Workplace for development of diagnostic research methods and drug trials on animal models has been established to provide complex and professional experimental service for behavioral and electrophysiological experiments to facilitate development of  new techniques for diagnostic and therapy of the neuronal disorders. This workplace enables scientist from Nencki Institute and other scientific institutions as well as from commercial companies to utilize equipment, knowledge and service for animal behavior research, behavioral phenotyping and electrophysiological diagnostics.

This workplace consists of three main parts:

1) Behavioral test battery which allows testing of :

-learning and memory mechanisms (Passive and Active Avoidance), spatial navigation and memory (T and Y mazes)

-free exploration (Open Field Test and Holeboard Test)

-anxiety level (Vogel test, Elevated Plus Maze and Zero Maze)

-drug addiction (Place Preference Test)

All tests based on observation of spontaneous locomotor activity of an animal are recorded and analyzed with image recognition system EthoVision (Noldus). Workspace also includes IntelliCages – integrated environment  allowing for automated, 24h/day conduction of various behavioral procedures on group of mice without much human interference. Additional equipment gives a possibility to measure:

-muscle strength

-touch and pain sensory thresholds (Von Frey)

-motor coordination and fatigue (RotaRod)

-quantitative assessment of footprints and gait in rodent models (CatWalk)

2) Experimental setup for electrophysiological recordings in rats with ability to record motoneurons  and intraneurons in rats spinal cord.

3) Experimental setup for recordings of electrophysiological activity in the brain with ability to register digital, multichannel EEG, local field potentials LTP of single neurons from various structures of nervous system in animals (mice, rats, cats) with ability to design and generate various stimuli