The AD unit can used as an operant chamber for mice, as well as for other studies. The LT unit will be useful for open field and novel object studies.
Zantiks AD - mouse exploring 5-choice chamber
Mouse
Mice are used for research modelling human behaviour under physiological and pathological conditions, for screening therapeutic agents and for toxicology studies.
Many features at the anatomical, cellular and molecular level are common to mouse and humans. The mouse also shares with humans brain functions, such as anxiety, hunger, circadian rhythm, aggression, memory, sexual behaviour and other emotional responses. In addition, more than 90% of the mouse and human genes are syntenic and nearly 99% of human genes have mouse equivalents.
Zantiks units can be used for various behavioural studies in mice.
Operant conditioning - In the words of B.F. Skinner (who originally proposed this theory, 1938), this a process that attempts to modify behavior through the use of positive and negative reinforcement. Through operant conditioning, an individual makes an association between a particular behaviour and a consequence.
Novel object recognition - Novel object recognition is a common behavioural assay used to assess learning and memory function.
Passive avoidance - An assay for emotional learning and memory function.
Open field - The open field test can be performed to record general motor activity, exploratory behaviour and measures of anxiety without the experimenter being present in the testing arena. Movements are recorded during exploration of the test area while distance travelled and active times provide measures of motor activity. Anxiety measures can be evaluated in the open field where mice will seek protection around the periphery of the arena, rather than the relatively more vulnerable centre space. Less anxious mice will have a higher propensity to spend more time in the centre.
References
Tecott L. H. The genes and brains of mice and men. Am. J. Psychiatry. 2003;160:646–656.
Wilson R. C., Vacek T., Lanier D. L., Dewsbury D. A. Open-field behavior in muroid rodents. Behav. Biol. 1976;17:495–506.
Van Meer P, Raber J. Mouse behavioural analysis in systems biology. Biochem J. 2005;389:593–610. doi: 10.1042/BJ20042023.
Tremml P., Lipp H. P., Muller U., Ricceri L., Wolfer D. P. Neurobehavioral development, adult openfield exploration and swimming navigation learning in mice with a modified beta-amyloid precursor protein gene. Behav. Brain Res. 1998;95:65–76.
Ennaceur A., Aggleton J. P. The effects of neurotoxic lesions of the perirhinal cortex combined to fornix transection on object recognition memory in the rat. Behav. Brain Res. 1997;88:181–193.
Hall M. E., Mayer M. A. Effects of alpha methyl-para-tyrosine on the recall of a passive avoidance response. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 1975;3:579–582.
