Rodent Vogel test LE865

for micefor ratsfor animal research

Presentation
Many different animal models have been developed for testing the effects of anti-anxiety drugs on behaviour. The Vogel's test (R.A. Vogel, 1971) uses suppression of licking in water-deprived rats and reestablishment of licking after anxiolytic pretreatment. Because it can be used with naive rats in a single session, it is a standard method for rapid screening of potential anxiolytic activity.

Operating principle
Fully automated instrument designed to perform the Vogel's test within a single experimental unit. The system is composed of an animal cage and a modular control unit including a built-in shock generator. Lick detection is implemented through the drinking water to ensure consummatory behaviour is recorded and to reduce false responses.

The animal cage
The cage is made of black perspex with an upper access door and an electrifiable grid floor (stainless steel bars, 4 mm diameter, spaced 10 mm). Frontal panel and upper door are transparent perspex. The drinking tube is installed in a box side and is provided with a resistive detector for animal approaches to water; it allows measurement of water consumption and water loss.

The LE10025 Control Unit
Microprocessor-based control unit with a 2 x 20 characters LCD and mixed numeric/functions keyboard. The menu allows definition of the number of licks to be reached before a shock is given (up to 9999) and the total session length (up to 59:59 mm:ss). Licks and shock counters and session timer are reset at the start of each trial. Up to 99 trials can be stored permanently and reviewed. Shock can be delivered manually or by external start signal.

Parameters Measured

• Total number of licks per trial
• Total number of shocks received per trial

Key features

• Allows Vogel experiments directly in the animal's home cage
• Exclusive nipple system to exclude non-specific contacts (special nipple for lick detection)
• Different cage versions available for rats and mice
• Up to 32 cages can be used with the setup associated to a computer
• Compatible with laptop use

Technical specifications

• Product name: Vogel's test
• Reference (product code shown on page): LE865
• Associated control unit: LE10025
• Lick counter range: up to 9999 licks before shock
• Session timer: up to 59:59 (mm:ss)
• Trials storage: up to 99 trials stored in control unit
• Shock parameters: duration 0.1 to 10 s; intensity 0.1 to 2 mA; electronic scrambler velocity on 6 poles
• Cage floor: electrifiable stainless steel grid bars, 4 mm diameter, spaced 10 mm
• Cage material: black perspex with transparent frontal panel and upper door
• Lick detection: resistive detector via drinking water; exclusive nipple system to avoid false contacts
• Outputs/data: lick and shock counters per trial; session timer; trial recall via unit interface
• Compatibility: multi-cage operation up to 32 units with computer; laptop-compatible