作者承认埃尔丁Jašarević先生，斯科特·威廉姆斯先生，罗杰·W·麦森先生，莎拉·A·约翰逊，R·迈克尔·罗伯茨博士，马克河Ellersieck博士和David C.基尔博士在大学密苏里州和C德尔伯特罗先生和照顾动物的工作人员在国家毒理学研究中心/美国FDA。这项工作是支持由美国国立卫生研究院资助的挑战，授予中国南车（RC1 ES018195），一个密苏里大学优势格兰特（CSR和DCG），密苏里大学学院兽医学院奖（CSR），并在国家中心协议E7318毒理学研究/ FDA认证。

1。巴恩斯迷宫手术小鼠害<ol><li>打开顶灯的迷宫和地方上面的"不输入"在实验室门的外侧的迹象。 </li><li>在正常的家庭笼带来小鼠试验室开始第一次审判，允许习惯之前大约30分钟到。如果房间很安静，它可能不是必要的，包括白噪声，否则预防措施可以考虑。 </li><li>设置跟踪程序。 </li><li>轻轻地从它的首页笼取出第一个鼠标，并放置在高大的盖塑料盒。将其转义（清洁家园）聚​​丙烯笼（29厘米×19厘米×13厘米）的指定的逃生孔下。 <ol><li>确保被阻断管从逃生孔移除，而所有其他孔被堵塞的纸张。 </li><li>画帘各地的迷宫。 </li></ol></li><li>将塑料盒用鼠标里面的迷宫中心，约8秒后，轻轻TA柯动物出笼子，并将其放置到迷宫。 <ol><li>把动物在迷宫的中心后，悄悄移动到电脑区域（〜150厘米的迷宫）。 </li><li>启动适当的跟踪软件程序应该已经打开，以确保最小的时间（几秒钟内）已经从动物置于迷宫直到程序开始记录其性能的时间已过。 </li></ol></li><li>从电脑显示器和记录孔数，试验次数，搜索策略，并提出错误数，观察动物的表现。一个错误的定义是嗅了不正确的孔。基于跟踪模式搜索策略的评估可以由活的或以后。 <ol><li>搜索策略被归类为直接 （直接进入逃生笼3或更少的错误）， </li><li> 串行 （沿迷宫周边行驶，直至逃生笼位），或</li><li> 随机&lt;/ STRONG&gt;（穿越迷宫中心多次检查各孔）。 </li></ol></li><li>停止跟踪程序，当动物有逃脱笼子里所有的四只爪子。 </li><li>如果鼠标没有在5分钟内进入逃生笼，轻轻地引导到正确的位置，进入逃生笼。让小鼠留在笼子逃生2分钟。 </li><li>从笼子里逃脱鼠标移除，并放置在家里的笼子。 </li><li>喷迷宫顶部和逃生笼用70％乙醇并擦干。运行其第二次试验前30分钟，一边将第一笼/鼠标。 </li><li>在开始下一个鼠标，请将先前正确的逃生孔，取出纸塞从该下一个主题指定的逃生孔堵孔。 </li><li>每个鼠标的2个试验/天约30分钟的试验间隔测试。 </li><li>重复这些步骤，直到所有的老鼠已经过测试，连续七天，这可能会增加的可能性Øf观察改进的性能和/或治疗组，相对于仅四天的数据之间的差异。 </li></ol> 2。巴恩斯迷宫检测大鼠当一个跟踪程序不可用<ol><li>确保迷宫是在正确的位置（直接在下面居中灯），挡住nonescape孔，防止动物闹翻了假底的牢固的迷宫，逃生笼在指定位置的第一个主题。顶灯迷宫上述应打开。 </li><li>确保电脑和相机已经准备就绪，提供了跑表功能。 </li><li>打开白噪声衰减来自其他附近地点的任何噪音。该测试仪的椅子是从迷宫上方最近的边缘约122厘米并保持在整个测试中相同的位置。 </li><li>定时器（设定为2分钟）应提供（只需要在测试的第1天）。计时器不应该"嘟"或以其他方式制造噪音。门（县）试验ROOM应该有"禁止进入"的牌子之外。 </li><li>测试顺序表科目将列出题目的测试，会话数，为每个主题逃生笼的孔数的位置和面积的顺序来记录延迟和天各科时间，以及一个地区的任何必要的注意事项（ 图6）。 </li><li>从30〜60分钟的第一个鼠要测试之前，使在其家笼中的动物的试验室，以允许习惯。 </li><li>中心管的老鼠是在审判开始时放入设置在迷宫中心。将纸板片显示在最前面的第一个动物的ID。这使得视频录制通过观察视频的前几秒钟捕捉动物标识，便于识别每科。 </li></ol>初步测试第1天: <ol><li>开始电脑视频录制器（如果使用）和包括约5秒，为主旨的动物标识表中的审判ECT鉴定。文件名（或创建日期）将确定测试的日期/时间。 </li><li>将其从笼中兽首（检查身份，如果多个动物在笼），轻轻放在第一头进入逃生笼。盖上笼逃生用一个额外的假底，并启动2分钟计时器。这使动物习惯于在笼逃生。 </li><li> 2分钟定时结束后，轻轻地从逃生仓卸下动物（除去虚假的底盖，以及与设置在离迷宫），电梯ID票据，并立即将大鼠中央管内。盖上纸板ID票据中心管的顶部。 </li><li>轻轻地，慢慢抬起中心管与纸板盖，备用。启动秒表为中心管的动物上面抬起。移动到坐在测试仪的椅子上。 </li><li>在椅子上静静地坐着，看着这两个动物和秒表。每个动物有最多5分钟以找到逃逸笼。 </li><li>如果大鼠找到逃逸笼中小于5分钟，停止秒表和记录的延迟和时间上的测试程序表。从逃生笼取出动物，并把回笼子。 </li><li>如果老鼠没有发现在5分钟内逃生笼，动物轻轻地引导到逃生笼，等待15秒，以消除和动物回到笼子前通过。 <ol><li>这15秒的时间可以用时钟的秒针在测试室的墙上定时。 </li><li>一天的测试顺序表和记录的大鼠没有找到逃生笼创纪录的时间。 </li></ol></li><li>如果老鼠下降/跳下迷宫，测试人员应该看一眼秒表的时间。然后，测试人员应该尝试快速检索动物。 <ol><li>如果这能在10秒内完成，替换动物到迷宫的中心，并记录在测试片（如果测试者可以跌倒或跳跃区分，这应该是表示）秋/跳跃的时间。继续试用。 </li><li>如果检索ANI正常所需的时间比10秒长，停止秒表，并把动物放回饲养笼。秋季/跳远纪录时间（如果测试人员可以下降或跳跃区分，注意这点）。 </li><li>从试验中，动物下降/跳下，不能在10秒内检索到的数据是从统计分析中被删去。 </li></ol></li><li>停止在电脑上的视频录制。记录有关审判的任何意见。 </li><li>拆下迷宫上方的任何尿或粪便，喷以70％的乙醇，并彻底擦干。删除逃生笼，清洁用70％乙醇。 </li><li>把干净的笼子逃脱在指定的位置下一个主题。有一个以上的逃生笼允许每个风干，以减少乙醇的气味。把干净的假底在上孔（这样所有，但一个洞有一个假底和一个孔包含逃生笼）。 </li><li>与在迷宫中心的下一个主题ID表中设置的中心管。开始录像在电脑上。 </LI&gt; <li>取出下一动物进行测试，放入笼逃生（如果天/第1节），并开始2分钟计时器（仅日/第1节）。继续从上面的步骤2。每位受试者接受试验的1 /日。 </li><li>在所有的动物进行测试，清洁和迷宫逃脱牢笼，关闭顶灯，和白噪声。卸下门（S）"请勿进入"的牌子（次）。 </li></ol> 2天至7测试<ol><li>设立试验室和迷宫测试，细节如上。 </li><li>在迷宫中心，在上面标识表设置中心管。开始录像。从家笼中取出第一个动物，并放入中心管。 </li><li>这个步骤区分2-7天从第1天，具体而言，在2-7天，受试者被直接放置到中心管去除从家笼和避让笼内的2分钟驯化期后尚未完成。 </li><li>重复步骤从上述步骤4开始。 </li></ol> 3。统计分析对于巴恩斯迷宫终点<ol><li>数据分析可能需要数统计检验。连续的变量，例如等待时间和错误率，可以分析裂区在空间和时间52。 </li><li>如果某些动物没有最大分配的时间内找到逃逸或家笼，延迟数据可以被指定为最大，并通过使用ProcLife测试中的SAS版本9.2软件分析进行分析。 <ol><li>这种统计方法是一种用于行为数据，其中有一个上限截止有用。 </li></ol></li><li>搜索策略数据可以通过使用重复测量设计用PROC GLIMMIX和SAS版本9.2软件分析进行分析。 <ol><li>这首先分析采用累计记录它链接和多项分布，例如，所有这三个搜索策略（随机，串口，和直接）被纳入分析。 </li><li>如果要判断动物学习使用更有效的搜索策略（直接），一个次生在这两个低效率的策略（随机和串行）相结合，并比对更高效的直接搜索策略可以执行的搜索策略三维分析。 </li><li>这后一种方法导致一个二项式分布，同时采用PROC GLIMMIX。 </li></ol></li></ol>

本文件是按照美国食品和药物管理局（FDA）的政策进行了审查和批准发布。批准并不意味着内容必然反映了FDA的立场或意见，也不提商品名称或商品的构成认可或推荐使用。本报告中的调查结果和结论是作者的，并不一定代表美国食品药品管理局的意见。作者没有竞争的利益和没有透露。

在巴恩斯迷宫测试程序的关键步骤包括:1）提供适当的轻度厌恶刺激来激励动物找到逃生笼，2）确保统一的条件都能够维持相同的动物试验（ 如测试时间，测试人员，外部噪声控制，及可能影响性能等的刺激），3），如果试验是记录，优化，并确保适当的视频记录和文件备份和4）清洗，用70％乙醇的迷宫，以除去试验之间嗅觉视频。 确定激励对象以找到逃生笼最好的刺激可能需要一些修改和/或故障排除。典型的刺激是明亮的照明开销。然而，这可能不足以对某些物种。虽然我们只注意到有传言称，老鼠已被广泛地评估行为上（因此，广泛处理）根据标准的B似乎动力不足ARNES迷宫的条件下，可能是因为他们变得更加温顺，习惯于不同的设备和/或环境。听觉刺激（ 如捕食者的声音）可以考虑，但这种限制同时习惯于其他动物的试验室的能力。已成功地用于其他刺激包括高架风扇引导空气在迷宫顶部57,58或修改巴恩斯迷宫代替厌恶56是食欲。 特迷宫视觉线索是常态巴恩斯迷宫测试与大鼠。在典型的实验室小鼠物种，已经建议额外迷宫线索可能产生比帧内迷宫线索59,60更好的结果。然而，鹿鼠可以成功地使用内部迷宫的线索，找到逃生笼也成功地转换在测试期间使用直接搜索策略8,9。此外，外壁防止动物从迷宫中落下或跳跃。由于加州的小鼠更容易处理和大约2 - 3倍比鹿鼠大，别人已经成功测试了该物种在巴恩斯迷宫，而无需使用墙壁40,61的。然而，在这种情况下，迷宫较小（65厘米直径）以16个孔被放置更向内（1.3厘米）。 方法论上，也有可能影响巴恩斯迷宫程序和结果的intrepretation次要的细节。迷宫顶端为啮齿动物是比较大的，并在试验室必须足够大，以允许测试者自由走动的迷宫。放置在迷宫的一个角落不推荐，因为测试仪必须能够移动在周边检索鼠并将逃逸笼中的适当位置。啮齿动物的焦虑程度，就证明了血浆皮质酮的浓度增加了44，正在测试和外来的刺激可以加重时升高。啮齿动物通常冻结在突如其来的听觉刺激因此，重要的是，该测试环境不位于喧闹的区域。因为这可能是在某一天并在天一个漫长的评估，它可以是具有挑战性的测试人员继续关注这个审判，但是，直接关注到主体的行为是必要的。出于这个原因，避免对性能昼夜的影响，它是最佳的测试动物的数量有限的时间（ 例如，在上午或下午）在某一天一个选择窗口。最后，乙醇的气味可能会厌恶这个话题，虽然这还没有得到明确的测试。几个逃生笼和额外的假底部是建议，使网箱有时间被喷用乙醇后风干。 巴恩斯迷宫的主要优点是它易于相对于其他类型的迷宫，并使用可以得到，可能提供实验诱发impairm一个更全面的评估额外的端点已废除。此外，这种旱地迷宫可以更好地概括为陆生啮齿动物的自然环境。在多日测试期间能够提供的性能改变更有力的证据，证明了等待时间，错误率，并在转换从一个低效的搜索策略（随机或串行），以直接搜索策略的测试过程。 结果从巴恩斯迷宫可以用空间其他航行试验进行验证。另外，它建立了潜在巴恩斯迷宫性能缺陷不是在焦虑，活动或运动能力的改变的结果是很重要的。因此，焦虑和/或运动功能评估，如高架十字迷宫或露地行为，结果可能会决定是否巴恩斯迷宫障碍反映真实变化在空间导航。然而，焦虑常见的鼠试验可能不总是预测的巴恩斯迷宫性能44。如果为true空间导航的改变都存在，莫lecular，病理组织学，电生理，或突触变化可能是明显的海马，内嗅皮质，或其它皮层区，因为这些脑区出现执政这个学习和记忆的反应62-64。

空间学习和记忆的啮齿类实验动物首次评估与食品剥夺大鼠的导航小巷的迷宫找到食物增强剂1。几十年后，提出了一种空间参考记忆系统2。相反，工作记忆是指存储在测试会话或试验中，参考存储器是指存储器横跨测试阶段或临床试验，并更密切相关的长期记忆。 几种类型的迷宫已经发展成为在小型和大型啮齿动物这个海马依赖的空间学习和记忆（ 例如水迷宫，多个T-迷宫，放射臂迷宫和旱地迷宫）3-6无创性评估。在这里，我们重点的圆形平台或Barnes迷宫，由卡罗尔·巴恩斯博士7于1979年首次描述上。这个迷宫已经被用来测试空间航行学习记忆在广泛啮齿类动物模型，包括大鼠（RAttus家鼠），老鼠（ 小家鼠 ），鹿鼠（Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii），加州小鼠（Peromyscus加利福尼亚小 ），和hystricomorph啮齿类动物（ 如 degus [Octodon degus]）8-13。使用巴恩斯迷宫评估的其他物种包括美国蟑螂（ 美洲大蠊 ）14，玉米蛇（ 锦蛇雀雀 ）15， &#160;有鳞爬行动物（ 如边斑点蜥蜴[ 歌stansburiana]）16，和非人灵长类动物（ 如小鼠狐猴[Microcebus鼱 ]）17。在我们的实验室，巴恩斯迷宫性能已被用作神经毒性的指标发育双酚A（BPA）或乙炔基雌二醇（EE2）曝光9-1113之后。它也被普遍用于各种小鼠品系18-21的老化效应7,22-28评估行为表型，和阿尔茨海默氏病相关的画质icits在动物模型3,29-33，以及锻炼和饮食，环境和代谢改变34-42的影响。 的巴恩斯迷宫利用一个主要优点是，它诱导少应力在相对 ​​于水迷宫，如Morris水迷宫43的主体，虽然两者都可以诱导急性增加血浆皮质酮的浓度在小鼠44上 。作为一个旱地迷宫，巴恩斯迷宫可能会更ethologically相关陆地啮齿动物45。虽然水迷宫性能已被证明是在小鼠3,46,47到遗传改变更敏感，巴恩斯迷宫性能是某些其他改动48,49更加敏感。在啮齿类动物模型在水迷宫的使用是不可能的，巴恩斯迷宫可以提供空间记忆保留31的微调评估。轻度厌恶刺激通常用于巴恩斯迷宫（ 如灯不亮），然而，可能无法提供足够的动力为啮齿动物，找到逃逸笼45。此外，啮齿动物可以学习，如果他们不进入笼逃生时没有处罚。而不是积极寻找逃生笼因此，一些啮齿类积极探索迷宫的每个试验的持续时间长。如由肯纳德和半圆-Pak的24评论，这增加了勘探可以延长等待时间来定位逃逸笼，路径长度，和增加错误数量。因此，对多个参数，包括时延，误码率，时间在正确的和不正确的象限，速度花了，时间移动，时间休息，和搜索战略测量，可以统称为每个主体的空间航行学习记忆能力8一个更好的指标-10。此外，性能可以测量的延迟先找到逃生笼（主要指标）或延迟进入逃生笼（总指标）。有些自变量主编的性能主要措施是空间学习的一个更准确地反映比总的措施50。大多数研究中，包括这里所描述的实施例中，使用延迟进入逃逸笼，以确定错误率和搜索策略。此外，一些跟踪的软件系统有三点体检测系统，可以测量嗅探正确与不正确孔的频率。最后，迷宫必须彻底与审判之间的​​乙醇清洗，以除去嗅觉线索，可以提供线索或证明分心到后续的动物。 巴恩斯迷宫的设计而变化，但通常各具有12或20个潜在逃逸孔，其中只有一个引出到家庭或逃生笼。逃生笼可以是位于下方的迷宫顶部的逃生孔（用于迷宫没有围墙），或内置于迷宫周围的墙壁。该线索的大小从约16.5厘米的高度或宽度（米范围内变化阿塞拜疆）水平线21.6厘米宽放置从地板到房间墙上的迷宫外的天花板。 图巴恩斯迷宫设计的Peromyscus品种1-5显示的例子（ 图1）和老鼠（ 图2-5）。插头或假底部必须覆盖nonescape孔，以防止动物掉落走出迷宫。试验室的大小可以变化（约20 平方米 ），但它必须足够大以提供足够的空间迷宫，habituating动物的房间，可容纳一台计算机与视频的建立（如果使用），和一个地方对于实验者从迷宫装置，使得它们的存在不与动物的表现干扰坐在一个距离（至少〜122厘米）。逃生笼位置分配应各治疗组之间和性别平衡。而此处所描述的具体程序不包括旋转试验，以阻止使用帧内迷宫气味线索，一些研究之间的迷宫把这个程序50。在我们的程序中，迷宫擦拭干净，用试验之间的乙醇，以消除异味的线索。 在寻 ​​找逃生笼，三种类型的检索策略已被定义（最初称为"模式"巴恩斯7）:1）随机，操作上定义为通过孔穿越迷宫的中心路径分隔的局部搜索，2）串口，定义为系统的搜索连续孔在顺时针或反时针方向，以及3）直接或空间，定义为直接导航到正确的象限而不穿过迷宫中心多于一次，并与3个或更少的错误。一般情况下，反复试验，老鼠通常通过上市（随机，串行和直接）51的顺序搜索策略进展。而不逸出笼的探针试验也可以用来作为进一步的措施的存储器50。 该协议及代表此结果两种啮齿类（Peromyscus物种否则称为小型啮齿动物）和大鼠的开发工作。虽然这些一般的程序可能还持有近交系和/或远交系小鼠（ 小家鼠 ），其他研究应征询那些后者的18-21种潜在的方法论差异。

<table><tbody><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;NOTE: Those items that are for small rodents only are bolded. Those items that are for large rodents only are italicized. Items neither bolded nor italicized are for both&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Barnes Maze platform with 12 or 20 escape holes every 30&amp;deg;. For rats, each hole is 10.5 cm in diameter and 4 cm from the maze top edge. For use with automated tracking programs, a black top for white rodents or a white top for pigmented rodents is needed. For mice and rats, this circular top is 95 and 122 cm in diameter, respectively.</td><td>US Plastics Corp, Lima, OH</td><td>42625</td><td>This is the top of the Barnes Maze and the surface that the rodent is placed upon. It can be constructed from a variety of materials (e.g., Plexiglas), but for endocrine disruptor work, polypropylene BPA-free material is optimal. One of the holes leads to the an escape cage; all other holes are blind-ending or false-bottomed. For the rat maze, small slides on the underside of the maze platform allow the escape cage and false bottoms to slide in.</td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;2 in Polypropylene pipe plug (24)&lt;br/&gt; 2 in 90&amp;deg; Black polypropylene elbow (12)&lt;br/&gt; 2 in x 6 in Polypropylene pipe nipple (1)&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td>&lt;strong&gt;US Plastics Corp, Lima, OH&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td>&lt;strong&gt;30724&lt;br/&gt; 32086&lt;br/&gt; 30712&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td>&lt;strong&gt;These are only necessary for the small rodent (e.g. mouse) Barnes Maze. These adaptations are either blind-ending tubes/elbows or one of the tubes is connected to the pipe nipple that then leads to the escape cage.&lt;/strong&gt;</td></tr><tr><td>&lt;em&gt;False bottoms for rat Barnes Maze&lt;/em&gt;</td><td></td><td></td><td>&lt;em&gt;These were custom made of ABS plastic and vacuum molded for the rat maze apparatus.&lt;/em&gt;</td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;Circular aluminum wall/barrier (50 cm high) around the maze&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td>&lt;strong&gt;Ace Hardware, Columbia, MO&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td></td><td>&lt;strong&gt;In the case of small rodents (&lt;em&gt;e.g.&lt;/em&gt;, mice), this barrier prevents them from falling off the maze; the rat apparatus generally does not require this. The wall may not be needed for laboratory mice that are relatively tame&lt;/strong&gt;.</td></tr><tr><td>Support stand for maze platform top</td><td>US Plastics Corp, Lima, OH</td><td>42625</td><td>The stand supports the maze platform top such that it is elevated above the floor (typically, 70-100 cm) to motivate the rodent to locate the escape cage. The stand can be constructed of any material.</td></tr><tr><td>White noise</td><td>SleepMate Sound Conditioner,&lt;br/&gt; Marpac, Rocky Point, NC</td><td>980A</td><td>Background noise may be used to block out peripheral acoustic cues that may confound Barnes Maze testing across trials and animals</td></tr><tr><td>Light fixtures and 300-500 W bulbs encased in aluminum shells. For example, Utilitech 500 W halogen portable work lights.</td><td>Ace Hardware or Lowes</td><td></td><td>Bright lights provide a mildly aversive stimulus which motivate the rodent to locate the escape cage. The lights are generally suspended ~150 cm above the maze top.</td></tr><tr><td>Escape cage. For small rodents, this can be a polypropylene cage (27.8 cm x 7.5 cm x 13 cm).</td><td>Ancare, Bellmore, NY</td><td>N40 PP</td><td>The rat escape cage here was custom built and has a ramp leading into the escape cage.</td></tr><tr><td>&lt;em&gt;Opaque tube (rats only) (27 cm diameter; 23 cm height) with a piece of thick cardboard to cover the top.&lt;/em&gt;</td><td></td><td></td><td>&lt;em&gt;The tube is placed in the center of the maze and the rat is placed into the tube from the top which is covered with the cardboard. A handle on the outside of the tube allows easier lifting of the tube, which then begins the trial. The tube can be constructed of any material, but should be opaque.&lt;/em&gt;</td></tr><tr><td>High resolution video camera (&lt;em&gt;e.g.&lt;/em&gt;, Panasonic Digital Video Camera)</td><td>Panasonic, Secaucus, NJ</td><td>ICV19458</td><td>The video camera is positioned overhead and records trials for later analysis.</td></tr><tr><td>Extra- or intra-maze geometric cues made of high quality cardboard construction paper</td><td>any office supply store, such as Staples</td><td></td><td>These visual cues orient the animal within the maze environment, providing cues as to the spatial location of the escape cage; in rats, extra-maze cues on the walls work well, whereas in small rodents that require a wall around the maze, intra-maze cues must be used.</td></tr><tr><td>&lt;strong&gt;Black curtain to surround the maze (small rodents only)&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td>&lt;strong&gt;any fabric and crafts store, such as Jo-Ann Fabrics&lt;/strong&gt;</td><td></td><td>&lt;strong&gt;A black curtain is used in small rodents (especially wild species, &lt;em&gt;e.g.&lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;Peromyscus&lt;/em&gt;) to maintain attention within the maze confines&lt;/strong&gt;.</td></tr><tr><td>70% Ethanol</td><td>Fisher Scientific</td><td>BP2818-4</td><td>After each trial, the maze top and escape cage are cleaned to eliminate potential odor cues for consecutively tested rodents.</td></tr><tr><td>Tracking software program, such as Ethovision, and computer with appropriate video card and substantial (1 TB or more) hard-drive space. Alternatively, videos can be recorded directly to the computer for later analysis using a program such as Win TV (Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc.).</td><td>Noldus (Leesburg, VA)</td><td></td><td>Tracking software is required to analyze trials for latency to locate the escape cage, velocity, distance traveled, time spent resting, time spent moving, time spent in the correct versus incorrect quadrants, time spent around the escape hole, number of errors or entries into incorrect holes, and overall search strategy employed to find the escape cage.</td></tr><tr><td>External hard drives, such as Seagate or WD, with a minimum 1-2 TB of memory</td><td>Any office supply store, such as Staples.</td><td></td><td>Videorecordings should be backed up in at least one separate location.</td></tr><tr><td>Videorecording program, &lt;em&gt;e.g.&lt;/em&gt; WinTV program</td><td>Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc.,&lt;br/&gt; Hauppauge, NY</td><td></td><td>If tracking software is not available at the time of the testing,&lt;br/&gt; the trials should be video-recorded for later analysis</td></tr></tbody></table>

barnes maze testing strategies with small and large rodent models

空间学习和啮齿类实验动物的记忆往往是通过在迷宫，其中最流行的是水和旱地（巴恩斯）迷宫续航能力进行评估。在会话或试验改进的性能被认为是反映逃生笼/平台位置的学习和记忆。认为比水迷宫压力较小，巴恩斯迷宫是一个圆形的平台，上面一个相对简单的设计有几个洞在周边边缘等距。但所有的孔中的一个是假底或盲结束，而一个导致逃生笼。轻度厌恶刺激（ 如明亮的顶灯）提供动力，以找到逃生笼。潜伏期找到逃生笼可在会议期间进行测量，但额外的端点通常需要视频录制。从这些录像，使用自动跟踪软件可以生成各种端点类似于那些在水迷宫生产（ 例如&lt;/ em&gt;的行驶距离，速度/转速，时间在正确的象限中度过，花费的时间动/静息和确认延迟）。搜索策略（ 即随机的，串行，或直接）的类型可以分为好。巴恩斯迷宫建造和测试方法不同，可以为小型啮齿类动物，如小鼠和大啮齿动物，如老鼠。例如，在特迷宫的线索是有效的鼠，小的野生啮齿动物可能需要内部迷宫的线索与周围的迷宫视觉障碍。适当的刺激必须确定哪些激励啮齿动物找到逃生笼。双方巴恩斯和水迷宫可作为时间4-7测试试验通常需要检测改进学习和记忆能力（ 如较短的延迟或路径长度来寻找逃生平台或保持架）和/或实验组之间的差异耗时。即便如此，巴恩斯迷宫是一种广泛使用的行为评估测量空间的航行能力和他们受遗传，神经行为操作，或药物/毒物接触潜在干扰。

性成熟的雄性鹿鼠依赖于找到潜在的合作伙伴繁殖，这是整个环境中广泛传播增强空间导航能力。既产前和成人接触的睾丸激素在组织和激活此以后的成年男性行为53是必不可少的。因此，有人推测，早期接触内分泌干扰物，可能会扰乱稍后性状的男性。为了检验这一假设，雄性和雌性鹿小鼠经产妇的饮食发育暴露于BPA的一种植物雌激素饮食，积极控制雌激素（炔雌醇[EE2]）的一种植物雌激素饮食，或几个基地环境相关剂量植物雌激素控制的无精饮食，被评定为巴恩斯迷宫表现为成人。 图1显示了这一物种的巴恩斯迷宫装置。暴露在两个较高，但不是最低的男性中，双酚A的剂量表现出在空间学习二维等效缺陷，如表现为潜伏期延长，增加误码率，以及无法转换到直接搜索策略在试用期（ 图7-9）。然而，女性暴露于EE2和中剂量的BPA，而不是其他的BPA剂量展出空间学习和记忆的男性化模式（ 即减少延迟和增加使用直接搜索策略）9,13。 而相比之下，一夫多妻鹿鼠，其相关的表兄弟，一夫一妻制男性加州小鼠，增加他们通过对粘结繁殖成功，并留在境内与单身女性和养育子女的责任54,55共享。因此，空间导航能力一直没有受到加州老鼠强进化节。因此，假定是，早期的BPA和EE2暴露不会针对在加州老鼠这种行为。为了支持这一hypothe的SIS，发育暴露于双酚A或EE2没有在男性或女性，这表明在所有治疗组比较的反应（ 图10和图11）10改变空间导航行为（时延，误码率，或转换到直接搜索策略）。相较于控制鹿鼠，控制加州小鼠并没有减少作出了七个连续几天的测试错误次数也没有控制加州雄性小鼠增加其使用直接搜索策略。这可能反映了学习能力的物种差异，但是，它有可能是必需的加州小鼠进一步细化对视空间学习和记忆测试评估。 巴恩斯迷宫装置和相关联的硬件，用于大鼠示于图2-5中 。该装置是用来评估男性和雌性SD大鼠在出生后47-51天空间学习和记忆（5形成机制cutive天，1项试验/天）。在最后一天（ 即 5天），逃生笼移动180°从原来的位置上1-4天。这些科目以前被评定为翻正反射和斜板的行为（断奶前），并发挥行为，露地活动水平和运动协调。他们的水坝曾食用3小片香草晶圆在其上分别注入1毫升/千克体重的水对妊娠6-21天。学科本身口服用1毫升/千克体重的水，每天两次在出生后1-21天。断奶时，他们对安置与同性兄弟姐妹。然而，只有1/sex/litter被评定为巴恩斯迷宫性能。 图12显示平均等待时间来寻找逃生笼在每个测试5天每次做爱。性（P &lt;0.04）和会话（P &lt;0.01）的显著主效应上表示相对于1天2-5天的女性和更短的等待时间更短的等待时间。其他甲肝E也报道在雌性大鼠56更短的延迟，但是，类似性的效果并不总是注意到在我们的实验室11。因此，在大鼠一贯性作用尚未确定端点延迟时间比其他尚未公布，然而，跟踪软件在使用类似的研究，探讨错误率和搜索策略的影响。 <img alt="图1" fo:content-width="4in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig1highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig1.jpg" /> 图1为Peromyscus物种A）巴恩斯迷宫装置的内部几何迷宫的线索（ 如圆形，方形，三角形和星形）被放置在迷宫墙上每隔90°里面，有放置每隔30°12逃生洞，迷宫是由一个黑色的帷幕包围（未示出），B）的迷宫顶被放置在聚丙烯立场和高架百厘米以上的地板。 <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig1highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图2" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig2highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig2.jpg" /> 图2，巴恩斯迷宫装置大鼠的迷宫顶部和支承座可以看到与迷宫顶部直径和高度从地面所示。在地板上的数字表示孔数和允许测试仪放置逃逸笼在指定的位置（楼层号码不能由被摄体可以看出）。一个额外的迷宫视觉线索可以看到远处的墙上（ 即黑色垂直条纹）。 <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig2highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图3" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig3highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig3.jpg" /> 图3为大鼠巴恩斯迷宫装置的近距离观察。白色逃生笼滑入迷宫上方的侧凹槽。类似的凹槽位于迷宫顶部为每个外围孔的底部。 <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig3highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图4" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig4highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig4.jpg" /> 图4。与示范主体识别对大鼠巴恩斯迷宫装置的顶片中心管，纸板盖升降机客场PLAC辰管内的大鼠，然后被替换。在中心管上的手柄可以方便地升降，开始试用。 <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig4highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图5" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig5highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig5.jpg" /> 图5:在进入时 ， 逃生笼大鼠尺寸。小踏板上的向下的斜坡提供牵引力的老鼠。 <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig5highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图6" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig6highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig6.jpg" /> 图6。 <stroNG&gt;样本测试表巴恩斯迷宫的手写信息被记录在测试阶段的时间，而其他信息被预先生成的。的列有:1）测试顺序，使动物笼子可以按顺序排列并实验者知道测试的顺序，2）会话数（通常情况下，连续5-7天），3）动物的ID，4）性别（逃生笼每个科目，6）按复选标记在本专栏中所示，牲畜头数106和131并没有发现在规定时间内逃脱牢笼的可能没有必要在测试片），5）的位置，7）一天中的时间对于每个动物的试验开始时和8）的延迟来定位逃逸笼（单位为秒）。在测试板的底部是足够的空间供实验者记录注释和说明，如可能在会议期间发生的任何噪音或干扰。 <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig6highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看LARG</a>呃形象。 <img alt="图7" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig7highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig7.jpg" /> 图7雄性和雌性鹿小鼠在巴恩斯迷宫搜索策略发展暴露于双酚A或EE2的影响A）例示出了三个定义的搜索策略:随机（顶部），串行（中）和直接（下） BPA，EE2和对照组小鼠的B）采用比例随机（黄色），串行（绿色），或通过收购直接测试（黑色）的搜索策略。 CTL男性使用的直接搜索策略比较常用在连续7天的测试时间比其他各组除低剂量BPA的男性和女性EE2（P值均&lt;0.05）。 CTL =控制; EE2 =乙炔雌二醇，双酚A =双酚A改编自许可。0; 13 <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig7highres.jpg" target="_blank">点此查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图8" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig8highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig8.jpg" /> 图8。雄性和雌性鹿鼠在发育延迟暴露于双酚A或EE2（同组，如图3），找到逃生笼在巴恩斯迷宫A）男性B）女性的影响 。 CTL男性更迅速地找到正确的逃生笼，其实例潜伏期短，比CTL女性（P = 0.0103），EE2暴露男性（P &lt;0.0008）和上，中剂量BPA的男性（P = 0.03，P = 0.02）。 CTL男性，然而，表现出类似的反应为低剂量BPA的男性和EE2女性（P的&gt; 0.05）。相比之下，EE2女性已经ð在整个试验期间ecreased潜伏期比EE2暴露男性（P = 0.0013）。数据表示为平均值±标准差。改编自Jasarevic 等 13权限<a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig8highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图9" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig9highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig9.jpg" /> 图9。雄性和雌性鹿鼠的发育期接触BPA和EE2逃生错误（同组，如图3）。 A）男性B）女性。 CTL雄性证实大约一半的错误或条目的数量成不正确的孔相比，CTL女性（P = 0.0002）和EE2男性（P = 0.02）。此外，CTL男犯更少的错误比上剂量的BPA男性（P =0.02），但在误码率没有显着差异（P&gt; 0.05），从任一中间或低剂量的BPA男性。另一方面，EE2女性表现出男性化响应，使得该基团所具有的相同的错误率的CTL男性和减小误差（P = 0.002）比EE2男性。中剂量BPA暴露的女性也表现出比低剂量的BPA和CTL女性（P = 0.0005和0.01）更少的错误。数据表示为平均值±标准差。改编自Jasarevic 等 13权限<a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig9highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图10" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig10highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig10.jpg" /> 图10。雄性和雌性小鼠加州在巴恩斯迷宫测试的搜索策略。搜索策略ARE颜色分类:随机（黄色），串行（绿色），和直接（黑色）。在7天的测试期间，有毒物或性别上的搜索策略用于这些动物没有显著作用。改编自Williams 等 10权限<a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig10highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图11" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig11highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig11.jpg" /> 图11。潜伏期找到逃生笼中逃脱巴恩斯迷宫测试为男性（A和C）和女性（B＆D）加州小鼠（同组，如图6）错误。A和B）延迟。C和D）错误逃生。在7天的测试期，没有显<html> ficant毒物或性别上的搜索策略用于这些动物的影响。数据表示为平均值±标准差。改编自Williams 等 10权限<a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig11highres.jpg" target="_blank">点击这里查看大图</a> 。 <img alt="图12" fo:content-width="5in" fo:src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig12highres.jpg" src="/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig12.jpg" /> 图12。等待时间来寻找逃生笼雄性和雌性SD大鼠上进行评估（1审判/天）出生后47-51天，在最后一天（5日），逃生笼移动180°从原来的位置。女性表现出显著更短的等待时间比在2-5天男性潜伏期较第1天潜伏期显著缩短。数据表示为平均值±标准差。TP :/ / www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/51194/51194fig12highres.jpg"目标="_blank"&gt;点击这里查看大图。

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models at JoVE.com

Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models

在旱地巴恩斯迷宫被广泛用于测量响应于轻度厌恶刺激空间导航能力。连续多天，对照组的性能（ 如等待时间来寻找逃生笼）提高，表明正常的学习和记忆。大鼠和小鼠之间的差异必然要求，在这里详细的设备和方法的变化。

巴恩斯迷宫测试策略与小型和大型啮齿类动物模型

Spatial learning and memory of laboratory rodents is often assessed via navigational ability in mazes, most popular of which are the water and dry-land ...

barnes-maze-testing-strategies-with-small-and-large-rodent-models

Nanyang Technological University

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

41.5K 次观看.  University of Missouri. 在旱地巴恩斯迷宫被广泛用于测量响应于轻度厌恶刺激空间导航能力。连续多天，对照组的性能（ 如等待时间来寻找逃生笼）提高，表明正常的学习和记忆。大鼠和小鼠之间的差异必然要求，在这里详细的设备和方法的变化。 

视频: Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models

Nest Building as an Indicator of Health and Welfare in Laboratory Mice

The minimization and alleviation of suffering has moral and scientific implications. In order to mitigate this negative experience one must be able to identify when an animal is actually in distress. Pain, illness, or distress cannot be managed if unrecognized. Evaluation of pain or illness typically involves the measurement of physiologic and behavioral indicators which are either invasive or not suitable for large scale assessment. The observation of nesting behavior shows promise as the basis of a species appropriate cage-side assessment tool for recognizing distress in mice. Here we demonstrate the utility of nest building behavior in laboratory mice as an ethologically relevant indicator of welfare. The methods presented can be successfully used to identify thermal stressors, aggressive cages, sickness, and pain. Observation of nest building behavior in mouse colonies provides a refinement to health and well-being assessment on a day to day basis.

We demonstrate the utility of nest building behavior in laboratory mice as an indicator of welfare. Nest scoring is a sensitive technique that is altered by temperature, illness, and aggression. The time to integrate into nest test (TINT) is a simple cage-side assessment that can detect postoperative pain.

The minimization and alleviation of  suffering has moral and scientific implications. In order to mitigate this  negative experience one must be able to ...

科研

行为学

The Double-H Maze: A Robust Behavioral Test for Learning and Memory in Rodents

Spatial cognition research in rodents typically employs the use of maze tasks, whose attributes vary from one maze to the next. These tasks vary by their behavioral flexibility and required memory duration, the number of goals and pathways, and also the overall task complexity. A confounding feature in many of these tasks is the lack of control over the strategy employed by the rodents to reach the goal, e.g., allocentric (declarative-like) or egocentric (procedural) based strategies. The double-H maze is a novel water-escape memory task that addresses this issue, by allowing the experimenter to direct the type of strategy learned during the training period. The double-H maze is a transparent device, which consists of a central alleyway with three arms protruding on both sides, along with an escape platform submerged at the extremity of one of these arms.
Rats can be trained using an allocentric strategy by alternating the start position in the maze in an unpredictable manner (see protocol 1; &#167;4.7), thus requiring them to learn the location of the platform based on the available allothetic cues. Alternatively, an egocentric learning strategy (protocol 2; &#167;4.8) can be employed by releasing the rats from the same position during each trial, until they learn the procedural pattern required to reach the goal. This task has been proven to allow for the formation of stable memory traces.
Memory can be probed following the training period in a misleading probe trial, in which the starting position for the rats alternates. Following an egocentric learning paradigm, rats typically resort to an allocentric-based strategy, but only when their initial view on the extra-maze cues differs markedly from their original position. This task is ideally suited to explore the effects of drugs/perturbations on allocentric/egocentric memory performance, as well as the interactions between these two memory systems.

The goal of this protocol is to investigate spatial cognition in rodents. The double-H water maze is a novel test, which is particularly useful to elucidate the different components of learning, consolidation and memory, as well as the interplay of memory systems.

双-H迷宫:一个强大的行为测试学习和记忆的鼠害

Spatial cognition research in rodents typically employs the use of maze tasks, whose attributes vary from one maze to the next. These tasks vary by their ...

T-maze Forced Alternation and Left-right Discrimination Tasks for Assessing Working and Reference Memory in Mice

Forced alternation and left-right discrimination tasks using the T-maze have been widely used to assess working and reference memory, respectively, in rodents. In our laboratory, we evaluated the two types of memory in more than 30 strains of genetically engineered mice using the automated version of this apparatus. Here, we present the modified T-maze apparatus operated by a computer with a video-tracking system and our protocols in a movie format. The T-maze apparatus consists of runways partitioned off by sliding doors that can automatically open downward, each with a start box, a T-shaped alley, two boxes with automatic pellet dispensers at one side of the box, and two L-shaped alleys. Each L-shaped alley is connected to the start box so that mice can return to the start box, which excludes the effects of experimenter handling on mouse behavior. This apparatus also has an advantage that in vivo microdialysis, in vivo electrophysiology, and optogenetics techniques can be performed during T-maze performance because the doors are designed to go down into the floor. In this movie article, we describe T-maze tasks using the automated apparatus and the T-maze performance of &alpha;-CaMKII+/- mice, which are reported to show working memory deficits in the eight-arm radial maze task. Our data indicated that &alpha;-CaMKII+/- mice showed a working memory deficit, but no impairment of reference memory, and are consistent with previous findings using the eight-arm radial maze task, which supports the validity of our protocol. In addition, our data indicate that mutants tended to exhibit reversal learning deficits, suggesting that &alpha;-CaMKII deficiency causes reduced behavioral flexibility. Thus, the T-maze test using the modified automatic apparatus is useful for assessing working and reference memory and behavioral flexibility in mice.

This article presents the protocol of T-maze tests using a modified automated apparatus for assessing the learning and memory functions in mice.

T-迷宫强迫交替和评估工作，并参考在小鼠记忆的左，右的歧视任务

Forced alternation and left-right discrimination tasks using the T-maze have been widely used to assess working and reference memory, respectively, in ...

神经科学

A Behavioral Assay for Investigating the Role of Spatial Memory During Instinctive Defense in Mice

Evolution has selected a repertoire of defensive behaviors that are essential for survival across all animal species. These behaviors are often stereotyped actions elicited in response to innately aversive sensory stimuli, but their success requires enough flexibility for adapting to different spatial environments, which can change rapidly. Here, we describe a behavioral assay to evaluate the influence of learned spatial knowledge on defensive behaviors in mice. We have adapted the widely used Barnes maze spatial memory assay to investigate how mice navigate to a shelter during escape responses to innately aversive sensory stimuli in a novel environment, and how they adapt to acute changes in the environment. This new assay is an ethological paradigm that does not require training and exploits the natural exploration patterns and navigation strategies in mice. We propose that the set of protocols described here are a powerful means of studying goal-directed behaviors and stimulus-triggered navigation, which should be of interest to both the fields of instinctive behaviors and spatial memory.

This protocol describes a behavioral assay, based on the Barnes maze test, to study how instinctive defensive actions are modified by the knowledge of spatial environment.

一种研究空间记忆在小鼠本能防御中作用的行为分析法

Evolution has selected a repertoire of defensive behaviors that are essential for survival across all animal species. These behaviors are often ...

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in  Free Moving Rodents

Many neurological and psychiatric patients demonstrate difficulties and/or deficits in decision making. Rodent models are helpful to produce a deeper understanding of the neurobiological causes underlying the decision-making problems. A cost-benefit based T-maze task is used for measuring decision making in which rodents choose between a high reward arm (HRA) and a low reward arm (LRA). There are two paradigms of the T-maze decision-making task, one in which the cost is a time delay and the other in which it is physical effort. Both paradigms require a tedious and labor-intensive management of experimental animals, multiple doors, pellet reward, and arm choice recordings. In the current work, we invented an apparatus based on traditional T-maze with full automation for pellet delivery, door management and choice recordings. This automated setup can be used for the evaluation of both delay- and effort-based decision making in rodents. With the protocol described here, our lab investigated the decision-making phenotypes of multiple genetically modified mice. In the representative data, we showed that the mice with ablated medial habenular showed aversions of both delay and effort and tended to choose the immediate and effortless reward. This protocol helps to decrease the variability caused by experimenter intervention and to enhance experiment efficiency. In addition, chronic silicon probe or microelectrode recording, fiber-optic imaging and/or manipulation of neural activity can be easily applied during the decision-making task using the setup described here.

This article introduces an automated T-maze apparatus that we invented, and a protocol based on this apparatus for analyzing delay-based decision making and effort-based decision making in free moving rodents.

基于自动 T 迷宫的自由移动啮齿动物延迟和努力决策分析装置及协议

Many neurological and psychiatric patients demonstrate difficulties and/or deficits in decision making. Rodent models are helpful to produce a deeper ...

Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms

The Barnes maze is a reliable measure of spatial learning and memory that does not require food restriction or exposure to extremely stressful stimuli. The Barnes maze can also assess other mouse behaviors, such as general motivation to escape from the maze platform and exploratory behavior. The Barnes maze can measure whether a genetic mutation or environmental variable can impact the acquisition and retention of spatial memories, as well as provide information about the search strategy employed by the mice. Here we use the Barnes maze to detect a memory deficit in adult mice following a single developmental ethanol exposure event. The newly described Damsel-in-Distress paradigm exposes a male mouse to a female mouse trapped in a chamber in the open center field of the arena. It provides an opportunity for the mouse to socially respond to the trapped female and exhibit prosocial behavior. The Damsel-in-Distress paradigm can also be used to examine mouse behavior in a novel arena and measure locomotor activity. Both the Barnes Maze and the Damsel-in-Distress protocols require minimal financial investment and most aspects of the tests can be constructed from common lab supplies. These flexible and accessible tools can also be used to detect behavioral changes over the course of development.

This protocol measures spatial learning and memory using the Barnes maze. A novel Damsel-in-Distress paradigm is used to assess locomotor activity and prosocial behavior in mice.

利用巴恩斯迷宫和困境中的破坏范式分析小鼠的空间学习和社会行为

The Barnes maze is a reliable measure of spatial learning and memory that does not require food restriction or exposure to extremely stressful stimuli. ...

Utilizing a Reconfigurable Maze System to Enhance the Reproducibility of Spatial Navigation Tests in Rodents

Several maze shapes are used to test spatial navigation performance and behavioral phenotypes. Traditionally, each experiment requires a unique maze shape, thus requiring several separate mazes in different configurations. The maze geometry cannot be reconfigured in a single environment to accommodate scalability and reproducibility. The reconfigurable maze is a unique approach to address the limitations, allowing quick and flexible configurations of maze pathways in a repeatable manner. It consists of interlocking pathways and includes feeders, treadmills, movable walls, and shut-off sensors. The current protocol describes how the reconfigurable maze can replicate existing mazes, including the T-shaped, plus-shaped, W-shaped, and figure-eight mazes. Initially, the T-shaped maze was constructed inside a single experimental room, followed by modifications. The rapid and scalable protocol outlined herein demonstrates the flexibility of the reconfigurable maze, achieved through the addition of components and behavioral training phases in a stepwise manner. The reconfigurable maze systematically and precisely assesses the performance of multiple aspects of spatial navigation behavior.

The present protocol describes a reconfigurable maze, a unique system for testing spatial navigation and behavioral phenotypes in rodents. The adaptability of this maze system enables the execution of various experiments in a single physical environment. The ease of structural rearrangement generates reliable and reproducible experimental results.

利用可重构的迷宫系统提高啮齿动物空间导航测试的可重复性

Several maze shapes are used to test spatial navigation performance and behavioral phenotypes. Traditionally, each experiment requires a unique maze ...

Spatial Memory Testing Using Mazes

Spatial learning and memory are neurological functions that allow us to remember important details associated with our environment. Scientists test this phenomenon in rodents using different types of mazes like Morris water maze, Radial water maze, and Barnes maze. By investigating spatial memory in rodents, neurobehavioral scientists can gain valuable understanding of how these processes are altered following brain damage in humans.
Here, the neurobiology behind spatial memory is briefly reviewed and some general principles behind maze tests are discussed. Then, the video explains generalized protocols on how to conduct trials with specific types of mazes. Lastly, it will explain how behavioral researchers are using these tools to conduct some specific experiments.

Spatial Memory Tests Using Morris Water, Radial Water &amp; Barnes Mazes

空间记忆测试中使用的迷宫

Spatial learning and memory are neurological functions that allow us to remember important details associated with our environment. Scientists test this ...

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Barnes Maze: A Method For Assessing Spacial Learning and Memory in Lab Animals

Source: Ingersoll, J. et al. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/video/58008/analyzing-spatial-learning-prosocial-behavior-mice-using-barnes-maze">Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms</a>. J. Vis. Exp. (2018).
This video shows how to use the Barnes Maze with a mouse. The Barnes Maze testing procedure is used by researchers to assess spatial learning and memory in laboratory animals following repeated trials.

巴恩斯迷宫:一种评估实验动物空间学习和记忆的方法

Source: Ingersoll, J. et al. Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms. J. Vis. ...

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Barnes Maze: A Method for Assessing Spatial Learning and Memory in Lab Animals

Before beginning the Barnes Maze testing procedure, clean all of the maze components with water and 70% ethanol. When the components are dry, assemble the maze and randomly assign each mouse to a target hole to use throughout the testing period.
The holes can be labeled 1 to 20 on the bottom of the maze or on the outside of the maze perimeter where they are not visible from within the maze. To start a training test, replace the assigned hole disk with a 23 by 11 centimeter black box and use rubber bands and hooks to firmly attach the box to the maze.
Then, place a mouse onto the center of the Barnes Maze beneath a cup and allow the mouse to acclimate for 30 seconds. At the end of the acclimation period, begin the video recording and turn on the light and ultrasonic noisemaker.
Lift the cup via a string mechanism to avoid biasing the initial heading of the animal and start a timer behind an observation curtain. Track the animal&#39;s movements on a piece of paper with a diagram of the maze and use the diagram to analyze the mouse&#39;s search strategies as well as to determine the number of holes that were explored in the quadrant opposite the target.
When the mouse enters the target hole, cover the hole with a heavy opaque binder and turn off the ultrasonic noisemaker. If the mouse has not entered the target after 5 minutes, corral the animal into the target hole. Then, allow the mouse to remain in the target box for 1 minute undisturbed, making sure to turn off the ultrasonic noise. Then, return the animal to its cage.
When all of the mice have been tested, manually review their recording to track the overall movement of the mouse to determine the number of incorrect holes explored before and after the target is found, as well as the number of holes from the target hole to the first hole explored and any notable grooming behavior.