Automating mouse weighing in group homecages with Raspberry Pi micro-computers
Automating mouse weighing in group homecages with Raspberry Pi micro-computers
复制标题
DOI：
10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.05.002
复制
发表时间：
2017-06-15
影响因子：
3
通讯作者：
Murphy, Timothy H.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Noorshams, Omid;Boyd, Jamie D.;Murphy, Timothy H.
背景资料：操作培训系统使用水或食物限制，并需要称量动物体重，以确保符合实验终点。在其他应用中，定期称重对于评估药物副作用或作为喂养实验的终点是必要的。周期性称重虽然必要，但会扰乱动物的昼夜节律和社会结构。新方法：在成对的小鼠家中自动称重系统。最多10只小鼠在两个笼子（28 x 18 x 9 cm）之间自由移动，两个笼子通过安装在测力传感器上的称重室连接。使用放置在颈部皮肤下的RFID标签识别每只小鼠。单板计算机（Raspberry Pi; RPi）控制任务，记录RFID标签，称重传感器重量和每次RFID检测的时间戳，直到动物离开腔室。对收集的数据进行统计学分析以估计小鼠体重。结果：小鼠频繁地在两个笼子之间移动，平均42 ± 16次/天/小鼠，此时我们获得重量。我们报告准确测定小鼠体重和长期监测超过53 days.Comparison与现有的方法虽然商业系统可用于自动称重啮齿动物，他们只与单一的动物，或不是开源的，也不符合成本效益的特定自定义Application.Conclusions：这种自动化系统允许自动称重小鼠40次，每天。该系统采用廉价的硬件和开源Python代码。(C)2017爱思唯尔B. V.保留所有权利。
Background: Operant training systems make use of water or food restriction and make it necessary to weigh animals to ensure compliance with experimental endpoints. In other applications periodic weighing is necessary to assess drug side-effects, or as an endpoint in feeding experiments. Periodic weighing while essential can disrupt animal circadian rhythms and social structure.New method: Automatic weighing system within paired mouse homecages. Up to 10 mice freely move between two cages (28 x 18 x 9 cm) which were connected by a weighing chamber mounted on a load cell. Each mouse was identified using an RFID tag placed under the skin of the neck. A single-board computer (Raspberry Pi; RPi) controls the task, logging RFID tag, load cell weights, and time stamps from each RFID detection until the animal leaves the chamber. Collected data were statistically analyzed to estimate mouse weights. We anticipate integration with tasks where automated imaging or behaviour is assessed in homecages.Results: Mice frequently move between the two cages, an average of 42+-16 times/day/mouse at which time we obtained weights. We report accurate determination of mouse weight and long term monitoring over 53 days.Comparison with existing methods Although commercial systems are available for automatically weighing rodents, they only work with single animals, or are not open source nor cost effective for specific custom application.Conclusions: This automated system permits automated weighing of mice 40 times per day. The system employs inexpensive hardware and open-source Python code. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.