Table 2.
Time points for the assessment of the preference behavior (‘rat index’) in the preference cages. The analyses of preference behavior started with weaning, when the rats were placed in the new fresh preference cage. The rats were videotaped four times a week, except for Week 1 (no ‘dirty’ condition) and Week 6 (no ‘clean’ condition). n = 1 cage per sex (with 6 rats in each cage).
| Week | Age of Rats | Day in Week | Time | Bedding Type Upper Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Day 28 | day of weaning, fresh cage | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | corncob | clean/light |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | corncob | clean/dark | |||
| 2 | Day 34 | 1 day before cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | corncob | dirty/light |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | corncob | dirty/dark | |||
| Day 35 | at day of cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | spelt | clean/light | |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | spelt | clean/dark | |||
| 3 | Day 41 | 1 day before cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | spelt | dirty/light |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | spelt | dirty/dark | |||
| Day 42 | at day of cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | corncob | clean/light | |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | corncob | clean/dark | |||
| 4 | Day 48 | 1 day before cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | corncob | dirty/light |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | corncob | dirty/dark | |||
| Day 49 | at day of cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | spelt | clean/light | |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | spelt | clean/dark | |||
| 5 | Day 55 | 1 day before cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | spelt | dirty/light |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | spelt | dirty/dark | |||
| Day 56 | at day of cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | corncob | clean/light | |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | corncob | clean/dark | |||
| 6 | Day 62 | 1 day before cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | corncob | dirty/light |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | corncob | dirty/dark | |||
| Day 63 | at day of cage cleaning | 7 a.m.–8 a.m. | spelt | clean/light | |
| 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | spelt | clean/dark |