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Automated recording of home cage activity and temperature of individual rats housed in social groups: The Rodent Big Brother project

2017; Public Library of Science; Volume: 12; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1371/journal.pone.0181068

1932-6203

William S. Redfern, Karen Tse, Claire Grant, Amy Keerie, David J. Simpson, John C. Pedersen, Victoria Rimmer, Lauren Leslie, Stéphanie Klein, Natasha A. Karp, Rowland R. Sillito, Agis Chartsias, T.C. Lukins, James Heward, Catherine Vickers, Kathryn Chapman, J. Douglas Armstrong,

Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Measuring the activity and temperature of rats is commonly required in biomedical research. Conventional approaches necessitate single housing, which affects their behavior and wellbeing. We have used a subcutaneous radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponder to measure ambulatory activity and temperature of individual rats when group-housed in conventional, rack-mounted home cages. The transponder location and temperature is detected by a matrix of antennae in a baseplate under the cage. An infrared high-definition camera acquires side-view video of the cage and also enables automated detection of vertical activity. Validation studies showed that baseplate-derived ambulatory activity correlated well with manual tracking and with side-view whole-cage video pixel movement. This technology enables individual behavioral and temperature data to be acquired continuously from group-housed rats in their familiar, home cage environment. We demonstrate its ability to reliably detect naturally occurring behavioral effects, extending beyond the capabilities of routine observational tests and conventional monitoring equipment. It has numerous potential applications including safety pharmacology, toxicology, circadian biology, disease models and drug discovery.