Rodent Behavior Core Facility
Overview
The UTSW Rodent Behavior Core can assist investigators in all aspects of rodent behavioral testing including design and execution, as well as data analysis and interpretation.
The core facility is equipped to perform a broad battery of behavioral tests to thoroughly phenotype overall motor and sensory function of rats and mice as well as phenotype specific behaviors of interest to the investigators.
Fees
The staff of the Rodent Behavior Core will perform all experiments and data analysis at a standard rate of $100/hour. The exact cost of each experiment will vary according to the number of animals, the type of behavior being assessed, and the duration of the experiment. Discounts may apply if a battery of tests is requested or an extensive or ongoing project is undertaken. Please contact the Core Director for an estimate of the charges for your particular experiment.
In addition, please note that the Core does not charge per diem rates for housing and care of laboratory animals. These rates will be charged independently by the Animal Resource Center. The per diem rate for animals in NC4 is currently $0.64/cage/day for mice and $1.10/cage/day for rats.
The experimental procedures will be covered by the Behavior Core’s animal protocol so no modifications need to be made to a lab’s existing animal protocol.
Behavior Tests Available
| What you want to test | Available Tests |
|---|---|
| Motor Function | Locomotor Activity * Rotorod Running Wheels Balance Beam Wire Hanging Digigait (Gait Analysis) Jumping Test |
| Anxiety-Related Behaviors | Open Field Activity * Elevated Plus Maze * Light/Dark Preference Marble Burying Test Novelty Suppression of Feeding |
| Depression-Related Behaviors | Forced Swim Test (Porsolt) * Tail Suspension Test Sucrose Preference Test * Learned Helplessness Social Defeat |
| Addiction/Reward-Related Behaviors | Conditioned Place Preference * (for drug or food) Locomotor Sensitization * Progressive Ratio Testing for Food |
| Learning and Memory | Morris Water Maze Task * Fear Conditioning * Passive Avoidance Test Object Recognition Test * |
| Social Interaction | Juvenile Interaction SI w/Caged Adult 3-choice Interaction |
| Schizophrenia-Related Behaviors | Haldol Induced Catalepsy Pre-Pulse Inhibition/Startle |
| Pain/Analgesia | Foot-Shock Sensitivity Hot Plate Sensitivity |
* Available for both rats and mice.