Equipment for behavioural phenotyping of mice

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In order to conduct our experiments on behavioral phenotyping of mice we require three sets of equipment.The Tonolab measures the intra-optic pressure of rats and mice. It is used to detect glaucoma, which results in visual deficits. We require this equipment for the PhD thesis of Aimee Wong.We always videotape our behavioural studies so that the behaviour can be rescored by a second observer to ensure reliability and so that we can identify any experimenter errors. We have used videotapes but because of the digital revolution, it is becoming difficult to purchase blank videotapes. It also takes a lot of room to store them. Thus we are required to use digital video cameras and computers with larger amounts of storage and DVD burners. Our present video system and computers are over 10 years old and therefore must be replaced. This equipment is necessary for Timothy O'Leary's PhD research.We have developed a battery of tests for anxiety, learning and memory in mice, but have no test system for avoidance conditioning. Because many transgenic mice have social and affective disorders, we also need learning tasks that involve social behavior, such as the social transmission of food preference task. In order to remove brains from mice and perform perfusions, we require new surgery equipment. We now use equipment purchased by Shinshu Nakajima in the 1970's, and much of it needs to be replaced. We are also completing immuno-histochemistry on the brains of transgenic mice, which requires a shaker platform to prepare the antibodies. This equipment is necessary for Leanne Fraser's MSc research.