High-throughput phenotyping of avoidance learning in males of 8 inbred strains of mice (2012)
Loos M, Maroteaux G, Smit A, Verhage M
With: van der Sluis S, Koopmans B, Aarts E, van Gassen K, Geurts A, Largaespada DA, Spruijt BM, Stiedl O, Neuro-BSIK Mouse Phenomics Consortium
Frequency
of
entries,
distance
moved,
time
spent
in
shelter
*Supplementary
data
are
available
for
this
project.
See
Loos1
Equipment
and
supplies
PhenoTyper
cages
(model
3000,
Noldus
Information
Technology)
EthoVision
video
tracking
and
trial
control
software
(Noldus
Information
Technology,
HTP
2.1.2.0)
AHCODA
analysis
software
(Synaptologics
BV,
Amsterdam,
The
Netherlands)
Experimental
design
Acclimation
Mice
were
allowed
to
acclimate
at
least
one
week
prior
to
testing.
PhenoTyper
cages
(description)
Each
cage
contains
a
top
unit
with
built
in
hardware
for
video
tracking
(infrared-sensitive
video
camera
which
provides
constant
and
even
illumination
of
the
cage;
an
infrared
filter
placed
in
front
of
the
camera
prevents
interference
with
room
illumination,
allowing
continuous
behavioral
recordings
in
both
dark
and
light
periods).
EthoVision
is
used
as
video
tracking
and
trial
control
software.
Forty-eight
PhenoTyper
cages
are
connected
in
a
specially
designed
computer
network.
Four
cages
are
connected
to
a
PC
running
video
tracking
and
trial
control
software;
12
data
collection
PCs
are
connected
to
a
central
PC
(running
software
for
experiment
design
and
progress
monitoring)
and
a
data
storage
server
(for
storage
and
analysis
of
track
files).
The
cages
(30
x
30
x
35
cm;
L,
W,
H)
are
made
of
transparent
Perspex
walls
with
an
opaque
Perspex
floor
covered
with
cellulose
based
bedding.
A
feeding
station
and
water
bottle
are
attached
on
adjacent
walls
outside
of
the
cage.
A
shelter
(10
cm
high
and
x
9
cm
diameter)
is
made
of
non-transparent
material
and
fixed
in
one
corner.
Mice
typically
spend
80%
of
their
time
in
the
shelter
(resting/sleeping).
Two
bright
white
LED
(producing
no
heat)
are
mounted
on
two
cage
walls,
shining
inward
through
the
Perspex
wall
into
the
shelter
from
two
angles
to
provide
an
aversive
light
stimulus
(500
lx).
In
EthoVision
the
shelter
is
defined
as
a
'hidden
zone'.
Video
tracking
is
performed
at
a
rate
of
15
samples/sec.
Raw
track
files
are
processed
using
AHCODA
analysis
software.
For
more
information,
see
EthoVision
XT
4.1
manual.
Procedure:
PhenoTyper
activity
monitoring
Mice
are
individually
housed
in
PhenoTyper
cages
for
6.5
days.
During
the
first
4
days,
mice
can
enter
freely
in
the
shelter
(habituation
phase,
defining
entrance
preference).
On
day
4,
the
preferred
entrance
is
defined
by
the
system
as
the
most
used
entrance
(mice
with
no
preference
are
excluded
from
analysis).
On
days
5
and
6,
each
time
a
mouse
uses
its
preferred
entrance,
bright
light
is
automatically
switched
on
in
the
shelter
as
long
as
the
mouse
stays
inside
(avoidance
learning
phase,
applying
aversive
stimulus).
As
soon
as
the
mouse
leaves
the
shelter
through
either
entrance,
the
light
turns
off.
The
light
does
not
turn
on
when
the
mouse
enters
through
the
non-preferred
entrance.
The
shelter
light
flashes
once
when
the
mouse
moves
into
a
3
cm
area
around
the
preferred
entrance
of
the
shelter
area
on
days
5
and
6
to
signal
aversive
learning
trial
(detecting
cognitive/aversive
response).
On
the
last
half
day,
the
aversive
stimulus
is
no
longer
applied
(probe
trial)
and
the
stability
of
the
change
in
preference
is
determined.
Data
collected
by
investigator
frequency
of
entries
in
each
entrance
of
the
shelter
distance
moved
time
spent
in
shelter
preference
index
=
[(number
of
entries
through
the
preferred
entrance)
-
(number
of
entries
through
non-preferred
entrance)]
/
(total
number
of
entries)
aversion
index
=
[(time
spent
in
illuminated
shelter
after
entering
through
the
sanctioned
entrance)
-
(time
spent
in
the
dark
shelter
after
entering
through
the
non-sanctioned
entrance)]
/
(total
time
spent
in
shelter)
Note
that
accessioned
measurements
for
Loos1
are
from
days
4-7,
dark
cycle
only.
Additional
data
are
available
in
a
supplemental
data
file.
*Supplementary
data
are
available
for
this
project.
See
Loos1