title: A novel method for counting spontaneous motor activity in the rat.
abstract: Motor activity is a good index for studying the effects of pharmacological agents. Previous investigations have measured spontaneous motor activity by counting the number of times that an animal interrupts a magnetic field or photocell beam. Quite recently, a novel activity-monitoring system, Supermex, was developed. In this system, a sensor detects the radiated body heat of an animal. The Supermex method enables an investigator to perform multi-channel measurement at low cost. Any size home cage may be used, as long as its geometry cannot block the beam's contact with the animal. Operation is very simple and sensitivity adjustment is not required after the sensor-mount position and height from the cage floor are fixed. In the present study we first used the Supermex system to examine the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of a known stimulant, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). Our results confirmed the suitability of this system for testing spontaneous motor activity. We further studied the effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), on spontaneous motor activity.
authors.affiliation: Discovery Research Laboratories I, Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd., Ibaraki, Japan. masuo_yoshinori@takeda.co.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masuo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001525:Behavioral Sciences / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology