Existence of wild brown rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) that are indifferent to novel objects
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- KOIZUMI Ryoko
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan Present address: Wildlife Damage Management Group, Central Region Agricultural Research Center, National Agricultural Food Research Organization, 2-1-18 Kannondaira, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8666, Japan
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- KIYOKAWA Yasushi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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- TANAKA Kazuyuki D.
- Technical Research Laboratory, Ikari Shodoku Corporation, 1-12-3 Akanehama, Narashino-shi, Chiba 275-0024, Japan
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- KIMURA Goro
- Technical Research Laboratory, Ikari Shodoku Corporation, 1-12-3 Akanehama, Narashino-shi, Chiba 275-0024, Japan
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- TANIKAWA Tsutomu
- Technical Research Laboratory, Ikari Shodoku Corporation, 1-12-3 Akanehama, Narashino-shi, Chiba 275-0024, Japan
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- TAKEUCHI Yukari
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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Description
<p>Exposure to novel objects typically evokes avoidance behavior in wild animals, which is called neophobia. We previously found that wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) that were trapped in a park in downtown Tokyo, Japan, exhibited neophobia. We also found that this behavior was accompanied by the activation of the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA). Previous studies have suggested that genetic factors are the primary determinants of neophobia. Since rats in cities form populations with distinct genetic characteristics, it is reasonable to assume that wild rats caught at different locations in urban centers will exhibit different levels of neophobia. Here we assessed the intensity of neophobia in wild rats trapped at a wholesale market in Tokyo. Although we performed exactly the same experiment in which neophobia was observed in wild rats trapped at the park, the presence of novel objects did not affect the behaviors of wild rats trapped at the market. Conversely, laboratory rats showed approach and exploratory behaviors as seen in the previous study, suggesting that the experiment was performed appropriately. Compared to the laboratory rats, the lack of behavioral changes in the wild rats was accompanied by fewer Fos immunoreactive cells in the BLA. In addition, the numbers of Fos immunoreactive cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and ventromedial hypothalamus were similar between the two types of rats. The results demonstrated the existence of wild rats that were indifferent to novel objects.</p>
Journal
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- Journal of Veterinary Medical Science
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Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 83 (1), 78-83, 2021
JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE
