Device and method for detecting rats' forced swimming activities

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of animal behavior detection devices, and specifically relates to a device and method for detecting rats' forced swimming activities, comprising a container, wherein a rectangular box with two through ends is provided on the upper part of the side wall of the container, the rectangular box is communicated with the inner cavity of the container, a piston is provided inside the rectangular box, corresponding limiting holes are provided on the piston and the rectangular box, and when the inner side wall of the piston coincides with the inner side wall of the container, the limiting holes on the piston and the rectangular box coincide, and a limiting rod is provided in the limiting hole so that the piston can be fixed after the piston is used to push the rat into the water. The present invention uses the piston to slowly push the rat in the rectangular box into the container water gently, thereby avoiding stimulation when the rat suddenly enters the water, which affects the experimental results.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of animal behavior detection devices, and in particular relates to a device and method for detecting rats' forced swimming activities. Background Art

[0002] Forced swimming involves placing an animal in a circular tub of water and measuring its swimming, climbing, and immobility time over a period of time. It is used to study the mechanisms of depression and evaluate the antidepressant effects of drugs.

[0003] However, an animal's immobility in the water doesn't necessarily indicate despair or depression, as immobility is a learned and adaptive behavior. When an animal is trapped in a forced-swimming device, where escape is impossible, adopting an immobility strategy can be more valuable than more aggressive swimming and climbing strategies, as it allows the animal to stay above water for longer by expending less energy. Currently, the duration of immobility measured in forced-swimming devices, both domestically and internationally, cannot distinguish between despair and adaptation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a device and method for detecting rats' forced swimming activities.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A device for detecting rats' forced swimming activities comprises a container, wherein a rectangular box with two through ends is provided on the upper part of the side wall of the container, the rectangular box is communicated with the inner cavity of the container, a piston is provided inside the rectangular box, corresponding limiting holes are provided on the piston and the rectangular box, and when the inner side wall of the piston coincides with the inner side wall of the container, the limiting holes on the piston and the rectangular box coincide, and a limiting rod is provided in the limiting hole to fix the piston after the piston is used to push a rat into water.

[0007] Furthermore, an electric heating tube is provided at the bottom of the container, and a temperature sensor is provided in the middle of the container. The temperature sensor and the electric heating tube are both connected to a controller. The controller controls the electric heating tube to heat the medium in the container by receiving a signal from the temperature sensor to maintain a constant temperature of the medium.

[0008] Furthermore, the container has a double-layer structure to form a heat-insulating cavity, thereby better maintaining the temperature inside the container.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes a coil arranged in the insulation chamber, a magnet tied to the rat's legs and a current collection device. The coil is connected to the current collection device, and the controller is connected to the current collection device, which is used to analyze the induced current in real time and determine whether the rat is in a state of immobility, diving, swimming or climbing according to the magnitude and direction of the induced current. At the same time, it records the number of times the rat is in a state of immobility, diving, swimming or climbing and the duration of the corresponding number of times.

[0010] Furthermore, the container is made of transparent material to facilitate observation of the status of the rat in the container.

[0011] Furthermore, a flange is provided at the connecting port between the container and the rectangular box, and the height of the flange is less than 1 cm, so as to facilitate the rat to climb into the rectangular box without affecting the rat's entry into the container. A groove corresponding to the flange is provided on the piston to ensure that the inner wall of the piston is completely consistent with the inner wall of the container.

[0012] A method for detecting rats' forced swimming activities comprises the following steps: filling a container with water and making the water level 1.5-3 cm below a flange; turning on a controller to control an electric heating tube to heat the water to an experimental temperature; and maintaining the water temperature constant through a temperature sensor and a controller; placing a rat with a magnetic ring tied to one leg in a rectangular box; slowly pushing the rat into the container through a piston; then fixing the piston and the rectangular box relative to each other through a limiting rod; and analyzing the current generated by the movement of the magnetic ring in a coil collected by a current collection device through the controller to determine the state of the rat, the number of times in various states, and the duration of the corresponding number of times. When the rat is in an immobile state, turning on the piston to record the latent period when the rat starts to swim towards the rectangular box, and the time it takes for the animal to climb into the box. The length of the latent period is used to distinguish whether the rat is in a desperate state or an adaptive state, and the time it takes for the animal to climb into the box is used to detect the rat's motor ability.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0014] 1. The container of the present invention is made of transparent material, which makes it easy for the experimenter to observe the activities of rats from multiple angles;

[0015] 2. The present invention uses a piston to slowly push the rat in the rectangular box into the container water, avoiding the stimulation caused by the rat suddenly entering the water, which may affect the experimental results;

[0016] 3. After the piston of the present invention is closed, the inner wall of the piston fits in with the inner wall of the container, which can prevent rats climbing and struggling in the water from pushing the piston and finding a fulcrum;

[0017] 4. The present invention opens the piston when the animal is floating and motionless, thereby observing the latency and climbing time of the animal starting to swim to the opening. This method is convenient and effective, and can distinguish whether the animal in the water is in a desperate state or an adaptive state, and can also detect the animal's athletic ability.

[0018] 5. The present invention ensures the constant water temperature in the container through the temperature sensor and the electric heating tube, preventing the water temperature change from irritating the rats and thus affecting the experimental results;

[0019] 6. The present invention can use a coil, a magnet, a current acquisition device and a controller to determine whether a rat is in a state of immobility, diving, swimming or climbing by the magnitude and direction of the induced current, and simultaneously record the number of times the rat is in a state of immobility, diving, swimming or climbing and the duration of the corresponding number of times. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention;

[0022] In the figure, container 1, rectangular box 2, piston 3, limiting hole 4, limiting rod 5, electric heating tube 6, temperature sensor 7, controller 8, coil 9, magnet 10, current collection device 11, flange 12, groove 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In order to further illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention is further described below through examples.

[0024] like Figure 1 、 Figure 2, as shown, a device for detecting rats' forced swimming activities, comprising a container 1, a coil 9 arranged in a heat preservation chamber, a magnet 10 tied to the rat's leg, and a current collection device 11. The container 1 is a transparent double-layer structure to form a heat preservation chamber, so as to better maintain the temperature in the container 1. A rectangular box 2 with two ends passing through is provided on the upper part of the side wall of the container 1. The rectangular box 2 is communicated with the inner cavity of the container 1. A piston 3 is provided inside the rectangular box 2. Corresponding limiting holes 4 are provided on the piston 3 and the rectangular box 2. When the inner side wall of the piston 3 coincides with the inner side wall of the container 1, the limiting holes 4 on the piston 3 and the rectangular box 2 coincide. A limiting rod 5 is provided in the limiting hole 4 to fix the piston 3 after the piston 3 is used to push the rat into the water. A flange 12 is provided at the connection between the container 1 and the rectangular box 2, and the height of the flange 12 is less than 1 cm. This facilitates the rat's climbing into the rectangular box 2 without hindering the rat's entry into the container 1. A groove 13 corresponding to the flange 12 is provided on the piston 3 to ensure that the inner wall of the piston 3 can completely match the inner wall of the container 1. An electric heating tube 6 is provided at the bottom of the container 1, and a temperature sensor 7 is provided in the middle of the container 1. The temperature sensor 7 and the electric heating tube 6 are both connected to a controller 8. The controller 8 controls the electric heating tube 6 to heat the medium in the container 1 based on the signal received from the temperature sensor 7 to maintain a constant temperature of the medium. The coil 9 is connected to a current acquisition device 11, and the controller 8 is connected to the current acquisition device 11 for real-time analysis of the induced current. Based on the magnitude and direction of the induced current, the controller 8 determines whether the rat is in a state of immobility, diving, swimming, or climbing, and records the number of times the rat is in a state of immobility, diving, swimming, or climbing, and the duration of each time.

[0025] A method for detecting rats' forced swimming activity comprises the following steps: filling a container 1 with water and making the water level 1.5-3 cm below a flange; turning on a controller 8 to control an electric heating tube 6 to heat the water to an experimental temperature; and maintaining the water temperature constant through a temperature sensor 7 and the controller 8; placing a rat with a magnetic ring tied to one of its legs in a rectangular box 2; slowly pushing the rat into the container 1 through a piston 3; then relatively fixing the piston 3 and the rectangular box 2 through a limiting rod 5; and then analyzing the current generated by the movement of the magnetic ring in a coil 9, which is collected by a current collection device 11, through the controller 8 to determine the state of the rat, the number of times the magnetic ring is in each state, and the duration of the corresponding number of times; when the rat is in an immobile state, turning on the piston 3 to record the latent period of the rat starting to swim toward the rectangular box 2 and the time it takes for the animal to climb into the box; distinguishing whether the rat is in a desperate state or an adaptive state by the length of the latent period; and detecting the rat's motor ability by the time it takes for the animal to climb into the box.

[0026] The foregoing shows and describes the principal features and advantages of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above and that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and non-restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, not the foregoing description, and it is intended that all variations that come within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims be embraced therein.

[0027] In addition, it should be understood that although this specification is described in terms of implementation methods, not every implementation method contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative method of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other implementation methods that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A method for detecting forced swimming activity in rats, characterized in that: A device for detecting rats' forced swimming activities is used, comprising a container (1). The container (1) is a double-layer structure to form a heat-insulating cavity, thereby better maintaining the temperature in the container (1). The container (1) is made of a transparent material so as to facilitate observation of the state of the rat in the container (1). A rectangular box (2) with two ends passing through is provided on the upper part of the side wall of the container (1). The rectangular box (2) is communicated with the inner cavity of the container (1). A piston (3) is provided inside the rectangular box (2). Corresponding limiting holes (4) are provided on the piston (3) and the rectangular box (2). When the inner side wall of the piston (3) coincides with the inner side wall of the container (1), the limiting holes (4) on the piston (3) and the rectangular box (2) overlap. A limiting rod (5) is provided in the limiting hole (4) so as to facilitate use of the piston (3) to push the rat into the water. After entering the water, the piston (3) is fixed, and a flange (12) is provided at the communication port between the container (1) and the rectangular box (2), and the height of the flange (12) is less than 1 cm, so as to facilitate the rat to climb into the rectangular box (2) without affecting the rat's entry into the container (1). A groove (13) corresponding to the flange (12) is provided on the piston (3) to ensure that the inner wall of the piston (3) and the inner wall of the container (1) can completely match. An electric heating tube (6) is provided at the bottom of the container (1), and a temperature sensor (7) is provided in the middle of the container (1). The temperature sensor (7) and the electric heating tube (6) are both connected to the controller (8). The controller (8) controls the electric heating tube (6) to heat the medium in the container (1) by receiving the signal from the temperature sensor (7) to maintain the constant temperature of the medium. The device also includes a coil (9) arranged in the heat preservation chamber, a magnet (10) tied to the rat's leg, and a current acquisition device (11), wherein the coil (9) is connected to the current acquisition device (11), and the controller (8) is connected to the current acquisition device (11), for real-time analysis of the induced current, and determining whether the rat is in a state of immobility, diving, swimming, or climbing according to the magnitude and direction of the induced current, and simultaneously recording the number of times the rat is in a state of immobility, diving, swimming, or climbing and the duration of the corresponding number of times; The method comprises the following steps: filling the container (1) with water so that the water level is 1.5-3 cm below the flange (12); turning on the controller (8) to control the electric heating tube (6) to heat the water to the experimental temperature; and maintaining the water temperature constant through the temperature sensor (7) and the controller (8); placing a rat with a magnetic ring tied to one leg into the rectangular box (2); and slowly pushing the rat into the container (1) through the piston (3); then fixing the piston (3) and the rectangular box (2) relative to each other through the limit rod (5); and then analyzing the current generated by the movement of the magnetic ring in the coil (9) collected by the current collection device (11) through the controller (8), thereby determining the state of the rat and the number of times of various states and the duration of the corresponding number of times; when the rat is in an immobile state, turning on the piston (3) to record the latent period of the rat starting to swim towards the rectangular box (2) and the time when the animal climbs into the box; distinguishing whether the rat is in a desperate state or an adaptive state by the length of the latent period; and detecting the rat's motor ability by the time when the animal climbs into the box.

Images