Phenotyping

Acoustic startle reactivity and pre-pulse inhibition

Purpose

The startle is a reflexive response to strong exteroceptive stimuli (acoustic or tactile). Pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) is the normal reduction of the startle reflex to an intense stimulus (acoustic or tactile) when this stimulus is immediately preceded by a non-startling prepulse. PPI provides an operational measure of sensorimotor gating which reflects the ability of an organism to properly inhibit sensory information. Amplitude of startle might give indication about motor deficits or anxiety. This assay could also be used to analyze depression-like behavior.

Strain background references

Geyer MA
Assessing prepulse inhibition of startle in wild-type and knockout mice.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1999 Nov;147(1):11-3.

Ouagazzal AM, Jenck F, Moreau JL.
Drug-induced potentiation of prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle reflex in mice: a model for detecting antipsychotic activity?
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001 Jul;156(2-3):273-83.

Equipment

Eight startle chambers (SRLAB, San Diego Instruments, San Diego, CA) are used for evaluation of the acoustic or tactile startle.

Recommendations

10 mice per group are recommended for reliable data analysis.

Amphetamine-stimulated locomotor activity

Purpose

The amphetamine-stimulated locomotor activity (Amphetamine-stimulated LMA) assay is used to evaluate the behavioral response elicited by i.p. injection of amphetamine.

Equipment

24 automated cages are used allowing evaluation of locomotor activity and rears (Imetronic, Pessac, France).

Recommendations

10 mice per group are recommended for reliable data analysis.