What can PhenoTyper be used for?
PhenoTyper is a great fit for a variety of research applications because it is easily customizable: From multiple day observations to
short term behavioral tests, you can find an overview of the most used applications on this
page.
If you want to know more you can
contact our team of experts to help you out.
Applications of PhenoTyper
Homecage observation
Following your animals for multiple circadian cycles can lead to insights that are less subjective than short term tests. The PhenoTyper has been specifically designed to facilitate a low stress, minimal handling environment that can house your animals for days or weeks without human interfering and continous measuring.
Short term tests
PhenoTyper is also very well suited to facilitate short term behavioral observations. From simple protocols like open field of novel object test to optogenetic research, the PhenoTyper is the one system to do it all. With the new modular top unit the PhenoTyper is even more versatile and this enables you to perform even more tests with your one setup.
Social interaction
Rodents are social animals and observing how they react to each other gives great insight in the full behavioral spectrum of your model. PhenoTyper offers a standardized and high through-put system, that, in combination with EthoVision XT, can easily observe 2 animals with the social interaction module.
Operant conditioning
The various add ons and seamless integration with EthoVision XT make PhenoTyper ideal for performing operant conditioning tests. Protocols can be easily automated and performed without a researcher in the room. This reduces the stress of an animal and therefore improves the results.
Anxiety testing
Within PhenoTyper you can use a variety of add as stimuli for anxiety testing. From automatically switching on the light when certain criteria are met to playing sounds when a animal enters a zone in the cage. You can also extend PhenoTyper with other TTL-based hardare, adjusting to setup to your every need.
Discrimination learning
The CognitionWall by Sylics is an wall containing three entrances placed in front of a reward dispenser. Once the animal has learned which entrance activates the reward dispenser the correct answers can be changed to assess the animal's cognitive flexibility.
Optogenetics
Working with tethered animals has never been easier with the new PhenoTyper 2 top unit. Neccessary cables can be fed through the modular top unit, all the while EthoVision XT coördinates and records every facet of your experiment.
EEG/EMG testing
Phenotyper excels at long term observation of rodents, combined with its easy integration of tethers makes it possible to accurately observe animals wearing an EEG headcap. Previous research has used this to analyze the locomotion and sleep staging in rodents models.
PhenoTyper behavioral tests
Abbreviations
AD, Alzheimer’s Disease; ADHD, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorders; DMD, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; HPC, Hippocampus dependent; IMD, Inherited metabolic disorder; OFC, Orbitofrontal cortex dependent; SZ, Schizophrenia
References
1. Remmelink E, Smit AB, Verhage M, Loos M. Measuring discrimination- and reversal learning in mouse models within 4 days and without prior food deprivation. Learn Mem. 2016 Oct 17;23(11):660-667. doi: 10.1101/lm.042085.116.
2. Remmelink E, Aartsma-Rus A, Smit AB, Verhage M, Loos M, van Putten M. Cognitive flexibility deficits in a mouse model for the absence of full-length dystrophin. Genes Brain Behav. 2016 Jul;15(6):558-67. doi: 10.1111/gbb.12301.
3. Remmelink E, Chau U, Smit AB, Verhage M, Loos M. A one-week 5-choice serial reaction time task to measure impulsivity and attention in adult and adolescent mice. Sci Rep. 2017 Feb 15;7:42519. doi: 10.1038/srep42519.
4. Loos M, Koopmans B, Aarts E, Maroteaux G, van der Sluis S; Neuro-BSIK Mouse Phenomics Consortium; Verhage M, Smit AB. Sheltering behavior and locomotor activity in 11 genetically diverse common inbred mouse strains using home-cage monitoring. PLoS One. 2014 Sep 29;9(9):e108563. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108563.
5. Remmelink E, Loos M, Koopmans B, Aarts E, van der Sluis S, Smit AB, Verhage M; Neuro-BSIK Mouse Phenomics Consortium. A 1-night operant learning task without food-restriction differentiates among mouse strains in an automated home-cage environment. Behav Brain Res. 2015 Apr 15;283:53-60. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.01.020.
6. Loos, M., Koopmans, B., Aarts, E., Maroteaux, G., Van Der Sluis, S., Verhage, M., Smit, A.B., 2014. Sheltering Behavior and Locomotor Activity in 11 Genetically Diverse Common Inbred Mouse Strains Using Home-Cage Monitoring. PLOS ONE 9, e108563.. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0108563
7. Loos, M., Koopmans, B., Aarts, E. et al. Within-strain variation in behavior differs consistently between common inbred strains of mice. Mamm Genome 26, 348–354 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-015-9578-7
8. Aarts, E., Maroteaux, G., Loos, M., Koopmans, B., Kovačević, J., Smit, A.B., Verhage, M., van der Sluis, S. 2015. The light spot test: Measuring anxiety in mice in an automated home-cage environment. Behav Brain Res. 294; 123-130. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.06.011.
Developing new treatments with PhenoTyper
Why should I use PhenoTyper?
Introducing PhenoTyper to your lab makes performing research a lot easier. This one system can be used for a myriad of tests, and the uniform design of the cages increases repeatability and robustness of your experiments.
How do you use PhenoTyper?
If PhenoTyper is the body, than EthoVision XT is the brain. PhenoTyper is fully programmable by EthoVision, which limits the interactions the animals have with technicians and researchers. Read more about how to use PhenoTyper on the methodology page.
How do I expand my PhenoTyper setup?
PhenoTyper can be customized to your research needs. PhenoTyper comes in a variety of sizes and with various add-ons. Think pellet dispensers, shelters, running wheels or equipment for optogenetics. Discover all the ways you can personalize your PhenoTyper on the add-ons page.
Learn more about PhenoTyper
Because of its customizability, the PhenoTyper is a great fit for many types of behavioral research. Many researchers have gone before you and have made great use of the PhenoTyper in a wide variety of behavioral research applications.
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