Bakker J, van Ophemert J, Eijskoot F, Slob A K
Department of Endocrinology and Reproduction, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Physiol Behav. 1994 Sep;56(3):597-601. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(94)90307-7.
A semiautomated three-compartment box (3CB) for studying partner preference behavior of rats is described. This apparatus automatically records the rat's time spent in each compartment, as well as the locomotor activity (i.e., the number of visits an animal pays to each compartment). Software was developed for calculating partner preference scores. Behavioral testing in the semiautomated 3CB, which is a modification of an earlier version, is less time consuming and less laborious. Three 3CBs can be observed simultaneously by two trained observers, and the behavioral interactions of three experimental animals with the stimulus animals can be observed and scored by hand. The use of the new apparatus was validated by studying adult partner preference behavior of neonatally ATD-treated male rats. The collected data fully corroborate previous results, obtained in the earlier version of the 3CB, again revealing the behavioral bisexual nature of these ATD males. A new finding was the much higher locomotor activity of the ATD males compared to controls.
本文描述了一种用于研究大鼠伙伴偏好行为的半自动三室箱（3CB）。该装置可自动记录大鼠在每个隔室中花费的时间以及运动活动（即动物对每个隔室的访问次数）。开发了用于计算伙伴偏好分数的软件。半自动3CB是早期版本的改进型，其行为测试耗时更少且费力程度更低。两名经过训练的观察者可同时观察三个3CB，并且可以手动观察和记录三只实验动物与刺激动物之间的行为互动并进行评分。通过研究新生期经ATD处理的雄性大鼠的成年伙伴偏好行为，验证了新装置的用途。收集的数据充分证实了在早期版本的3CB中获得的先前结果，再次揭示了这些ATD雄性大鼠行为上的双性恋特性。一个新发现是，与对照组相比，ATD雄性大鼠的运动活动要高得多。
