作者希望感谢昭洋平野先生协助制作定制的设备。作者感谢高桥和宫本新吾先生的技术援助。这项工作得到了有关化学物质风险的研究, 卫生和实验室科学研究赠款, 卫生部, 劳工和福利部, 日本 (H25-KAGAKU-IPPANN-003) 和美国明治理工学院研究项目补助金大学, 日本。

本文所描述的所有实验程序均经明治大学机构动物护理和使用委员会 (IACUC 14-0002 (1)) 批准。在代表的结果中使用的动物如下: 从实验动物公司购买雄性大大鼠, 并在4只动物笼 (W200 x D410 x H250 mm) 的群中, 至少一周前开始行为实验。动物住房室保持在标准环境条件为光 (12:12 光/暗时间表以灯在 10:00 h), 室温 (25.0) 0.5 °c, 湿气 (55 @ 10%) 和透气 (10 次/小时), 并且动物有广告随意获得食物 (东方酵母有限公司, 东京, 日本) 和水。这些动物被保存在一个标准的鼠笼中 (W410 x D250 x H200 mm、Toyoriko 有限公司、日本爱知) 和纸床上用品 (阿尔法-直接还原, 汉莎 Corporatin, 东京, 日本)。
1. 高架 + 迷宫试验
<ol><li>在定制的容器 (W1,500 x D1,500 x H2,000 mm) (图 1A) 上设置高架 + 迷宫设备, 并在地板上方500毫米的加号形状的金属框架, 以支持运行方式武器 (图 1B), 在集装箱天花板照明将迷宫的表面照亮所需的光强度 (图 1C), 以及在中心天花板上的数字摄像机, 以启用行为测试的实时视频监控 (图 1C)。</li>
	<li>将臂 (L500 x W100 mm) 固定在加号形状的框架上, 然后将方形中央平台 (W100 x D100 mm) 固定在四臂的中心 (图 1D -F)。 注: 在我们的实验室中, 我们有两种类型的张开臂 (L500 x W100 毫米) 和两种类型的闭合臂 (L500 x W100 x H450 mm) (图 1D)。闭合的武器有透明或不透明的墙壁 (图 1D), 并且张开的胳膊设计有或不短的窗台 (H5 毫米,图 1E)。方形中央平台 (W100 x D100 mm) 放置在四臂的中心 (图 1D -F)。因此, 可以根据实验目的准备以下四种武器组合: 张开双臂, 用壁架 + 闭合的双臂, 透明的墙壁 (壁板/透明), 张开双臂与壁板 + 闭合的武器与不透明的墙壁 (壁板/不透明), 张开双臂没有壁板 + 闭合的胳膊与透明的墙壁 (没有壁板或透明), 并且张开的胳膊没有壁板 + 闭合的胳膊与不透明的墙壁 (无壁板或不透明)。手臂跑道的表面是黑色的, 以便通过自动行为分析软件更好地跟踪动物, 如2节中所述, 行为分析。</li>
	<li>将每个臂和中央平台的远端表面的光照强度调整到大约100莱克丝。</li>
	<li>每次测试前, 用70% 乙醇溶液清洗整个仪器, 用蒸馏水擦拭。</li>
	<li>单击硬盘录像机上的 "记录按钮" 以启动数字摄像机, 该摄像头将记录老鼠的行为, 为2节描述的视频成像分析, 行为分析。</li>
	<li>将一只动物放在中央平台上, 面对张开的手臂, 并允许在仪器上自由探索5分钟。</li>
	<li>单击硬盘录像机上的 "停止" 按钮以完成录制。</li>
	<li>将试验过的动物返回动物房后, 计算粪便和 urinations 的数量。</li>
	<li>从步骤1.4 重复, 直到实验结束。 注意: 在开始每个实验之前, 先进行一次干式测试, 以检查所有实验性的设置是否在实验动物暴露于实验条件之前进行了正确的设置。否则, 某些动物, 特别是第一只动物可能会经历不同的环境条件 (例如, 实验者在操作过程中可能诱发的噪音或/或可能由先前测试动物留下的动物线索)。 注意: 实验者在试验动物时靠近容器。因此, 即使实验者不可见, 老鼠仍然可以通过嗅觉和/或声音来感知它们。</li>
</ol>2. 行为分析
注意: 行为分析是通过人工观察和自动分析软件进行的。
<ol><li>
手动观察
	<ol>
<li>在将动物放置在窗台上后, 观察以下内容: 条目数 (当所有4只爪子都在手臂上时, 在手臂上的一项被定义为任何实例), 每只手臂上的时间, 以及面对张开臂的伸展参加的姿势数目。, 同时向关闭的手臂后退中央平台。</li>
		<li>用秒表测量上面定义的行为的持续时间和频率, 计数为5分钟, 从容器的门关闭开始。</li>
	</ol>
</li>
	<li>
自动化分析
	<ol>
<li>使用可用的软件程序, 记录以下内容: 距离, 在打开的手臂上的不同位置 (近, 中间, 和远端段从中央平台) 的时间, 和一分钟一分钟的时间分析花在开放和关闭武器。</li>
		<li>在手动观察开始时, 单击自动分析软件的 "开始" 按钮 (如果设置了记录持续时间, 录制将自动停止)。 注意: 本研究使用的行为分析软件通过与背景场的对比跟踪动物;动物, 被分配一个固定的大小, 被辨认作为更加明亮的对象和它的中心点的运动因而被使用对动物追踪。</li>
	</ol>
</li>
</ol>

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作者没有什么可透露的。

随着精神疾病患者的数量, 包括焦虑障碍的增加, 发展尖端研究, 以提高对焦虑的基本机制的理解是很重要的。为了达到这个目的, 优化实验程序也很重要。因此, 为提高高加迷宫试验的应用效果, 我们展示了 arm 的特点对实验结果的影响。
高加迷宫最初是为了测试动物的焦虑在啮齿动物4, 但虽然基本结构通常是一致的 (例如, 高500毫米以上的地板上有一?...

患有情绪紊乱的病人, 包括焦虑症和抑郁症的人数正在增加。虽然这些疾病的发展涉及遗传和环境因素, 但详细的致病机制尚未完全了解1。因此, 研究需要着眼于揭示情绪障碍的潜在机制, 以及开发有效药物, 副作用较少。
实验动物的行为测试对于研究大脑更高的功能, 包括情绪是有用的。由于动物行为是高度可变的, 实验结果往往不同的实验室, 即使一个相同的近交菌株被使用2。因此, 研究人员还需要了解他们采用的实验装置的基本特征, 以便在实验室中提供可靠、准确的结果。
高 + 迷宫测试最初建立, 以检查情绪反应性在啮齿目动物3,4。整个仪器通常位于地板上方500毫米, 并由两个开放和两个闭合的武器组成一个加号的形状。观察期间记录了手臂探测的测量 (包括每只手臂的进入时间和频率)、距离以及指定的行为, 如受测动物的伸展姿势。通过这些措施, 动物焦虑被估计为实验结果。
高加迷宫测试在全世界使用, 但并非所有实验室都使用相同的仪器设计5,6, 这些差异可能会影响实验结果。例如, 区别包括在张开双臂上存在或没有壁架, 或使用透明或不透明的墙壁为闭合的武器5,6。为防止动物从仪器7脱落, 并促进在闭合的武器内部的行为观察, 在张开的胳膊和使用透明的墙壁为闭合的胳膊的壁架被开发了, 分别8,9。虽然有一些研究表明, 个体手臂结构的差异如何影响检测动物焦虑的能力1,2,5,10,11, 开放 (无短壁) 和闭合 (透明/不透明墙) 手臂特征对动物行为的联合作用尚未调查。
在最近的一份报告中, 我们讨论了这些组合的手臂设计对焦虑样行为在大鼠12。简言之, 张开臂壁明显增加了大鼠的焦虑样行为, 而透明的手臂也可能降低了这种行为。此外, 我们验证了焦虑药物在无 ledged 张开臂 + 不透明壁闭合臂组合中的检测灵敏度较高, 与 ledged 张开臂 + 透明壁闭合臂相结合。在本报告中, 我们将介绍我们的协议的高加迷宫测试, 以及讨论的关键结果, 从前一份报告。我们相信, 这份报告将为那些已经就业或计划在他们的研究中使用高加迷宫的人提供有用的信息。

<table><tbody><tr><td>Customized container (W1500 &amp;times; D1500 &amp;times; H2000 mm)</td><td>NA</td><td>NA</td><td>Handmade by Mr. Akihiro Hirano</td></tr><tr><td>Lighting</td><td>NA</td><td>NA</td><td>Handmade by Mr. Akihiro Hirano</td></tr><tr><td>Elevated plus maze apparatus</td><td>NA</td><td>NA</td><td>Handmade by Mr. Akihiro Hirano</td></tr><tr><td>Digital video camera</td><td>Watec</td><td>WAT-250D2</td><td>Any suitable video camera can be attached to a hard disk recorder for recording tracking profiles.</td></tr><tr><td>Hard disk recorder</td><td>TOSHIBA</td><td>RD-R200</td><td>Any suitable hard disk recorder can be attached to the digital video camera.</td></tr><tr><td>Sprague-Dawley rats</td><td>Charles River Laboratories Japan, Inc.</td><td>NA</td><td>Any suitable rats can be used for your study</td></tr><tr><td>Standard rat cage</td><td>Toyoriko</td><td>TP-105</td><td>Any suitable rat cage be used for your study</td></tr><tr><td>Instrument to measure light intensity</td><td>AS ONE</td><td>1-5818-02</td><td>Any suitable instrument to measure light intensity</td></tr><tr><td>EthoVision XT version 8.0</td><td>Noldus</td><td>NA</td><td>Any suitable software to measure animal behavior</td></tr><tr><td>Diazepam</td><td>Taiyo Pharmaceutical Industry</td><td>1124402A2061</td><td>Any suitable drug can be used for your study</td></tr><tr><td>Tween 80</td><td>Wako Pure Chemical Industries</td><td>9005-65-6</td><td>Any suitable drug can be used for your study</td></tr></tbody></table>

testing animal anxiety in rats: effects of open arm ledges and closed arm wall transparency in elevated plus maze test

高加迷宫试验是评估啮齿动物动物焦虑的行为测试。尽管这种测试在行为科学领域得到广泛应用, 但不同的实验室往往会产生相互矛盾的结果。为了找出不同结果的原因, 我们以前重点讨论了在实验室之间不同的手臂特征, 最突出的是在张开臂两侧有壁板的存在/没有, 以及闭合臂壁的透明度/不透明性。在以前的报告中, 我们使用了一个定制的容器来比较不同的开放和闭合手臂设计组合的大鼠行为在其他相同的实验条件下, 并表明, 在手臂特征的差异干扰实验结果。简言之, 张开臂壁明显增加了大鼠的焦虑样行为, 而透明的手臂也可能降低了这种行为。此外, 我们验证了一个更高的检测灵敏度的效果, 焦虑药物的组合不 ledged 张开臂 + 不透明的壁闭合臂相比, ledged 张开臂 + 透明壁闭合臂的组合。在本报告中, 我们介绍了高附加迷宫测试的协议, 并讨论了上次报告的关键结果和我们的实验经验。我们相信这份报告将为研究人员或计划使用高加迷宫的研究者提供有用的信息。

在前面的研究中, 我们比较了张开臂壁的组合效应和闭合臂墙的透明度对迷宫12探索性行为的影响。大鼠明显地花费了较少的时间在张开的胳膊没有壁架比在张开的胳膊与壁架 (F [1, 60] = 13.49, P = 0.0005) (图 2A)。同样的结果也发现了进入开放武器的数量 (F [1, 60] = 11.17, P < 0.0014)12, 表明存在的壁面增加了大?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Testing Animal Anxiety in Rats: Effects of Open Arm Ledges and Closed Arm Wall Transparency in Elevated Plus Maze Test at JoVE.com

Testing Animal Anxiety in Rats: Effects of Open Arm Ledges and Closed Arm Wall Transparency in Elevated Plus Maze Test

大鼠动物焦虑症的实验研究: 开放臂壁和闭合臂墙透明度对高加迷宫试验的影响

高附加迷宫测试的大鼠焦虑行为因测试环境而异。在这里, 我们展示了仪器的设置, 特别是手臂结构, 如何影响迷宫的行为, 我们解释了一个可靠的协议, 以检测焦虑药物的影响。这份报告将有助于焦虑的研究。

The elevated plus maze test is a behavioral test for assessing animal anxiety in rodents. Although this test is widely applied in the field of behavioral ...

testing-animal-anxiety-rats-effects-open-arm-ledges-closed-arm-wall

Universidad de Cartagena UDEC

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

13.5K 次观看.  Meiji University. 高附加迷宫测试的大鼠焦虑行为因测试环境而异。在这里, 我们展示了仪器的设置, 特别是手臂结构, 如何影响迷宫的行为, 我们解释了一个可靠的协议, 以检测焦虑药物的影响。这份报告将有助于焦虑的研究。

视频: Testing Animal Anxiety in Rats: Effects of Open Arm Ledges and Closed Arm Wall Transparency in Elevated Plus Maze Test

The Successive Alleys Test of Anxiety in Mice and Rats

The plus-maze was derived from the early work of Montgomery. He observed that rats tended to avoid the open arms of a maze, preferring the enclosed ones. Handley, Mithani and File et al. performed the first studies on the plus-maze design we use today, and in 1987 Lister published a design for use with mice. 
Time spent on, and entries into, the open arms are an index of anxiety; the lower these indices, the more anxious the mouse is. Alternatively, a mouse that spends most of its time in the closed arms is classed as anxious. 
One of the problems of the plus-maze is that, while time spent on, and entries into, the open arms is a fairly unambiguous measure of anxiety, time in the central area is more difficult to interpret, although time spent here has been classified as &#x201C;decision making&#x201D;. In many tests central area time is a considerable part of the total test time.
Shepherd et al. produced an ingenious design to eliminate the central area, which they called the &#x201C;zero maze&#x201D;. However, although used by several groups, it has never been as widely adopted as the plus-maze. 
In the present article I describe a modification of the plus-maze design that not only eliminates the central area but also incorporates elements from other anxiety tests, such as the light-dark box and emergence tests. It is a linear series of four alleys, each having increasing anxiogenic properties. It has given similar results to the plus-maze in general. Although it may not be more sensitive than the plus-maze (more data is needed before a firm conclusion can be reached on this point), it provides a useful confirmation of plus-maze results which would be useful when, for example, only a single example of a mutant mouse was available, as, for example, in ENU-based mutagenesis programs.

The plus-maze measures anxiety-like behaviour in rodents. There are two opposite closed and two opposite open arms; anxious rodents avoid the open arms. The central area is neither completely open nor closed, so time spent here is ambiguous and difficult to interpret. Here a modification of the plus-maze protocol eliminating this area is described.

在小鼠和大鼠连续的小巷测试焦虑

The plus-maze was derived from the early work of Montgomery. He observed that rats tended to avoid the open arms of a maze, preferring the enclosed ones.  ...

科研

行为学

Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models

Spatial learning and memory of laboratory rodents is often assessed via navigational ability in mazes, most popular of which are the water and dry-land (Barnes) mazes. Improved performance over sessions or trials is thought to reflect learning and memory of the escape cage/platform location. Considered less stressful than water mazes, the Barnes maze is a relatively simple design of a circular platform top with several holes equally spaced around the perimeter edge. All but one of the holes are false-bottomed or blind-ending, while one leads to an escape cage. Mildly aversive stimuli (e.g.&#160;bright overhead lights) provide motivation to locate the escape cage. Latency to locate the escape cage can be measured during the session; however, additional endpoints typically require video recording. From those video recordings, use of automated tracking software can generate a variety of endpoints that are similar to those produced in water mazes (e.g.&#160;distance traveled, velocity/speed, time spent in the correct quadrant, time spent moving/resting, and confirmation of latency). Type of search strategy (i.e.&#160;random, serial, or direct) can be categorized as well. Barnes maze construction and testing methodologies can differ for small rodents, such as mice, and large rodents, such as rats. For example, while extra-maze cues are effective for rats, smaller wild rodents may require intra-maze cues with a visual barrier around the maze. Appropriate stimuli must be identified which motivate the rodent to locate the escape cage. Both Barnes and water mazes can be time consuming as 4-7 test trials are typically required to detect improved learning and memory performance (e.g.&#160;shorter latencies or path lengths to locate the escape platform or cage) and/or differences between experimental groups. Even so, the Barnes maze is a widely employed behavioral assessment measuring spatial navigational abilities and their potential disruption by genetic, neurobehavioral manipulations, or drug/ toxicant exposure.

The dry-land Barnes maze is widely used to measure spatial navigation ability in response to mildly aversive stimuli. Over consecutive days, performance (e.g.&#160;latency to locate escape cage) of control subjects improves, indicative of normal learning and memory. Differences between rats and mice necessitate apparatus and methodology changes that are detailed here.

巴恩斯迷宫测试策略与小型和大型啮齿类动物模型

Spatial learning and memory of laboratory rodents is often assessed via navigational ability in mazes, most popular of which are the water and dry-land ...

Use of the Open Field Maze to Measure Locomotor and Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice

Animal models have proven to be invaluable to researchers trying to answer questions regarding the mechanisms of behavior. The Open Field Maze is one of the most commonly used platforms to measure behaviors in animal models. It is a fast and relatively easy test that provides a variety of behavioral information ranging from general ambulatory ability to data regarding the emotionality of the subject animal. As it relates to rodent models, the procedure allows the study of different strains of mice or rats both laboratory bred and wild-captured. The technique also readily lends itself to the investigation of different pharmacological compounds for anxiolytic or anxiogenic effects. Here, a protocol for use of the open field maze to describe mouse behaviors is detailed and a simple analysis of general locomotor ability and anxiety-related emotional behaviors between two strains of C57BL/6 mice is performed. Briefly, using the described protocol we show Wild Type mice exhibited significantly less anxiety related behaviors than did age-matched Knock Out mice while both strains exhibited similar ambulatory ability.

A protocol is provided to use an Open Field Maze to access general locomotor activity, anxiety and emotionality in a laboratory mouse model.

使用开放式现场迷宫来衡量小鼠的运动能力和焦虑样行为

Animal models have proven to be invaluable to researchers trying to answer questions regarding the mechanisms of behavior. The Open Field Maze is one of ...

The Double-H Maze: A Robust Behavioral Test for Learning and Memory in Rodents

Spatial cognition research in rodents typically employs the use of maze tasks, whose attributes vary from one maze to the next. These tasks vary by their behavioral flexibility and required memory duration, the number of goals and pathways, and also the overall task complexity. A confounding feature in many of these tasks is the lack of control over the strategy employed by the rodents to reach the goal, e.g., allocentric (declarative-like) or egocentric (procedural) based strategies. The double-H maze is a novel water-escape memory task that addresses this issue, by allowing the experimenter to direct the type of strategy learned during the training period. The double-H maze is a transparent device, which consists of a central alleyway with three arms protruding on both sides, along with an escape platform submerged at the extremity of one of these arms.
Rats can be trained using an allocentric strategy by alternating the start position in the maze in an unpredictable manner (see protocol 1; &#167;4.7), thus requiring them to learn the location of the platform based on the available allothetic cues. Alternatively, an egocentric learning strategy (protocol 2; &#167;4.8) can be employed by releasing the rats from the same position during each trial, until they learn the procedural pattern required to reach the goal. This task has been proven to allow for the formation of stable memory traces.
Memory can be probed following the training period in a misleading probe trial, in which the starting position for the rats alternates. Following an egocentric learning paradigm, rats typically resort to an allocentric-based strategy, but only when their initial view on the extra-maze cues differs markedly from their original position. This task is ideally suited to explore the effects of drugs/perturbations on allocentric/egocentric memory performance, as well as the interactions between these two memory systems.

The goal of this protocol is to investigate spatial cognition in rodents. The double-H water maze is a novel test, which is particularly useful to elucidate the different components of learning, consolidation and memory, as well as the interplay of memory systems.

双-H迷宫:一个强大的行为测试学习和记忆的鼠害

Spatial cognition research in rodents typically employs the use of maze tasks, whose attributes vary from one maze to the next. These tasks vary by their ...

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy

With the exception of survival, cognitive impairment stemming from the clinical management of cancer is a major factor dictating therapeutic outcome. For many patients afflicted with CNS and non-CNS malignancies, radiotherapy and chemotherapy offer the best options for disease control. These treatments however come at a cost, and nearly all cancer survivors (~11 million in the US alone as of 2006) incur some risk for developing cognitive dysfunction, with the most severe cases found in patients subjected to cranial radiotherapy (~200,000/yr) for the control of primary and metastatic brain tumors1. Particularly problematic are pediatric cases, whose long-term survival plagued with marked cognitive decrements results in significant socioeconomic burdens2. To date, there are still no satisfactory solutions to this significant clinical problem.
We have addressed this serious health concern using transplanted stem cells to combat radiation-induced cognitive decline in athymic rats subjected to cranial irradiation3. Details of the stereotaxic irradiation and the in vitro culturing and transplantation of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) can be found in our companion paper (Acharya et al., JoVE reference). Following irradiation and transplantation surgery, rats are then assessed for changes in cognition, grafted cell survival and expression of differentiation-specific markers 1 and 4-months after irradiation. To critically evaluate the success or failure of any potential intervention designed to ameliorate radiation-induced cognitive sequelae, a rigorous series of quantitative cognitive tasks must be performed. To accomplish this, we subject our animals to a suite of cognitive testing paradigms including novel place recognition, water maze, elevated plus maze and fear conditioning, in order to quantify hippocampal and non-hippocampal learning and memory. We have demonstrated the utility of these tests for quantifying specific types of cognitive decrements in irradiated animals, and used them to show that animals engrafted with hNSCs exhibit significant improvements in cognitive function3.
The cognitive benefits derived from engrafted human stem cells suggest that similar strategies may one day provide much needed clinical recourse to cancer survivors suffering from impaired cognition. Accordingly, we have provided written and visual documentation of the critical steps used in our cognitive testing paradigms to facilitate the translation of our promising results into the clinic.

Cognitive impairment resulting from the radiotherapeutic management of brain tumors represents a clinically intractable condition that adversely impacts quality of life. The capability to critically evaluate potential interventions for ameliorating radiation-induced cognitive decrements ultimately depends on the capability to undertake rigorous quantitative assessments of cognition.

量化颅放疗引起的认知递减

With the exception of survival, cognitive impairment stemming from the clinical management of cancer is a major factor dictating therapeutic outcome. For ...

医学

Utilizing the Modified T-Maze to Assess Functional Memory Outcomes After Cardiac Arrest

Background: Evaluating mild to moderate cognitive impairment in a global cerebral ischemia (i.e. cardiac arrest) model can be difficult due to poor locomotion after surgery. For example, rats who undergo surgical procedures and are subjected to the Morris water maze may not be able to swim, thus voiding the experiment.
New Method: We established a modified behavioral spontaneous alternation T-maze test. The major advantage of the modified T-maze protocol is its relatively simple design that is powerful enough to assess functional learning/memory after ischemia. Additionally, the data analysis is simple and straightforward. We used the T-maze to determine the rats&#39; learning/memory deficits both in the presence or absence of mild to moderate (6 min) asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA). Rats have a natural tendency for exploration and will explore the alternate arms in the T-maze, whereas hippocampal-lesioned rats tend to adopt a side-preference resulting in decreased spontaneous alternation ratios, revealing the hippocampal-related functional learning/memory in the presence or absence of ACA.
Results: ACA groups have higher side-preference ratios and lower alternations as compared to control.
Comparison with Existing Method(s): The Morris water and Barnes maze are more prominent for assessing learning/memory function. However, the Morris water maze is more stressful than other mazes. The Barnes maze is widely used to measure reference (long-term) memory, while ACA-induced neurocognitive deficits are more closely related to working (short-term) memory.
Conclusions: We have developed a simple, yet effective strategy to delineate working (short-term) memory via the T-maze in our global cerebral ischemia model (ACA).

This protocol describes the use of a modified T-maze to evaluate functional learning/memory in asphyxia cardiac arrest-induced cerebral ischemia.

应用改良 T 迷宫评估心脏骤停后的功能记忆结果

Background: Evaluating mild to moderate cognitive impairment in a global cerebral ischemia (i.e. cardiac arrest) model can be difficult due to poor ...

Elevated Plus Maze for Mice

Although the mouse genome is now completely sequenced, the functions of most of the genes expressed in the brain are not known. The influence of a given gene on a specific behavior can be determined by behavioral analysis of mutant mice. If a target gene is expressed in the brain, behavioral phenotype of the mutant mice could elucidate the genetic mechanism of normal behaviors. The elevated plus maze test is one of the most widely used tests for measuring anxiety-like behavior. The test is based on the natural aversion of mice for open and elevated areas, as well as on their natural spontaneous exploratory behavior in novel environments. The apparatus consists of open arms and closed arms, crossed in the middle perpendicularly to each other, and a center area. Mice are given access to all of the arms and are allowed to move freely between them. The number of entries into the open arms and the time spent in the open arms are used as indices of open space-induced anxiety in mice. Unfortunately, the procedural differences that exist between laboratories make it difficult to duplicate and compare results among laboratories. Here, we present a detailed movie demonstrating our protocol for the elevated plus maze test. In our laboratory, we have assessed more than 90 strains of mutant mice using the protocol shown in the movie. These data will be disclosed as a part of a public database that we are now constructing.
Visualization of the protocol will promote better understanding of the details of the entire experimental procedure, allowing for standardization of the protocols used in different laboratories and comparisons of the behavioral phenotypes of various strains of mutant mice assessed using this test. 


The elevated plus maze test is one of the most widely used tests for measuring anxiety-like behavior in mice. Here, we present a movie showing the detailed procedures for conducting the test.

对小鼠高架十字迷宫

Although the mouse genome is now completely sequenced, the functions of most of the genes expressed in the brain are not known. The influence of a given ...

生物学

Elevated Plus Maze Test Combined with Video Tracking Software to Investigate the Anxiolytic Effect of Exogenous Ketogenic Supplements

The overall goal of this study is to describe the methodology of the elevated plus maze (EPM) test in combination with a video tracking software. The purpose of the method is to document the effect of various potential anxiolytic treatments on laboratory rodent models. The EPM test is based on the rodents&#39; proclivity toward protected, enclosed dark spaces and unconditioned fear of open spaces and heights, and their innate intense motivation to explore novel environments. The EPM test is a widely used behavioral test for investigating the anxiolytic or anxiogenic responses of rodents given drugs that are known to affect behavior. Observation demonstrating a decreased proportion of time spent on closed arms, an increased proportion of time spent on open arms, a reduced number of entries to closed arms, and an elevated number of entries to open arms measured by the EPM test may reflect reduced anxiety levels. Using this method, the effect of exogenous ketone supplements on anxiety-related behavior is tested in Sprague Dawley (SPD) rats. Exogenous ketone supplements are chronically fed to the rats for 83 days or subchronically and acutely orally gavaged, daily for 7 days, before conducting the EPM test. Behavioral data collection is performed using the SMART video tracking system by a blinded observer at the end of the treatments. The main findings indicate that the EPM test is an effective method to detect the ketone supplement-induced anxiolytic effect and can be considered a sensitive measure to assess changes in anxiety behavior associated with drug- or metabolic-based therapies.

Here, we present a protocol to investigate changes in the anxiety level of rodent animal models. The elevated plus maze (EPM) test, used together with a video tracking software, provides a reliable method to document the effect of various potential anxiolytic treatments in preclinical laboratory scenarios.

高架加迷宫试验结合视频跟踪软件研究外源性生酮类补充剂的毒性作用

The overall goal of this study is to describe the methodology of the elevated plus maze (EPM) test in combination with a video tracking software. The ...

Utilizing a Reconfigurable Maze System to Enhance the Reproducibility of Spatial Navigation Tests in Rodents

Several maze shapes are used to test spatial navigation performance and behavioral phenotypes. Traditionally, each experiment requires a unique maze shape, thus requiring several separate mazes in different configurations. The maze geometry cannot be reconfigured in a single environment to accommodate scalability and reproducibility. The reconfigurable maze is a unique approach to address the limitations, allowing quick and flexible configurations of maze pathways in a repeatable manner. It consists of interlocking pathways and includes feeders, treadmills, movable walls, and shut-off sensors. The current protocol describes how the reconfigurable maze can replicate existing mazes, including the T-shaped, plus-shaped, W-shaped, and figure-eight mazes. Initially, the T-shaped maze was constructed inside a single experimental room, followed by modifications. The rapid and scalable protocol outlined herein demonstrates the flexibility of the reconfigurable maze, achieved through the addition of components and behavioral training phases in a stepwise manner. The reconfigurable maze systematically and precisely assesses the performance of multiple aspects of spatial navigation behavior.

The present protocol describes a reconfigurable maze, a unique system for testing spatial navigation and behavioral phenotypes in rodents. The adaptability of this maze system enables the execution of various experiments in a single physical environment. The ease of structural rearrangement generates reliable and reproducible experimental results.

利用可重构的迷宫系统提高啮齿动物空间导航测试的可重复性

Several maze shapes are used to test spatial navigation performance and behavioral phenotypes. Traditionally, each experiment requires a unique maze ...

使用行为测试验证 Angelman 综合征的小鼠模型

Behavioral Characterization of an Angelman Syndrome Mouse Model

This manuscript describes a battery of behavioral tests available to characterize Angelman syndrome (AS)-like phenotypes in an established murine model of AS. We use the rotarod learning paradigm, detailed gait analysis, and nest building test to detect and characterize animal motor impairments. We test animal emotionality in the open field and elevated plus maze tests, as well as the affect in the tail suspension test. When AS mice are tested in the open field test, the results should be interpreted with care, since motor dysfunctions influence mouse behavior in the maze and alter activity scores.
The reproducibility and effectiveness of the presented behavioral tests has already been validated in several independent Uba3a mouse lines with different knockout variants, establishing this set of tests as an excellent validation tool in AS research. Models with the relevant construct and face validity will warrant further investigations to elucidate the pathophysiology of the disease and grant the development of causal treatments.

作者聚焦:用于验证 Angelman 综合征小鼠模型的一系列高度可重复的行为测试 

This manuscript presents a set of highly reproducible behavioral tests to validate an Angelman syndrome mouse model.

安格曼综合征小鼠模型的行为表征

This manuscript describes a battery of behavioral tests available to characterize Angelman syndrome (AS)-like phenotypes in an established murine model of ...