Scariot Pedro Paulo Menezes, Dos Reis Ivan Gustavo Masselli, Monteiro Walter Aparecido Pimentel, Dos Reis Maria Clara, Bertolucci Vanessa, Manchado-Gobatto Fulvia Barros, Gobatto Claudio Alexandre, Messias Leonardo Henrique Dalcheco
Research Group on Technology Applied to Exercise Physiology-GTAFE, Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, São Francisco University (USF), Bragança Paulista 12916-900, SP, Brazil.
Laboratory of Applied Sport Physiology, School of Applied Sciences, University of Campinas, (FCA/UNICAMP), Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil.
Sensors (Basel). 2025 May 23;25(11):3290. doi: 10.3390/s25113290.
: Weight-based methods can be cost-effective and practical for measuring spontaneous physical activity (SPA) in laboratory animals, but their adoption and exploration of analyses remain limited. : We demonstrate the construction of a balance using accessible components (iron plates and open-source Arduino electronics) and provide detailed instructions to enable others to build their own systems. Additionally, we propose new analytical strategies, such as using the Mean of Weight Changes (MWC), assessing the dispersion of weight changes, and classifying SPA into domains, to enhance data interpretation. The construction of the weighing balance using accessible components proved to be feasible, and the balance demonstrated sensitivity in distinguishing high SPA under experimental conditions known to modulate it (dark/light phases and small vs. large cages). Regarding the analyses, we were able to confirm that MWC analysis is a valid measure of SPA. Furthermore, the coefficient of variation in weight changes could be used as a complementary analysis to MWC. The proposed SPA domains also proved to be valid, as they aligned with the understanding that rodents spend a greater proportion of time in the higher SPA domains during the dark phase, while lower SPA domains predominate during the light phase. : Our findings reinforce the robustness and validity of our weighing balance, designed using a low-cost setup based on iron plates and open-source Arduino electronics.
基于体重的方法对于测量实验动物的自发身体活动（SPA）具有成本效益且实用，但它们在分析方法的采用和探索方面仍然有限。我们展示了一种使用易于获取的组件（铁板和开源Arduino电子元件）构建天平的方法，并提供详细说明以使其他人能够构建自己的系统。此外，我们提出了新的分析策略，例如使用体重变化均值（MWC）、评估体重变化的离散度以及将SPA分类到不同领域，以增强数据解读。使用易于获取的组件构建天平被证明是可行的，并且该天平在已知可调节SPA的实验条件下（明暗周期以及小笼与大笼）能够灵敏地区分高SPA情况。关于分析，我们能够确认MWC分析是SPA的有效测量方法。此外，体重变化的变异系数可以用作MWC的补充分析。所提出的SPA领域也被证明是有效的，因为它们与啮齿动物在黑暗阶段在较高SPA领域花费更多时间，而在光照阶段较低SPA领域占主导的认识相符。我们的研究结果强化了我们使用基于铁板和开源Arduino电子元件的低成本设置设计的天平的稳健性和有效性。
