Recording rotation activity in unrestrained mice

Scientific research utilizes animals to better understand specific illnesses and therapeutics and their physical and psychological impacts. Scientists commonly use rodents because of their biological similarities to humans and because they often share the same diseases. This offers a way to study how humans develop, age, and interact with illnesses.

One frequently studied behavior in rodents is rotation activity, in which they continuously circle or turn around within a designated area, with clockwise and counterclockwise turns observed. It is thought that rodents may engage in rotation activity because of drug treatments, environmental factors, or neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

Precise monitoring and recording of rotation activity is crucial for understanding the impact of diseases on the mind and body, which in turn supports the development of suitable treatments.

This article covers how the rotation activity of unrestrained mice should be recorded to guarantee precise and reliable results.

Image Credit: Orawan Pattarawimonchai/Shutterstock.com

Equipment needed for recording rotation activity

Several tools are available for monitoring rotation activity in unrestrained mice, and the best one depends on the study’s goals and experimental design. Common options include a home cage wheel, an open-source voluntary running activity system, a voluntary wheel running system, and a rotometer.

This article will focus on properly recording the rotation activity of unrestrained mice using a rotometer.

A rotometer system typically comprises testing stations (single or multiple), computer software, and a tracking system, which monitor and record each mouse rotation in real time.

Accurately recording rotation activity

With the appropriate tracking system, the challenges of accurately recording rotation activity can be easily overcome. Depending on the application, common options include a video-tracking system or a magnetic sensor attached or injected into the rodent model, which records each turn the animal makes.

Systems come in various configurations. Some employ a harness to monitor animals without implants or video monitoring. The software records data and saves it until ready for analysis.

It is critical to consider enclosure factors such as lighting, noise, and temperature to ensure the rotation activity is not due to external force. These can impact the mouse’s behavior, potentially leading to data inaccuracies.

Where can i purchase rotation activity instruments?

San Diego Instruments provides an intuitive and dependable Rotometer Activity System for Parkinson’s disease studies and other neuroscience research.

The Rotometer does not require implants or video monitoring to accurately record rotation activity. This system utilizes an elastic harness and long leash fixed outside the container to accurately monitor clockwise and counterclockwise rotations. It also provides greater flexibility, allowing as many as 16 test stations to run from a single computer.

The compartment is designed to force the animal to turn within its length. Key features include easy test subject loading, measuring full or half turns, real-time monitoring, and accurate reporting through integrated software.

The software offers high accuracy by automatically recording and saving session data into one file. It also allows researchers to pre-assign animals to a specific test station and set a pre-programmed protocol for each session.

Each mouse turn, including reverse, quarter, or full turns, is counted, and the risk of recording exploratory behavior is considerably lowered. This results in an efficient method for precisely recording the rotation activity of unrestrained mice, supporting numerous research applications.

About San Diego Instruments, Inc.

For more than 30 years, San Diego Instruments has served the scientific community as a comprehensive resource for the design, manufacture and distribution of behavioral neuroscience research instruments used in human and animal studies. Utilized in laboratories and cited in research papers worldwide, SDI systems have come to represent the industry standard for quality and longevity. Our premier SR-LAB is the world’s most widely used startle response system. At SDI, our commitment to developing quality products that stand the test of time is matched only our dedication to excellent customer service. We take pride in our ever-growing core of loyal clientele.

SDI behavioral neuroscience research systems afford you the utmost in quality and performance, giving you the edge in an industry where Power, Flexibility and Ease of Use are everything.


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Last updated: Dec 11, 2024 at 8:15 AM

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