Automated recording of home cage activity and temperature of individual rats housed in social groups: The Rodent Big Brother project.

ABSTRACT: Measuring the activity and temperature of rats is commonly required in biomedical research. Conventional approaches necessitate single housing, which affects their behavior and wellbeing. We have used a subcutaneous radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponder to measure ambulatory activity and temperature of individual rats when group-housed in conventional, rack-mounted home cages. The transponder location and temperature is detected by a matrix of antennae in a baseplate under the cage. An infrared high-definition camera acquires side-view video of the cage and also enables automated detection of vertical activity. Validation studies showed that baseplate-derived ambulatory activity correlated well with manual tracking and with side-view whole-cage video pixel movement. This technol

SUBMITTER: Redfern WS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5587114 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature