Shelter: rodent behavioral study system

The system provides automated testing of cognitive functions (learnability and memory) of laboratory animals on the basis of electric irritation avoidance. Compatible for mice, rats and other rodents.

Statistical results:

1. Stimulus response delay
2. Stay time in different zones
3. Movement path in separate zones
4. Per zone stats (average, dispersion, expectation)
5. Generalized statistics for multiple records

Supported methods

Supported test paradigms:

1 Passive avoidance test

Step through
The enclosed space where the rodent is placed is divided into two chambers, in one of them there is light, in the other is darkness.
The rodent is placed in the bright compartment. As soon as the rodent goes to the dark side – the electric grid and sharp sound turn on.

Step down
The rodent is placed on a small platform located at a certain height from the floor.
As soon as the rodent goes down, electrocutaneous irritation begins.

2The conditional reaction of active avoidance (CRAA)

The room is divided into two compartments. The rodent is presented with a sequence of stimuli (light, pause, electric current with a sharp sound).
The rodent has to study to be in time to move from one compartment to another before the emergence of electroskin irritation.

3 Conflict situations by Vogel

The rodent is not given food or water for a long time.
The rodent is placed in the compartment, where there is a feeder or a drinking bowl.
As soon as the rodent comes to the water or food in the compartment starts electrocutaneous stimulation.

4Preference of place

For this technique, walls with different wallpaper (squares, strips, dots) are used.
The preferred wallpaper is determined according to measures the residence time of the rodent in different rooms.

Specifications

Possible configurations

Black walls, a simple internal wall with a hole resembling burrow

Black walls, motorized door with a hole resembling burrow

Dark and bright room (Lightbox) for CRPA Step-through

Walls with wallpaper for the method of place preference (Place preference)

Black walls, round platform for the method CRPA Step-down

Black walls, the rectangular platform for the method CRPA Step-down

The feeder for the methodology of conflict situations by Vogel

The drinking bowl for the methodology of conflict situations by Vogel

Features

The hardware-software complex is created according to safety requirements of the medical equipment:

• All components are made from non-toxic, pollution-resistant materials
• Presence of galvanic isolation of power supply
• Possibility of the emergency stop of giving of a current on a grid

The electric grid is the floor in the Shelter. The walls can be easily removed, washed, replaced by other.

Types of walls:

• Black opaque (4 pieces in a standard set)
• Transparent (2 pieces in the standard set)
• Black with a door to bring in a rodent (2 pieces in a standard set)
• Black with holder for feeder or drinker
• Wall with wallpaper (large and small squares, vertical and horizontal strip)

Software

Carrying out experiments

Carrying out experiments

Script creation

View experiment

Viewing the results of the experiment

Viewing of results in selection of experiments

Packages and prices

Standard equipment stimulation and control unit the base and rails pallet electro grid for the rats 2 walls with doors 4 black walls 2 transparent walls wall with a hole resembling burrow 3 removable platforms (150х50x10 mm, 80x40x10 mm, round D120 mm)		On request
Motorized door with a hole resembling burrow		On request
The set of wallpapers 6 options, each option contains 4 walls, total in the set - 24 walls vertical stripes horizontal stripes diagonal stripes chess squares circles dots		On request
Electro grid for the rats		On request
Work station laptop with mouse, software		On request

Training video instructions

Resources and downloads

Manual (Version 2.5)
Shelter Software (Version 3.1.2)

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