Assessment of locomotion in chlorine exposed mice by computer vision and neural networks.
Assessment of locomotion following exposure of animals to noxious or painful stimuli can offer significant insights into underlying mechanisms of injury and the effectiveness of various treatments. We developed a novel method to track the movement of mice in two dimensions using computer vision and neural network algorithms. By using this system we demonstrated that mice exposed to chlorine (Cl(2)) gas developed impaired locomotion and increased immobility for up to 9 h postexposure. Postexposure administration of buprenorphine, a common analgesic agent, increased locomotion and decreased immobility times in Cl(2)- but not air-exposed mice, most likely by decreasing Cl(2)-induced pain. This method can be adapted to assess the effectiveness of various therapies following exposure to a variety of chemical and behavioral noxious stimuli.
Department of Anesthesiology, Univ. of Alabama at AL, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA.
Aristotelis S
AS
Filippidis
Sotirios G
SG
Zarogiannis
Alan
A
Randich
Timothy J
TJ
Ness
Sadis
S
Matalon
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002713:Chlorine / Q000633:toxicity*; D003201:Computers; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D012984:Software
D002047:Buprenorphine; D002713:Chlorine