Shuttle Boxes for Active & Passive Avoidance

ENV-010MC
Center Channel Modular Shuttle Box

This modular test chamber features two 8" L x 6-1/4" W x 8-3/8" H (20.3 x 15.9 x 21.3 cm) compartments separated by a removable 1-1/2" (3.8 cm) high shuttle barrier. For an arched doorway measuring 3" W x 4" H (8.9 x 11.4 cm) add the optional manual guillotine door ENV-010A pictured below. The chamber is mounted on a sturdy 1/2" (1.27 cm) thick white PVC base that is 21"L x 13.5"D (53.3 x 34.3 cm), and comes complete with a stainless steel waste pan. Grid floors must be ordered separately. The end walls feature a single standard module size bay with a 1/2 size bay on each side. This configuration is generally used when a single stimulus light and sonalert tone generator are mounted on each end wall. For other applications see ENV-010MD.

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ENV-010MD
Dual Channel Modular Shuttle Box

This test chamber is identical to the ENV-010MC except that the end wall contains two modular channels. This provides sufficient space for response levers and reward receptacles as well as other modular accessories if needed.

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ENV-010MGA
Stainless Steel Grid Floor - Rat

The shuttle box grid floor for rats is comprised of thirteen 3/16" (4.8 mm) diameter stainless steel grid rods placed on 5/8" (1.59 cm) centers in a removable white polypropylene frame.

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ENV-010MGB
Stainless Steel Grid Floor - Mouse

This grid floor is designed for mouse testing. The stainless steel grid rods measure 1/8" (3.175 mm) in diameter and are placed on 5/16" (8 mm) centers. The frame is 1/4" (6.4 mm) polypropylene.

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ENV-256-8S
Photo Beam Shuttle Box Sensors

Eight individual infrared photo beam sources and detectors have been packaged in a polypropylene strip to detect responses and general activity in the ENV-010 series shuttle boxes. The strips are adjustable in height to accommodate either rats or mice. These strips must be used with the eight channel photo beam control, Model ENV-253C. This control may be used with 4 input SmartCtrl™ packages or 8 input SmartCtrl™ packages. When using only 4 inputs pairs of beams are yoke to a single input with Y-Cable Model SG-216C.   This approach is well suited to response detection but may not prove adequate for activity measurements. With photo beam sensors and MED-PC software, response parameters may be clearly defined to prevent errant behaviors as freezing in the middle and rocking a pivot floor back and forth.

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ENV-010P
Pivot Floor Option

Optional pivot floor systems are available in place of the photo beam sensor package and control described in ENV-256-8S.

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This 3.15" (8.0 cm) wide platform is designed for use with the passive avoidance step down protocol. The 1.0" (2.5 cm) thick white polypropylene base provides the aversive stimulation-free area for the subject. When used in shuttle boxes with photobeams, the step down training and testing protocols may be automated with the Shuttle Box Step Down Protocols MedState Notation code (SOF-700RA-11), sold separately.

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ENV-012
Fish Shuttle Avoidance Tank

The ENV-012 package uses a 5-1/2 gallon glass aquarium with several modifications for shuttle avoidance. The dimensions of the tank measure 15-7/8"L x 10-1/4"W x 9-3/4"H (40 x 26 x 25 cm).

The bottom of the tank contains two 5-3/4" x 7-3/4" stainless steel aversive stimulation plates separated by an inverted "V" shaped shuttle 2-1/4" (5.7 cm) tall. Just below the water line located 4-1/4" from the bottom are two top aversive stimulation plates similar to the bottom plates. Extending above the shuttle is a removable insert containing a port 1-5/8"H x 3"W (4 x 7.6 cm) through which the fish must swim to avoid or escape aversive stimulation.

Two photobeam holders are placed across the tank. Each holds a pair of sensors, one on top of the other separated vertically 0.787" (2 cm). The holders provide for an adjustable horizontal separation of 0.787", 1.55", 2.362", or 3.150" (2, 4, 6, or 8 cm) with the barrier in the middle. Four ENV- 253SD Photo Beam Source and Detector Packages and an ENV-253 Four Channel I/R Photo Beam Control are required to automate response detection.

Also illustrated are two stimulus light holders on the outside of the tank at each end, and a buzzer placed in the waterproof support that separates the two aversive stimulation plates.

The stimulus lights, sensors, aversive stimulators, I/R control, computer interface and software may be ordered separately.

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