmental enrichment attenuates the development of repetitive behaviors, but the exact mechanisms remain obscure. Using the C58 mouse model of repetitive behavior, we performed diffusion tensor imaging to examine microstructural alterations associated with the development of repetitive behavior and its attenuation by environmental enrichment. The C57BL/6 mouse strain, which displays little or no repetitive behavior, was used as a control group. We observed widespread differences in diffusion metrics between C58 mice and C57BL/6 mice. In juvenile C58 mice, repetitive motor behavior displayed strong negative correlations with fractional anisotropy in multiple gray matter regions, whereas in young adult C58 mice, high repetitive motor behavior was most strongly associated with lower fractional anisotropy and higher radial diffusivity in the striatum. Environmental enrichment increased fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity throughout gray matter regions in the brains of juvenile C58 mice and overlapped predominantly with cerebellar and sensory regions associated with repetitive behavior. Our results suggest environmental enrichment reduces repetitive behavior development by altering gray matter microstructure in the cerebellum, medial entorhinal cortex, and sensory processing regions in juvenile C58 mice. Under standard laboratory conditions, early pathology in these regions appears to contribute to later striatal and white matter dysfunction in adult C58 mice. Future studies should examine the role these regions play in the development of repetitive behavior and the relationship between sensory processing and cerebellar deficits and repetitive behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult neurogenesis is a unique form of neuronal plasticity in which newly generated neurons are integrated into the adult dentate gyrus in a process that is modulated by environmental stimuli. Adult-born neurons can contribute to spatial memory, but it is unknown whether they alter neural representations of space in the hippocampus. Using in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, we find that male and female mice previously housed in an enriched environment, which triggers an increase in neurogenesis, have increased spatial information encoding in the dentate gyrus. Ablating adult neurogenesis blocks the effect of enrichment and lowers spatial information, as does the chemogenetic silencing of adult-born neurons. Both ablating neurogenesis and silencing adult-born neurons decreases the calcium activity of dentate gyrus neurons, resulting in a decreased amplitude of place-specific responses. These findings are in contrast with previous studies that suggested a predominantly inhibitory action for adult-born neurons. We propose that adult neurogenesis improves representations of space by increasing the gain of dentate gyrus neurons and thereby improving their ability to tune to spatial features. This mechanism may mediate the beneficial effects of environmental enrichment on spatial learning and memory. Adult neurogenesis is a unique form of neuronal plasticity, involving the genesis and integration of newborn neurons into the mouse dentate gyrus. Here the authors demonstrate that adult neurogenesis improves representations of space in the dentate gyrus by increasing the place-specific responses of mature neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two-hit model of schizophrenia-induced hippocampal Slc6a4 promoter methylation. • EE over 50 days alleviated sensorimotor gating deficits and working memory impairments in mice exposed to the two-hit. • EE normalized hippocampal Iba-1 expression induced by the two-hit model pointing to a reduction in microglial activation. • Hippocampal Slc6a4 promoter demethylation was observed in two-hit animals subjected to EE. Here, we explored the impact of prolonged environmental enrichment (EE) on behavioral, neurochemical, and epigenetic changes in the serotonin transporter gene in mice subjected to a two-hit schizophrenia model. The methodology involved administering the viral mimetic PolyI:C to neonatal Swiss mice as a first hit during postnatal days (PND) 5–7, or a sterile saline solution as a control. At PND21, mice were randomly assigned either to standard environment (SE) or EE housing conditions. Between PND35-44, the PolyI:C-treated group was submitted to various unpredictable stressors, constituting the second hit. Behavioral assessments were conducted on PND70, immediately after the final EE exposure. Following the completion of behavioral assessments, we evaluated the expression of proteins in the hippocampus that are indicative of microglial activation, such as Iba-1, as well as related to neurogenesis, including doublecortin (Dcx). We also performed methylation analysis on the serotonin transporter gene (Slc6a4) to investigate alterations in serotonin signaling. The findings revealed that EE for 50 days mitigated sensorimotor gating deficits and working memory impairments in two-hit mice and enhanced their locomotor and exploratory behaviors. EE also normalized the overexpression of hippocampal Iba-1 and increased the expression of hippocampal Dcx. Additionally, we observed hippocampal demethylation of the Slc6a4 gene in the EE-exposed two-hit group, indicating epigenetic reprogramming. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the protective effects of long-term EE in counteracting behavioral disruptions caused by the two-hit schizophrenia model, pointing to enhanced neurogenesis, diminished microglial activation, and epigenetic modifications of serotonergic pathways as underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Similar to humans, dogs could suffer a syndrome similar to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Several studies suggest that dogs can serve as a model for studying ADHD. This condition leads to behavioral issues like impulsivity, attention problems, hyperactivity, and sometimes aggression, affecting both the dog's and their caregiver's quality of life. ADHD-like behavior in dogs is linked to disruptions in neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, similar to humans. It seems to result from a mix of genetics and environment. In addition to the mentioned symptoms, dogs with ADHD-like behavior may also display compulsive behaviors, aggression, inappropriate elimination, fearfulness, epilepsy, foreign body ingestion, and itchiness. While there is no clear veterinary diagnosis for ADHD-like behavior in dogs, validated questionnaires can be helpful, but these cannot be used as a unique diagnostic tool. Treatment may involve medications like fluoxetine, along with environmental enrichment, relaxation techniques, and behavior modification to improve the dog's and caregiver's quality of life. Similar to humans, dogs could suffer an Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-like syndrome (ADHD-like). In fact, several studies highlight the use of dogs as a model for studying ADHD. This condition entails behavioral problems expressed through impulsivity, attention issues, hyperactivity, and/or aggression, compromising the quality of life for both the caregiver and the dog. The pathophysiology of ADHD-like is complex and is associated with dysregulation of various neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. The expression of ADHD-like behavior in dogs would appear to depend on a classical gene–environment interaction as is the case with many neurological disorders in humans. In addition to the described symptomatology, ADHD-like dogs can exhibit strong comorbidities with compulsive behaviors, aggressiveness, inappropriate elimination and fearfulness, in addition to epilepsy, foreign body ingestion, and pruritus. In spite of the fact that there is no veterinary consensus about the diagnosis of ADHD-like, some validated questionnaires could be helpful, but these cannot be used as a unique diagnostic tool. The use of drugs, such as fluoxetine, in addition to an adequate environmental enrichment, relaxation protocols, and behavior modification can achieve an adequate quality of life for both the dog and caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Environmental Enrichment (EE) has been widely studied in animal models. However, the application of the same in humans is limited to rehabilitation settings. To investigate the feasibility of a community-based EE paradigm in adults with brain injury. Six individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury enrolled in the study. The Go Baby Go Café instrumented with a body weight harness system, provided physical and social enrichment as participants performed functional tasks for 2 hours, three times a week, for 2 months. Feasibility and safety outcomes were recorded throughout sessions. Clinical measures including 10-meter walk, timed up and go, jebsen hand function, 6-minute walk, and trail making tests were obtained pre and post intervention. All participants completed the study. The attendance was 100% and adherence was 87%. Positive changes in clinical measures were statistically significant for the timed up and go (p = 0.0175), TUG-cognitive (p = 0.0064), 10-meter walk (p = 0.0428), six-minute walk (p = 0.0196), TMT-A (p = 0.034). Changes in JHFT were not significant (p = 0.0506), with one subject recording values counter to the trend. The Café was a comprehensive EE-based intervention that was feasible, safe, and has the potential to enhance motor and cognitive function in individuals with brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]