Technical note Communication: Frequency of cage changing and weight gain in rats

Abstract

We have studied the influence of the frequency of cage changing on body weight gain in young female rats over a 2-week period. Rats were subjected to either true or sham cage changing so as to balance for possible effects of handling. Cage changing once every day or once every three days caused significantly lower rates of weight gain in the first but not second week of study than did cage changing once every 14 days. It is suggested tentatively that stress associated with cage changing is responsible for the observed growth inhibiting effect.