Mice Vogel test 102

for rats

General Information The Columbus Instruments Anxiometer-102 is designed to induce anxiety within a subject and monitor the degree of drug effect by the administration of a mild shock after 20 licks on a sipper tube. The shock is delivered through the sipper tube and is maintained for a selectable duration of 0.25 to 2.0 seconds. The intensity of shock is user adjustable. With the onset of the initial shock, Anxiometer-102 begins a three minute testing session during which the total number of licks and shocks (administered with every 20th lick) is recorded on front panel counters. The performance of anti-anxiety drugs can be measured by comparing the drinking behavior of punished drugged rats to the behavior of punished non-drugged rats. The Anxiometer-102 accounts for misinterpretation of animal actions by accounting for those animals that maintain a hold on the sipper tube while drinking. Grasping the sipper tube would normally prevent the system from accurately assessing the number of licks. The Anxiometer-102 senses prolonged contact with the sipper tube and internally substitutes a seven cycle per second signal that mimics licking behavior. This technique was implemented based on the findings of Collier and Bells who determined the lick behavior of rats.