Antidepressant drugs and depression animal model genetic screening are commonly conducted by using the Tail Suspension Test (TST). This test is based on the aversive effect of hanging a mouse of rat by the tail, which elicits its struggling moving upwards in an attempt to escape (which is obviously not possible).
The struggling attempt tends to be shorter in duration and translates into animal immobility in depressed animals and recovers by use of antidepressants. The test is video-tracking based by measuring in one or multiple animals the immobility during the test. The Ugo Basile system comes complete with a U-shaped chamber to run more animals at the time and a hook where the animal is kept hanging. The camera positioned in front of the chambers detects the immobility in multiple animals simultaneously.
Background
Simple to set-up, accurate and for multiple animals
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Features |
Benefits |
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Easy to assembly and mat grey colored |
Works in automatic mode, with video tracking, on both light and dark animals |
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Divider + Lid and hook parts to be used as Porsolt divider for multiple animals or as multiple animal tail suspension |
Works as divider for multiple Porsolt devices or as a stand-alone tail suspension |
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Capable to measure immobility in > 10 animals at the time with multiple cameras in light or darkness |
High throughput, while using only 1 software and 1 or multiple cameras |
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Compatible with Porsolt Forced Swim Test, also in “Combo” version |
Allows a low cost, high effectiveness combo system for multiple mice and rat Porsolt and Tail Suspension Test |
The animal is kept hanging by its tail at about 10 centimeters from the ground for about 5 minutes. During this time the animal tries to escape showing a a tail climbing behavior, until a behavioral despair occurs. The tail climbing is longer in animals which are not depressed or that have been given anti-depressant drugs, so that the measurement of immobility gives an indication of the depression state of the animal.
The translational power of the test has been questioned because the human depression condition is a long-lasting condition, while the TST test is a short experiment. For this reason, some prefer to use it as a tool to measure antidepressant effects of drugs, rather than a proxy for depression states.
In any case the TST, together with the Porsolt Forced Swim test are still the most used test to assess depression in rodents, as shown by the amount of citations exceeding 50,000.
| Tail Suspension | |
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| 40182 | Tail Suspension for Large Rats |
| 40183 | Tail Suspension for Mice and small rats |
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40122-321 |
Lid only for Tail Suspension for Large Rats (requires 40122-320 Porsolt Dividers) |
| 40123-321 | Lid only for Tail Suspension for Mice and Rats (requires 40123-320 Porsolt Dividers) |
| Options | |
| 60000-FST | ANY-maze for Porsolt and Tail Suspension Test immobility scoring |
| 47400-040 | BW USB camera with 1.8-12 mm day & night varifocal lens |
| E-AU 119 | Table tripod for cameras |
In addition to the one-year Regular Warranty and in addition to the one-year product registration extended warranty, Ugo Basile offers an Optional Extended Warranty that extends the warranty period for the product for additional one or two years called “UB Care12”/“UB Care24”. Customers may purchase the “UB Care” at the maximum of 3 months after buying. For more detailed information, please contact your local representatives.
