Animal Metabolism and Behavior

Faculty

Name

Christopher Morrison, PhD

 

Laboratory Members

Hailey Bolton

Hailey Bolton
Laboratory Manager

Kennedy Whitfield

Kennedy Whitfield
Research Associate

Kaleigh Eubanks

Kaleigh Eubanks
Veterinary Laboratory Technician

 

About this Core

The Animal Metabolism and Behavior Core (AMBC) provides investigators access to a broad range of metabolic and behavior equipment for both rat and mouse models. Metabolic equipment focuses on endpoints related to body weight, body composition, feeding behavior, energy expenditure, thermoregulation, physical activity, and exercise. Behavioral equipment focuses on endpoints related to stress, anxiety, learning and memory, and motivation. The AMBC is located in an isolated corridor inside the Comparative Biology Core allowing for undisturbed testing. 

Metabolic Services

Bruker Minispec LF50 NMR System 

  • Measures mice from 10 to 60 grams
  • Measurement time of one minute per animal
  • Operates using the Minispec Plus software 

Bruker Minispec LF110 NMR System 

  • Measures mice and rats from 20 to 800 grams
  • Measurement time of one minute per animal
  • Operates using the Minispec Plus software 

Bruker BioSpec Maxwell 7T Preclinical MRI 

  • Equipped with animal monitoring system 
  • Operates using ParaVision 360 software 
  • Maximum experiment freedom for studies on mice and rats with support with free RF-coil access of 82 mm 
  • Accurate animal positioning with the motorized Animal Transport System 

TSE Phenomaster

  • Measures both mice and rats, independently 
  • Features four separate 16 cage systems that measure simultaneously
  • Animals are housed in standard shoebox cages during measurement 
  • Measurement time of 1 1/2 minutes per animal 
  • Activity measurements via beam breaks 
  • Measures food intake -- pelleted diets only 
  • Measures water/liquid intake 
  • Food access -- timed feeding, paired feedings, restricted feedings 
  • All cages are enclosed in an environmentally controlled chamber (4° to 60°C operating temperature)                

Sable Promethion  

  • Measures mice only 
  • Measures up to 16 mice simultaneously per system  
  • Measurement time of 5 minutes per 16 cages 
  • Activity measurements via X,Y,Z beam breaks 
  • Measures food and water intake 
  • Attachable running wheels 
  • All cages are enclosed in an environmentally controlled chamber (4° to 40°C operating temperature) 

Sable Metabolic Treadmill (Mouse Only) 

  • Modular treadmill is airtight and attached to an indirect calorimeter to measure oxygen consumption and energy expenditure during an exercise bout. 
  • Electrical stimulus option 
  • Adjustable incline 

Stable Isotope Analyzer

  • Connects to Sable Promethion  
  • Continuous measurement of 13C and 18O isotopes in exhaled breath 
  • Analyzer can be multiplexed up to 16 cages 
  • Wide measurement range δ13C (-100‰ to 4000‰) and CO2 (380 ppm to 25,000 ppm) 

Behavior Services

BioDAQ E2 

  • Automated assessment of episodic food intake and meal pattern analysis 
  • Measures both mice and rats, independently 
  • Measures up to 24 animals simultaneously 
  • Animals are housed in standard shoebox cages during measurement 
  • Pelleted diets only 

Open Field 

  • Measures up to 2 mice or rats simultaneously 
  • Ability to define specific zones inside the field 
  • Overhead tracking camera 
  • Accurate tracking software 

Starrlife Running Wheels 

  • Measures up to 24 mice or rats simultaneously 
  • 24 hour around the clock data collection 
  • Data includes information on circadian rhythms and spontaneous voluntary activity 
  • Equipment records wheel revolutions 

Six Lane Treadmill 

  • Measures up to 6 mice or 3 rats simultaneously 
  • Individual electrical stimulus option 

DSI Telemeter 

  • Implantable telemetry 
  • Core body temperature 
  • Activity 
  • Blood glucose 

Elevated-Plus Maze 

  • Measures one mouse at a time 
  • Can be scored by test operator or an overhead tracking camera 

Fear Conditioning 

  • Measures 4 mice simultaneously 
  • Capabilities to do cued and contextual fear conditioning 
  • Adaptable software program to carry out paradigms including trace, delay, and backwards trace 

Startle Response 

  • Measures up to 8 rats or mice simultaneously 
  • Sound attenuating cubicle 
  • Adaptable software to carry out Startle Reflex, Prepulse Inhibition, and Fear Potentiated Startle 

Mouse Stone Maze 

  • Measures one mouse at a time 
  • Scored by test operator             

Morris Water Maze 

  • Measures one mouse or rat at a time 
  • Overhead video tracking with accurate tracking software 

Noval Object Recognition 

  • Measures up to 2 mice at a time 
  • Overhead video tracking with accurate tracking software  

Operant Conditioning 

  • Measures up to 8 mice or rats simultaneously 
  • Retractable lever press for rats with pellet or liquid reward 
  • Nose poke for mice with pellet reward or liquid reward 
  • Software can be programmed for a variety of paradigms