New photocell based behavioral observation boxes specially
designed for mice
A. Rasti1, R. Isacson2, J. Samuelsson3 and V. Hillegaart2
1Section of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Department
of Integrated Pharmacology, Biovitrum AB, Stockholm, Sweden
2Section of Pharmacology,epartment of Integrated Pharmacology,
Biovitrum AB, Stockholm, Sweden.
3Kungsbacka Mät -& Reglerteknik AB, Fjärås, Sweden
This new relatively large open-field photocell-equipped behavioral
activity box for mice is under evaluation both for established compounds
as well as for compounds in the evaluation process for the development
of new drugs. Both normal and genetic modi.ed animals with or without
drug treatment can easily be tested for motor deficits in this behavioral
equipment.
Motor activity is observed in a relative large but place optimal, open
field. An inner box (500 x 500 x 250 mm) is placed in a larger ventilated,
sound-attenuated box (700 x 700 x 350 mm), with a light bulb placed in
the middle of the lid for the possibility of measurements in the dark
or at luminosity (15W). The inner box is equipped with two rows of photocells
(placed 25 mm and 60 mm above the floor respectively), measuring horizontal
and vertical activity. The photocells are spaced 42 mm apart and the last
photocell in a row is spaced 20 mm from the wall (16 x 16 photocells at
each level). Information from each photocell is individually transferred
into a personal computer, and the measurements are later used to analyze
total motor activity, peripheral activity, forward locomotion, rearing
activity (total and in the periphery), and speed of movements. The equipment
has been evaluated by studying the effects of some psychoactive compounds
as well as compounds related to the research area of obesity. Comparisons
have been made between adult male C57/BL6 mice (25-30 g) and ob/ob mice
(35-45 g). Compounds used were d-amphetamine, d-fenfluramine, Sibutramine,
Rimonabant, m-CPP, Ro 04-6790 and BVT.5182.
The paper will include a detail description of the behavioral equipment
and various
possibilities to collect the data as well as possibilities for illustrating
different behavioral
patterns in a three dimensional way.
Paper presented
at Measuring Behavior 2005
, 5th International Conference on Methods and Techniques
in Behavioral Research, 30 August - 2 September 2005, Wageningen, The
Netherlands.
© 2005 Noldus
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