Table 2 Significant effects (after correction for multiple comparison) for all 26 dependent variables in C57BL/6 (C), BALB/c (B), and DBA/2(D) females. All trend effects of Cage Type, i.e. whether housed in single- or mixed-strain trios, are shown in italics even though not significant after the correction. For interactions, effect directions are based on Tukey’s tests for each dependent*independent variable. Denominator degrees of freedom vary as a result of the REML procedure and some sample loss
Dependent Variable | Independent Variable | F-value | p-value | Direction of Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal Activity | Enrichment | F1,110 = 27.5 | 0.0001 | Higher if enriched |
Stereotypic Behaviour | Enrichment | F1,115 = 127.8 | 0.0001 | Lower if enriched |
Growth | Enrichment | F1,143 = 14.8 | 0.0001 | Higher if enriched |
Mean Corpuscular Volume | Enrichment | F1,137 = 20.7 | 0.0001 | EH higher |
Normal Activity | Strain | F2,110 = 10.37 | 0.0001 | C = B > D |
Stereotypic Behaviour | Strain | F2,115 = 9.04 | 0.0002 | D = B > C |
Novel Object Latency | Strain | F2,161 = 84.0 | 0.0001 | C > B > D |
Startle Response | Strain | F2,177 = 18.1 | 0.0001 | B > C > D |
Forced Swim Test – Duration of Floating | Strain | F2,159 = 144.6 | 0.0001 | B > C > D |
Forced Swim Test – Latency to Begin Floating | Strain | F2,164 = 86.0 | 0.0001 | D > C = B |
Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites | Strain | F2,99 = 57.6 | 0.0001 | B > D > C |
Spleen Weight | Strain | F2,156 = 35.3 | 0.0001 | B > C = D |
Growth | Strain | F2,143 = 21.5 | 0.0003 | C > D > B |
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin/Erythrocyte | Strain | F2,146 = 41.4 | 0.0001 | B > C > D |
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration | Strain | F2,150 = 20.7 | 0.0001 | B > D = C |
Mean Corpuscular Volume | Strain | F2,137 = 109.6 | 0.0001 | C > B > D |
Mean Platelet Volume | Strain | F2,116 = 20.4 | 0.0001 | B = D > C |
Absolute Neutrophil Count | Strain | F2,163 = 11.8 | 0.0001 | C > B = D |
Platelet Count | Strain | F2,123 = 11.1 | 0.0001 | C > D = B |
Red Blood Cell Distribution Width | Strain | F2,120 = 237.1 | 0.0001 | D > B > C |
Inactivity | Strain*Enrichment | F2,105 = 13.6 | 0.0001 | Only D more inactive in EE |
Growth | Cage Type | F 1,175   = 10.8 | 0.0012 | Mixed higher |
Forced Swim Test – Duration of Floating | Cage Type | F 1,159   = 4.36 | 0.039 | Mixed higher |
Forced Swim Test – Latency to Begin Floating | Cage Type*Enrichment | F 1,164   = 4.91 | 0.028 | Post hoc tests found no significant differences between any combination |
Absolute Neutrophil Count | Cage Type*Enrichment | F 1,163   = 4.02 | 0.047 | As above |
Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites | Cage Type*Strain | F 2,99   = 3.17 | 0.047 | Post hoc tests found no difference within strains. Between strain differences are reduced in B and D in mixed-strain cages |