Animal Metabolism and Behavior
Faculty

Christopher Morrison, PhD
Laboratory Members

Hailey Bolton
Laboratory Manager

Kennedy Whitfield
Research Associate

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