Abstract / Description of output
Measuring the activity and temperature of rats is commonly required in biomedical research. Conventional approaches necessitate single housing, which affects their behavior and wellbeing. We have used a subcutaneous radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponder to measure ambulatory activity and temperature of individual rats when group-housed in conventional, rack-mounted home cages. The transponder location and temperature is detected by a matrix of antennae in a baseplate under the cage. An infrared high-definition camera acquires side-view video of the cage and also enables automated detection of vertical activity. Validation studies showed that baseplate-derived ambulatory activity correlated well with manual tracking and with side-view whole-cage video pixel movement. This technology enables individual behavioral and temperature data to be acquired continuously from group-housed rats in their familiar, home cage environment. We demonstrate its ability to reliably detect naturally occurring behavioral effects, extending beyond the capabilities of routine observational tests and conventional monitoring equipment. It has numerous potential applications including safety pharmacology, toxicology, circadian biology, disease models and drug discovery.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e0181068 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-26 |
Number of pages | 26 |
Journal | PLoS ONE |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 6 Sept 2017 |
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Douglas Armstrong
- School of Informatics - Personal Chair in Systems Neurobiology
- Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation
- Edinburgh Neuroscience
- Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Person: Academic: Research Active