Ganea K, Liebl C, Sterlemann V, Müller M B, Schmidt M V
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, 80804 Munich, Germany.
J Neurosci Methods. 2007 May 15;162(1-2):180-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2007.01.008. Epub 2007 Jan 20.
Many behavioural tests in rodents are based on the premise that basal locomotor activity of the animals is similar between the tested groups. The measurement of basal home cage activity is therefore an essential parameter, that should be included in all studies which employ tests of anxiety or cognition. Currently available systems for the assessment of home cage locomotion are often complex and expensive. Here we describe and validate a novel, simple and cost-efficient apparatus for the assessment of basic home cage locomotor activity in rodents. Circadian dark-light activity patterns can be reliably obtained with the home cage activity counter. Furthermore, changes in locomotion induced by novelty or pharmacological treatment were reliably and sensitively detected by the apparatus. Thus, the here presented home cage activity counter can be used for the measurement of basal home cage locomotor activity.
受试组之间动物的基础运动活动相似。因此，基础笼内活动的测量是一个重要参数，应纳入所有采用焦虑或认知测试的研究中。目前用于评估笼内运动的系统通常复杂且昂贵。在此，我们描述并验证了一种用于评估啮齿动物基础笼内运动活动的新型、简单且经济高效的仪器。使用笼内活动计数器能够可靠地获取昼夜明暗活动模式。此外，该仪器能够可靠且灵敏地检测到由新奇事物或药物治疗引起的运动变化。因此，本文介绍的笼内活动计数器可用于测量基础笼内运动活动。
