Behavioral assays

MuriPhys connects behavioral assays with drug delivery and electrophysiology in rodent research. Select the tests, controls and analysis around the model, study question and the aspects of function that need to be measured.

MuriPhys offers a variety of behavior modalities:

Motor Behavioral Assays

Motor behavior in rodents encompasses the study of movement patterns, coordination, balance, and overall physical activity, providing critical insights into the functioning of the nervous system. This area of research is essential for understanding the mechanisms underlying various neurological and psychiatric disorders, as well as for evaluating the effects of pharmacological agents, genetic modifications, and environmental factors on motor function.

BlackBox One

BlackBox One combines video recording and paw-contact imaging to assess freely moving rodents in an open-field arena. Its Palmreader software uses machine learning to analyze gait, posture, spontaneous behavior, and relative weight bearing across the paws. These readouts help characterize motor deficits, functional recovery, and treatment-related changes in preclinical models.

Noldus CatWalk

Noldus CatWalk uses an illuminated glass walkway and video imaging to quantify gait as rodents walk voluntarily across the platform. Analysis captures paw placement, stride length, stance and swing timing, and coordination between limbs. These measures support assessment of motor impairment and recovery in neurological disease, nerve injury, and treatment studies.

Rotarod - The rotarod test is a way to assess the motor coordination and neuromuscular coordination of mice and rats.

• Motor symptoms in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Investigating conditions such as Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), ataxia, and Huntington's disease, where motor impairments are prominent.
• Drug Development: Evaluating the efficacy and side effects of potential therapeutic agents on motor function.
• Genetic Studies: Understanding the impact of specific gene modifications on motor behaviors.

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Open Field - The open field test is a widely used behavioral assay in rodents to evaluate their general locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and exploratory tendencies.

• Locomotor Activity Studies: Assesses the effects of drugs, neurological disorders, and genetic alterations on general movement and activity levels.
• Anxiety and Stress Research: Evaluates the impact of anxiolytic or anxiogenic substances, genetic modifications, and environmental factors on anxiety-like behaviors.
• Exploratory and Cognitive Function: Provides insights into the exploratory tendencies and cognitive state of the animal, which can be relevant in studies of neurodevelopmental disorders, aging, and cognitive enhancers.
• Pharmacological Testing: Used to screen the effects of new pharmacological agents on behavior, particularly those targeting the central nervous system.

Treadmill - The treadmill test is used to measure various aspects of rodents physical endurance, cardiovascular fitness, and overall exercise capacity.

• Muscular Strength and Function: Gait Analysis: Observation of running patterns, stride length, and coordination can provide insights into muscle function and potential neuromuscular issues.
• Fatigue and Recovery: Time to Fatigue: The point at which the rodent can no longer keep up with the treadmill speed, indicating the onset of muscle fatigue.
• Recovery Time: The duration needed for the rodent to recover post-exercise, which can be used to evaluate fitness and metabolic health.

Metabolic Behavioral Assays

• Promethion BZ1 is an advanced metabolic monitoring system used primarily in research settings to study energy expenditure and metabolic activity in small animals, such as rodents (mice and rats). It provides real-time data on animal metabolism, allowing researchers to gain insights into various physiological processes.

Cognitive Behavioral Assays

Cognitive behavior assays in rodents are invaluable for understanding the mechanisms underlying cognitive functions such as learning, memory, attention, and problem-solving. These assays help researchers investigate the effects of genetic, pharmacological, and environmental manipulations on cognitive processes.

Zero Maze

• Assesses anxiety-like behavior in rodents. It is a variation of the elevated plus maze and consists of a circular track elevated above the floor, with two opposing open sections and two opposing closed sections with walls.

Active/Passive Avoidance

• Measures learning and memory related to avoiding an aversive stimulus. In active avoidance, rodents learn to avoid an area or stimulus where they previously received a mild shock. In passive avoidance, they learn to refrain from stepping into a dark compartment where a shock was previously administered.

Fear Conditioning

• Examines associative learning by pairing a neutral stimulus with an aversive event, such as a mild foot shock, and later measuring the rodent's conditioned response.

Conditioned place preference (CPP)

• Measures the rewarding or aversive effects of substances, environments, or experiences. This test leverages an animal's natural preference for certain environments to assess how different stimuli influence their behavior.

Sociability Chamber

• Assesses social behavior and preference by measuring the time spent interacting with another rodent versus an empty chamber or a novel object. This is useful for studying social deficits related to conditions like autism spectrum disorders.

Novel Object Recognition

• Tests recognition memory by measuring the time spent exploring a novel object versus a familiar one.

Plantar Test

• Evaluates pain sensitivity and response by applying a radiant heat source to the plantar surface of the rodent's paw and measuring the withdrawal latency. It is commonly used in studies of neuropathic and inflammatory pain.

Optomotor response

• Assesses visual function and acuity by measuring the reflexive head and neck movements of rodents in response to rotating stripes. This test is useful for studying visual perception and neurodegenerative diseases affecting vision.