Impact of cage density on body weight, organ mass, cortisol concentration, and blood metabolites in Wistar albino rats

Cage density & gender effects in Wistar rats

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of different cage density and gender on growth performance, live weight gain, organ weight, cortisol concentration, and some biochemical parameters in growing Wistar rats. Twenty four, 6 weeks old rats (12 males, 12 females) were followed up to 15 weeks of age. The male and female control groups (MC and FC) were kept in cages at normal density, while the high cage density groups (MHD and FHD) were housed in cages at twice the density. Blood was collected and organs were weighed at 15 weeks of age. Live weight was significantly affected by both cage density and gender in male and female rats. Live weight was 7% lower in the MHD group than in the MC group in males and 9.5% lower in females. Heart, spleen, and total intestinal weights were lower in the MHD group than in the MC group in males. Serum cortisol, glucose, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total protein concentrations were different between both MC and MHD and FC and FHD. Serum low-density lipoprotein and albumin concentrations were higher in MHD than in MC. In conclusion, high cage density negatively affects live weight, organ weights, and some biochemical parameters in growing Wistar rats