A mouse water maze testing apparatus

Abstract

The utility model relates to a mouse water maze test equipment, include: cylinder structure, including outer cylinder and inner cylinder, the inner cylinder is supported and fixed in the outer cylinder through support, is equipped with through -hole on the inner cylinder for the outer cylinder and inner cylinder intercommunication, is provided with the hidden platform in the inner cylinder, throw mouse structure, including the thimble, the thimble rotatable sleeve connection is in the outside of outer cylinder, is provided with the meshing tooth in the circumference array on the outside of thimble, is connected with horizontal table on thimble through the support, is equipped with mounting hole on horizontal table, is fixed with arc throw mouse pipe in the inside of mounting hole, one end of arc throw mouse pipe faces the inner cylinder, azimuth adjustment structure. The mouse water maze test equipment, the design realizes fixed point throw mouse of throw mouse structure, and azimuth adjustment structure satisfies the experimental demand of different quadrant throw mouse, in this way, the throw mouse position of throw mouse structure is fixed, can ensure that the experimental object has repeatability and accuracy of the position of throwing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical experimental technology, specifically a mouse water maze testing device. Background Technology

[0002] The water maze test is an important animal behavior test in the field of neuroscience. The experiment observes and records the time required for animals to learn to swim in a tank and find an underwater escape platform, the strategies they use, and their swimming trajectories. It analyzes and infers the animals' learning, memory, and spatial cognition abilities. It can objectively measure changes in animals' spatial memory, working memory, and spatial discrimination abilities.

[0003] The water maze behavioral instrument has dividing lines that divide the bucket into four quadrants. During testing, water is poured into the bucket and animals are placed in it. The time it takes for the animals to swim to the platform and their movement routes in each quadrant are recorded. However, in existing experiments, researchers usually manually place the mice into the water maze. However, the manual placement of the mice is subjective and lacks repeatability and precision, making the experiment less accurate. In addition, after the experiment, the animals are soaked and it is inconvenient to put them back into their cages directly, as there is no platform for them to dry off. Therefore, a water maze testing device for mice is proposed. Utility Model Content

[0004] Based on the above description, this utility model provides a mouse water maze testing device, which solves the technical problems pointed out in the background art.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: A mouse water maze testing device, comprising:

[0006] A cylindrical structure includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is supported and fixed in the outer cylinder by a bracket. The inner cylinder has a through hole for connecting the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. A hidden platform is provided in the inner cylinder.

[0007] The mouse-throwing structure includes a collar, which is rotatably fitted onto the outside of an outer cylinder. A meshing tooth array in a circular pattern is provided on the outside of the collar. A cross platform is connected to the collar via a support. An installation hole is provided on the cross platform. An arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube is fixed inside the installation hole, with one end of the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube facing the inner cylinder.

[0008] The orientation adjustment structure includes a support platform fixed to the outside of the outer cylinder, and a drive component that drives the mouse-throwing structure to rotate via meshing teeth is provided on the outside of the support platform.

[0009] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows.

[0010] Furthermore, the driving component includes a motor, a worm gear reducer, and a gear. The motor is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the support platform by bolts. The output end of the motor is connected to the worm in the worm gear reducer. The output end of the worm in the worm gear reducer is fixedly connected to the gear through a rotating shaft. The gear meshes with the collar through meshing teeth.

[0011] Furthermore, a conical bucket is provided above the horizontal platform. The conical bucket has a structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. An extension strip that is fixed to the conical bucket is fixed to the outside of the horizontal platform.

[0012] Furthermore, a track is fixed on the horizontal platform, and a slide bar is slidably connected to the outside of the track. A switching plate that is slidably connected to the horizontal platform is fixed on the outside of the slide bar. The switching plate is located between the cone bucket and the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube. Two through holes with the same inner diameter as the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube are opened on the switching plate, and a draining net is fixed in either of the through holes.

[0013] Furthermore, the height of the switching plate is equal to the distance between the cone-shaped bucket and the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube.

[0014] Furthermore, two sets of fixing blocks are fixed on the cross platform, and positioning blocks are fixed on the opposite side of each set of fixing blocks.

[0015] Furthermore, the track is magnetically connected to the slider, wherein the track is a magnet and the slider is an iron bar.

[0016] Furthermore, a camera is mounted on the support platform via an overhead mounting, with the camera positioned directly above the inner cylinder.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this application has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0018] 1. The mouse water maze testing device is designed with a mouse-throwing structure to achieve fixed-point mouse throwing, while the orientation adjustment structure meets the experimental requirements of mouse throwing in different quadrants. In this way, the mouse-throwing position of the mouse-throwing structure is fixed, which can ensure the repeatability and accuracy of the experimental subject's throwing position.

[0019] 2. The design of the switching plate and draining net in this mouse water maze testing device simplifies the post-experiment processing procedure and improves experimental efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a mouse water maze testing device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the central conical hopper and its connecting structure;

[0022] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the switching plate, the arc-shaped mouse-feeding tube, and the conical bucket in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the gear and its connecting structure in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the cylindrical structure in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows:

[0026] 1. Cylindrical structure; 11. Outer cylinder; 12. Inner cylinder; 13. Through hole; 14. Hidden platform; 2. Mouse-throwing structure; 21. Ring; 22. Horizontal platform; 23. Arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube; 24. Conical bucket; 25. Track; 26. Switching plate; 27. Drainage net; 28. Fixing block; 29. ​​Positioning block; 3. Orientation adjustment structure; 31. Support platform; 32. Motor; 33. Support platform; 34. Rotating shaft; 35. Elevated frame; 4. Camera. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0028] In mouse maze experiments, mice are usually manually picked up and released. The release action is subjective and involves human judgment. In practice, the release position of the experimental subjects is not repeatable or precise, so the experiment is not accurate enough. In addition, after the animals complete the experiment, they are soaked and it is inconvenient to put them back into the cage directly. There is no platform for them to dry off. Therefore, a mouse water maze testing device was designed.

[0029] First, for example Figure 1-5 As shown, a mouse water maze testing device in this embodiment includes a cylindrical structure 1, a mouse-throwing structure 2, and an orientation adjustment structure 3. The cylindrical structure 1 is used to complete the water maze test, the mouse-throwing structure 2 is rotatable, and the orientation adjustment structure 3 is used to adjust the quadrant position of the mouse-throwing structure 2 to meet the needs of experiments in multiple quadrants. When not driven by the orientation adjustment structure 3, the mouse-throwing position of the mouse-throwing structure 2 is fixed to ensure the repeatability and accuracy of the placement position of the experimental subject.

[0030] The following will provide a detailed explanation of the cylindrical structure 1, the mouse-throwing structure 2, and the orientation adjustment structure 3.

[0031] First, such as Figure 1 and 5As shown, the cylindrical structure 1 includes an outer cylinder 11 and an inner cylinder 12. The inner cylinder 12 is supported and fixed inside the outer cylinder 11 by a bracket. It should be noted that the outer cylinder 11 and the inner cylinder 12 are coaxially arranged. At this time, the bracket allows the bottom surface of the inner cylinder 12 to have a height space with the inner bottom wall of the outer cylinder 11. The inner cylinder 12 is provided with a through hole 13 to connect the outer cylinder 11 and the inner cylinder 12. In this way, when water is injected into the outer cylinder 11 or the inner cylinder 12, water can flow between them. In addition, a hidden platform 14 is provided in the inner cylinder 12. This hidden platform 14 is the escape point for the mouse. In the experiment, the inner cylinder 12 is the test space of this mouse water maze test device, and the hidden platform 14 is submerged and hidden one to two centimeters below the water surface.

[0032] The mouse-throwing structure 2 includes a collar 21, a cross platform 22, and an arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube 23. The collar 21 is rotatably fitted onto the outside of the outer cylinder 11, and its outer circumference is provided with an array of meshing teeth. The cross platform 22 is higher than the horizontal height of the collar 21 and is fixedly connected to the collar 21 through a support. An installation hole is opened on the cross platform 22, and the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube 23 is fixed inside the installation hole. The upper opening of the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube 23 is vertically upward, and the other end faces the entrance of the inner cylinder 12. With this design, since the weight of the mice is basically the same, after the mice pass through the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube 23, the mice will fall to the same or very close position due to gravity and inertia, so that the position of the mice entering the water is fixed, ensuring the repeatability and accuracy of the experimental subject's placement position.

[0033] To accommodate mice in different quadrants, the orientation adjustment structure 3 designed in this embodiment includes a support platform 31 fixed to the outside of the outer cylinder 11, and a drive component that drives the mouse-throwing structure 2 to rotate via meshing teeth is provided on the outside of the support platform 31.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the drive components include a motor 32, a worm gear reducer, and a gear 33. The motor 32 is fixedly mounted on the bottom of the support platform 31 by bolts. The output end of the motor 32 is connected to the worm in the worm gear reducer. The output end of the worm in the worm gear reducer is fixedly connected to the gear 33 through a rotating shaft 34. The gear 33 meshes with the collar 21 through meshing teeth.

[0035] With this design, when the motor 32 starts, it is driven by the worm gear reducer, which allows the gear 33 to drive the collar 21 to rotate through the meshing teeth, thus allowing the mouse-throwing structure 2 to rotate as a whole, thereby meeting the design requirements for throwing mice in different quadrants. In addition, the worm gear drive has a self-locking characteristic, which can prevent the mouse-throwing structure 2 from deviating due to external forces.

[0036] Further design features a cone-shaped funnel 24 above the horizontal platform 22. The cone-shaped funnel 24 has a structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom to facilitate the insertion of mice. An extension strip that is fixed to the outside of the horizontal platform 22 and is fixed to the cone-shaped funnel 24 is used to fix the cone-shaped funnel 24. It should also be noted that the cone-shaped funnel 24 is coaxially set with the upper opening of the arc-shaped mouse-feeding tube 23 to ensure that the mouse can fall into the arc-shaped mouse-feeding tube 23.

[0037] Considering that the animals are soaking wet after completing the experiment and it is inconvenient to put them back into the cage directly, and there is no platform for them to dry off, a track 25 is fixed on the horizontal platform 22. A slider is slidably connected to the outside of the track 25. A switching plate 26 is fixed to the outside of the slider and is slidably connected to the horizontal platform 22. The switching plate 26 is located between the cone hopper 24 and the arc-shaped mouse-feeding tube 23. Two perforations with the same inner diameter as the arc-shaped mouse-feeding tube 23 are opened on the switching plate 26. A drain net 27 is fixed in either of the perforations.

[0038] It should be noted that the height of the switching plate 26 is equal to the distance between the cone hopper 24 and the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube 23, and the track 25 is magnetically connected to the slider, wherein the track 25 is a magnet and the slider is an iron bar.

[0039] In addition, two sets of fixing blocks 28 are fixed on the cross platform 22. Each of the two sets of fixing blocks 28 has a positioning block 29 fixed on one side opposite to the other. When the switching plate 26 is in complete contact with any one of the positioning blocks 29, the corresponding perforation on the switching plate 26 is located directly below the cone bucket 24.

[0040] With this design, after the experiment, the sliding switch plate 26 aligns the drain net 27 directly below the cone 24. The cone 24, which is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, makes it difficult for the mouse to escape and facilitates subsequent capture. In addition, it provides a platform for the mouse to drain water, which can then return to the cylindrical structure 1 through the arc-shaped mouse-feeding tube 23.

[0041] In addition, a camera 4 is installed on the support platform 31 via an overhead bracket 35. The camera 4 is located directly above the inner cylinder 12 and is used to monitor the movement trajectory of the mouse. In practice, it is used in conjunction with tracking software such as EthoVision and ANY-maze. The camera 4 is existing technology and is not the focus of this case, so it will not be discussed in detail here.

[0042] In summary, the workflow is as follows:

[0043] 1. Experimental preparation: Fill the inner and outer cylinders 11 with water until the hidden platform 14 is submerged, and start the camera 4.

[0044] 2. Mouse positioning: The arc-shaped mouse tube 23 is adjusted to the preset quadrant position by rotating the collar 21 driven by the motor 32.

[0045] 3. Placement of experimental mice: Place the mice into the cone hopper 24, and they slide into the water surface of the inner cylinder 12 through the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube 23, ensuring that the placement positions are consistent.

[0046] 4. Data recording: Camera 4 captures the path and time of the mouse searching for the hidden platform 14 in real time.

[0047] 5. Drainage treatment: After the experiment, slide the switching plate 26 to align the drain net 27 with the mouse feeding tube, and place the mouse in the drain net 27 to filter out the water, making it easier to put it back into the breeding cage.

[0048] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this utility model, but the scope of protection of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this utility model, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of this utility model, should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. A mouse water maze testing device, characterized in that, include: The cylindrical structure (1) includes an outer cylinder (11) and an inner cylinder (12). The inner cylinder (12) is supported and fixed in the outer cylinder (11) by a bracket. A through hole (13) is provided on the inner cylinder (12) to connect the outer cylinder (11) and the inner cylinder (12). A hidden platform (14) is provided in the inner cylinder (12). The mouse-throwing structure (2) includes a collar (21), which is rotatably sleeved on the outside of the inner cylinder (12). There are meshing teeth arranged in a circumferential array on the outside of the collar (21). A cross platform (22) is connected to the collar (21) through a support. An installation hole is opened on the cross platform (22). An arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube (23) is fixed inside the installation hole. One end of the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube (23) faces the inner cylinder (12). The orientation adjustment structure (3) includes a support platform (31) fixed on the outside of the outer cylinder (11), and a drive component is provided on the outside of the support platform (31) to drive the mouse-throwing structure (2) to rotate by meshing teeth.

2. The mouse water maze testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving components include a motor (32), a worm gear reducer and a gear (33). The motor (32) is fixedly installed on the bottom of the support platform (31) by bolts. The output end of the motor (32) is connected to the worm in the worm gear reducer. The output end of the worm in the worm gear reducer is fixedly connected to the gear (33) through a rotating shaft (34). The gear (33) meshes with the collar (21) through meshing teeth.

3. The mouse water maze testing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A cone (24) is provided above the horizontal platform (22). The cone (24) has a structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. An extension strip that is fixed to the outside of the horizontal platform (22) is fixed to the cone (24).

4. The mouse water maze testing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: A track (25) is fixed on the horizontal platform (22). A slide bar is slidably connected to the outside of the track (25). A switching plate (26) is fixed to the outside of the slide bar and slidably connected to the horizontal platform (22). The switching plate (26) is located between the cone bucket (24) and the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube (23). Two through holes with the same inner diameter as the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube (23) are opened on the switching plate (26). A drain net (27) is fixed in any one of the through holes.

5. The mouse water maze testing device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The height of the switching plate (26) is equal to the distance between the cone bucket (24) and the arc-shaped mouse-throwing tube (23).

6. The mouse water maze testing device according to claim 5, characterized in that: Two sets of fixing blocks (28) are fixed on the cross platform (22), and a positioning block (29) is fixed on the opposite side of each set of fixing blocks (28).

7. The mouse water maze testing device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The track (25) is magnetically connected to the slider, wherein the track (25) is a magnet and the slider is an iron bar.

8. The mouse water maze testing device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A camera (4) is mounted on the support platform (31) via an overhead frame (35), and the camera (4) is located directly above the inner cylinder (12).

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