>Rick Froman >Wed, 29 Jun 2005 13:58:58 -0700 > >Has anyone heard of this study that one of my students is trying to locate? Any >help is appreciated. > >Dr. Rick Froman >_______________________________ >Many years ago I heard of a research project on rats and obesity. One >confounding factor later learned by the researchers was one group of rats did >not gain weight because the student feeding them kindly stroked the rat during >their feeding. Have you heard of this research study? If so, or not, how >would I search for it? Thanks!
I haven't heard of such a study but I do admit to having engaged in animal behavior-type stuff as a grad student who was required to teach/supervise many sections of "rat lab". I did a quick PsycInfo search for rats, obesity/weight gain, and "handling". The following articles were provided and though not directly on point, they do provide some info on the role of handling and weight gain. -Mike Palij New York University [EMAIL PROTECTED] Author Denenberg, Victor H; Karas, George G. Title Interactive effects of infantile and adult experiences upon weight gain and mortality in the rat. Source Journal of Comparative & Physiological Psychology. 54 1961, 685-689. John Wiley & Sons, US Abstract The effects of infantile handling and adult avoidance training upon body weight and susceptibility to starvation were studied. Handling in the first 20 days of life led to lower weight at 21 days of age; weight at 69 days was a complex function of amount of handling and adult experience. Avoidance learning reduced survival time, but to a lesser extent for rats which had been handled in infancy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved) Author Ehrlich, Annette. Title Note on the effects of differential rearing conditions on weight gain in the hooded rat. Source Canadian Journal of Psychology. 15 1961, 244-246. Canadian Psychological Assn, Canada Abstract The effects of free vs. restricted rearing environments and handling vs. nonhandling, between the ages of 3 and 10 weeks, were determined for hooded rats. Restricted rats weighed significantly more than free- environment rats, and the difference was still apparent 5 weeks after the animals had been removed from the rearing environments. Handling did not affect weight gain. From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4EC44E. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved) Author Newton, G; Bly, CG; McCrary, C. Title Cage dimension, handling, and weight gain. Source Psychological Reports. 6 1960, 355-357. Psychological Reports, US Abstract "A variance analysis of body weight in four groups of rats (N = 108) revealed a significant interaction between the effects of early handling and the housing factor. Rats in small, rectangular cages gained more weight as a result of handling than did rats in large, cylindrical cages. Studies are cited showing that body weight does not correlate with handling-produced changes in other response categories. Methodological inconsistencies may account for inter-experimenter disagreement regarding handling effects on weight gain and emotionality." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved) Author Doyle, GA; Yule, EPratt. Title Early experience and emotionality: II. The effects of handling and gentling on the offspring of emotional albino rats. Source Journal of Social Research (Pretoria). 10 1959, 67-77. Abstract "The subjects of the experiment were male offspring of females which had been submitted to anxiety-arousing experiences before and during pregnancy. Their activity was compared with that of two control sub-groups of the same age which had been subjected to identical handling treatment but whose mothers had not been subjected to anxiety-arousing treatment. Although the relationship between handling and weight gain for the control groups was in the expected direction, it was reversed in the case of the experimental group . . . . The difference in activity between the two experimental sub-groups was significant, but here the extra handled group was less active. It was concluded that the handling of 'emotional' infant rats exercised a significant effect on their emotionality, but in the direction contrary to expectation." (Dutch & English summaries) >From Psyc Abstracts 36:01:1EC67D. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved) Author McClelland, WJ. Title Differential handling and weight gain in the albino rat. Source Canadian Journal of Psychology. 10 1956, 19-22. Canadian Psychological Assn, Canada Abstract 5 groups of rats were matched for initial weight, and given differential handling between the ages of 21 and 42 days. Those animals which were stroked with the thumb while held and those stroked with a brush in a restraining box gained significantly more weight than the rats in the other 3 groups which had less systematic tactual stimulation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved) --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
