Behavioral Assessments

Animals are placed on a rotating rod and latency to fall and rotations per minute are recorded.

Species: Mice, Rats

Uses: Coordination, balance and motor learning. Endurance

The animals are placed into an open-top, clear plastic cylinder. Forelimb (front paw) placement against the wall while rearing (e.g. for support) is recorded.

Species: Mice, Rats

Uses: Evaluation of locomotor asymmetry

Fine motor coordination and balance can be assessed by the beam walking assay. The goal of this test is for the mouse to stay upright and walk across an elevated narrow beam to a safe platform.

Species: Mice

Uses: Motor balance. motor function, balance, and fine motor function

Animals are placed into a pool containing a hidden platform 1 cm below the surface. The time to find the hidden platform (e.g. to learn and/or remember) is recorded.

Species: Mice, Rats

Uses: Spatial learning and memory assessment. Particularly useful in hippocampal injury (e.g. 4VO cerebral ischemia models

Mice are suspended by their tail for 6 min for assessment of immobility versus mobility time.

Species: Mice, Rats

Uses: Depression/behavioral despair reaction to an inescapable and stressful context

Two adhesive strips are applied to each animal forepaw. Time for first reaction to the adhesive in each paw (contact time) and the time for adhesive removal (removal time) is recorded.

Species: Mice, Rats

Uses: Sensory functions, sensory neglect and motor functions (left and right side).

Mice are suspended by their tail for 6 min for assessment of immobility versus mobility time.

Species: Mice, Rats

Uses: Depression/behavioral despair reaction to an inescapable and stressful context

Animals are gently held by the tail and placed over the top of a grid such that their front paws can grip the strength meter. Animals are then pulled backwards until they can no longer grip the strength meter and exerted force is recorded.

Uses: Quantification of muscular strength

Measures unfettered animal movement within an inescapable enclosure.

Species: Mice, Rats, Pigs

Uses: Pain, lethargy, hyperactivity, and anxiety related behavior

What can be learned from Open Field (OFT)?

Rodents are suspended by their tail for 6 min for assessment of immobility versus mobility time.

Species: Mice, Rats

Uses: Depression/behavioral despair reaction to an inescapable and stressful context

Animals are placed in a cylinder of warm water to a depth exceeding the length of the animal. Following an initial period of acclimation, behavioral responses are assessed.

Species: Mice

Uses: Depression/behavioral despair reaction to an inescapable and stressful context

Animals are placed at the junction of a cross-shaped maze consisting of 2 open arms and 2 closed arms. Unfettered movemet between the 4 arms is monitored. Both number of entries and time spent in the open arms is analyzed.

Species: Mice

Uses: Open space-induced anxiety