Rat Catalepsy Box

MED-CAT-RAT
Rat Catalepsy Box

Perform the bar test to assess catalepsy in rats using our new Automated Rat Catalepsy Box package (MED-CAT-RAT). The standard bar test is widely used to assess catalepsy in rodents. Historically, the most common equipment for measuring catalepsy in laboratory animals includes a chamber or box that the animal is placed in with an elevated bar on one side and a stopwatch. Using the stopwatch, the researcher measures the amount of time the rat maintains at least one forelimb holding onto the bar.

ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR HAND SCORING

Elevated rods can be easily changed out in a modular fashion. Optional rod sizes range from a diameter of 3/16” up to ½” in diameter.

Standard size of ENV-003-B Rat Catalepsy Test Chamber measures 14 inches long, 8 inches wide, 4.6 inches high (from chamber floor). Other custom sizes are available.

Catalepsy test chamber features a rugged solid stainless steel floor. This prevents the animal from slipping on grid rods and injuring itself, which can be a problem when cataleptic animals are placed on grid rod style floors.

Electronic contacts are established using quick-disconnect type fixtures. The cage floor can be sanitized, and is cage-washer-safe (tested at 180º F with acid detergent). The electronic interface box can be removed from the catalepsy box, so that the entire chamber can be placed in a cage washer. This greatly facilitates cleaning and sanitizing of chambers at the end of a session.

For higher throughput, order extra chambers to have on hand. Then put all the dirty chambers in the cage-wash at the end of the day.

Dear Researcher,

We recently announced the release of our new Rat Catalepsy Test System (MED-CAT-RAT). I want to take this opportunity to update you on the results of a study we have just completed in our R&D lab using this device.

We examined catalepsy scores from 6 male Sprague Dawley rats (~250 grams body weight) injected with the antipsychotic agent haloperidol (0.25 to 1.5 mg/kg, i.p.). The automatic catalepsy scoring system worked very well for conducting these measurements. The software application runs in MED-PC^®, and can easily be modified to suit specific needs, such as changing the maximum trial duration, number of subjects, or number of trials per subject.

In our case, we ran six subjects with three trials per subject. We then took the data from the MED-PC^® data file into Microsoft^® Excel and calculated the average catalepsy score (length of time at least one forepaw remained holding onto the bar) for each rat by averaging the data fromp the three trials.

Another handy feature is the ability to reject the data from a trial if something went wrong. One problem we encountered, especially when first learning this test, was that the animal would slip off the bar right away or contact with the bar would otherwise be disrupted due to improper positioning of the animal. This happened very quickly and was easily identified as an artifact with the way we were placing the animal on the bar. In the MED-PC^® software, we could just reject the data from that trial and redo the trial. This problem was definitely due to a learning curve on our part. As we progressed, we developed a standard method for positioning the rat on the bar such that the animal was comfortably positioned with hind limbs and forelimbs spaced apart in an orientation that didn't make the animal so unstable as to "knock it off the bar."

Furthermore, we had two technicians running these experiments. We found this to be optimum for throughput. We could quickly run through all six subjects by having one technician placing the animals and the other technician operating the software. However, in cases where it is important to have only a single researcher dedicated to catalepsy measurements, we found that one person could easily both place the animal in the chamber and operate the software. With practice and experience, a single person could probably do just as well as two, but to start with it was nice to have two people.

The design of the catalepsy box itself also was very handy in that it facilitates cleaning. The floor is solid stainless steel and the chamber walls are plastic. It can easily be wiped down and cleaned between subjects. After the trials are all done, you can put the chamber into a dishwasher or cage washer since electronic box that measures contact time with the bar detaches from the chamber and the plastic/steel construction of the chamber itself withstands the high temperature in a typical cage washer.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. My contact information is below.

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