Mice operant conditioning system BX-START&FEAR

fear conditioningstartle reflex

Presentation
The Startle and Fear Conditioning System provides a combined setup to run both fear-conditioning (freezing/activity) and acoustic startle-reflex experiments on mice and rats using the same hardware. The enclosure and accessories can be configured to adapt contextual cues for behavioral paradigms.

Operating principle
The system measures animal movement via a high-sensitivity weight transducer. The analog signal from the load cell is sent to STARTLE/FEAR software for recording and analysis. Metrics derived include activity/immobility for fear conditioning and multiple startle-response parameters for reflex tests. Sound frequency and amplitude (prepulse, pulse, background) and shock intensity are controlled via two stimulation units and the software. The main cage features black methacrylate walls with a transparent front door; walls, cover and floor materials or colours are interchangeable. A transparent cylinder can be inserted to alter contextual spatial perception.

Key features

• Combined startle and freezing measurement for mice and rats
• Very high sensitivity enabling reliable detection in mice
• Single enclosure adaptable for either species
• Same weight-transducer platform for 15–500 g animals
• Flexible protocol editor in software
• Accurate, fully traceable recorded data
• Tone frequency and intensity software-controlled (200–10,000 Hz; up to 120 dB)
• Removable tray for fast cleaning
• Configurable spatial contexts for fear-conditioning paradigms
• No PCI cards required for operation

Supplied with

• Experimental chamber
• Stimulation unit
• Sound-proof box (LE26)
• Weight cell amplifier (LE111)
• Audio generator (LE118)

Options

• Mouse/Rat holder for Startle Reflex (transparent plexiglass tunnel with removable ends; multiple sizes)
• Shock generator (LE10026)
• StartWin software to control up to 8 stimulation units

Software / Parameters measured

• Timestamp of each activity event (fear conditioning)
• Duration of each inactivity event (fear conditioning)
• Latency to maximum amplitude of the startle response (startle reflex)
• Duration of the startle response (startle reflex)
• Latency to onset of the startle response (startle reflex)
• Average amplitude of the startle response

Models (examples / ordering codes)

• BX-STARTLE-M — Startle Reflex Chamber for Mice (restrainer included, no shocker)
• BX-STARTLE-R — Startle Reflex Chamber for Rat (restrainer included, no shocker)
• BX-FEAR-M — Fear Conditioning Chamber for Mice (complete)
• BX-FEAR-R — Fear Conditioning Chamber for Rat (complete)
• BX-START&FEAR-M — Startle & Fear Conditioning System for Mice (restrainer included)
• BX-START&FEAR-R — Startle & Fear Conditioning System for Rat (restrainer included)

Accessories / Restrainers

• BIO-PC-STARTLE — desktop computer for startle tests with special sound card
• SL-8928 — sound meter up to 130 dB for sound card calibration
• LEE117MM — restrainer for mice up to 25 g
• LE117M — restrainer for mice up to 35 g
• LE117RM — restrainer for rats up to 150 g
• LE117RR — restrainer for rats up to 300 g
• LE117XRR — restrainer for rats larger than 300 g

Specifications / Technical details

• Animal container dimensions: 250 (W) x 250 (D) x 250 (H) mm
• Overall sound-proof box dimensions: 670 (W) x 530 (D) x 550 (H) mm
• Materials: methacrylate, aluminium, stainless steel
• Number of animals: up to 8 stations per 1 computer
• Power supply: 110 V / 220 V, 50 / 60 Hz
• Sound range: prepulse/pulse frequency 200–10,000 Hz; max 120 dB
• White noise range: 60–120 dB