Assessing the Autonomic and Behavioral Effects of Passive Motion in Rats using Elevator Vertical Motion and Ferris-Wheel Rotation

Summary

Protocols are presented to assess the autonomic and behavioral effects of passive motion in rodents using elevator vertical motion and Ferris-wheel rotation.

Abstract

The overall goal of this study is to assess the autonomic and behavioral effects of passive motion in rodents using the elevator vertical motion and Ferris-wheel rotation devices. These assays can help confirm the integrity and normal functioning of the autonomic nervous system. They are coupled to quantitative measures based on defecation counting, open-field examination, and balance beam crossing. The advantages of these assays are their simplicity, reproducibility, and quantitative behavioral measures. The limitations of these assays are that the autonomic reactions could be epiphenomena of non-vestibular disorders and that a functioning vestibular system is required. Examination of disorders such as motion sickness will be greatly aided by the detailed procedures of these assays.

Introduction

Motion sickness (MS) due to abnormal visuo-vestibular stimulation leads to autonomic reaction, eliciting symptoms such epigastric discomfort, nausea and/or vomiting¹. According to current theories, motion sickness may be caused by a sensory conflict or neuronal mismatch from receiving integrated motion information that differs from the anticipated internal model of the environment^2,3 or postural instability as would occur on a yawing ship^4,5. Despite significant advances in the field of motion sickness and vestibular autonomic f....

Protocol

The present study and procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation of the Second Military Medical University (Shanghai, China) in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (US National Research Council, 1996).

1. Animals

1. Use Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats of two months (200–250 g). For each behavioral assay, use a separate group of rats. Always use separate control and experimental groups.
   NOTE: There were two autonomic tests: EVM and FWR. The EVM had three conditions in addition to a control group (= 4) with three behavioral assays (balance beam, defecation counti....

Results

Figure 2 demonstrates representative balance beam results of time taken to transverse. Rats were trained for 3 consecutive days in order to achieve stable performance on the balance beam¹⁰. The subsequent day, rats were evaluated for balance beam performance. In the y-axis of the figure, we have the number of seconds taken for rodents to cross the balance beam for Ferris-wheel, elevator vertical motion, and control groups for demonstrative purposes.

Discussion

The present study describes assessing autonomic responses to passive motion in rodents using elevator vertical motion and Ferris-wheel rotation. These equipment and procedures can be easily adopted to other rodents and several modifications of the assays exist to confirm vestibular functioning in different circumstances, such as during in pharmacological challenge or surgical interventions. Research in MS elicited by vestibular stimulation has led to the theory that sensory conflict or neuronal mismatch caused by receivi.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Elevator vertical motion device	Custom		Custom-made Elevator vertical motion device to desired specifications
Ethovision	Noldus Information Technology		Video tracking software
Ferris-wheel rotation device	Custom		Custom-made Ferris-wheel rotation device to desired specifications
Latex, polyvinyl or nitrile gloves	AMMEX		Use unpowdered gloves 8-mil
Open field box	Custom		Darkened plexiglass box with IR camera
Rat or mouse	JAX labs		Any small rodent
Small rodent cage	Tecniplast	1284L
Wooden beam and stools	Custom		Custom-made wooden beam and stools to specifications indicated