Climbing behavior can be of interest for the most diverse applications.
The Ugo Basile automated system replicates its first manual application in the Pain field, for measuring Pain-Depressed behavior. It showed that, while mild analgesics block pain-depressed climbing, strong analgesics fail to alleviate depression of climbing (Santos et al. 2023, “Climbing behavior by mice as an endpoint for preclinical assessment of drug effects in the absence and presence of pain”, Frontiers).
The device, developed in collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Sidney Negus from Virginia Commonwealth University, provides a measurement of the vertical movement of rodents, a parameter which has not been widely investigated so far, in spite of the fact that rodents are animals that live in a 3D space and hence the analysis of XY position only is a limitation in many current studies.
However, climbing behavior and vertical movements have been previously studied in non-automated experiments to investigate many fields, from muscle strength (Ueno et al. 2022), to antidepressants (Perona et al. 2008), stroke (Jin et al., 2017), Parkinson’s (Sundstrom et al., 1990), sex-differences (Borbelyova et al., 2019), locomotor activity and kinematics (Green et al., 2012), neuroleptics and dopamine agonists (Costall et al., 1982; Pinsky et al., 1988; Medvedev et al., 2013), XYZ activity (Wexler et al. 2018), opioid receptors (Michael-Titus et al., 1989), neuropathic and cancer pain (Falk et al., 2017).
The Ugo Basile Climbing System aims to provide a simple and automated tool to measure vertical climbing movements within a grid cylinder to inform all the scientists that are interested in this crucial parameter for their research.
A load cell underneath the aluminum base (diameter 12 cm) provides the automated start of the test once the animal leaves the base and starts climbing over the cylinder (height 25.5 cm) and its ceiling, thanks to the 5x5mm internal grid.
The system is composed of a 4-channel electronic unit to connect up to 4 climbing cylinders. The output parameters, stored in the electronic unit and exportable in Excel, include the %climbing, the number and duration of climbing episodes, the climbing time, the maximum and average climbing height and the total activity while climbing.
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Features |
Benefits |
|---|---|
|
Conductive sensors to track Z movements |
Automated measurement of time climbing, distance travelled, time on ceiling, climbing episodes |
|
Load cell floor |
Automated start of the test |
|
4 Channel electronic unit |
Up to four measuring cylinders can be connected to one electronic unit for high throughput |
|
USB and LAN data saving |
Easy export into excel and data security |
|
General | |
|---|---|
|
Commands |
4,3 inches touch-screen (Resistive) |
|
Read-out |
4,3 inches touch-screen (Resistive), PC |
|
Power Requirement |
Universal input 100-240 VAC, 50-60Hz, 200W MAX |
|
Sound Level |
Negligible |
|
Operating Temperature |
18°C to 25°C |
| Endpoints and statistics: |
Max height, Average height, Average distance covered, Total climbing time, Total time on roof, Latency on the single climbing event |
| No. of cages: | Up to 4 connected to one electronic unit |
|
Operation | |
| Start/Stop | By Start/Stop button on the climbing cage |
| Tare | By Tare button on the climbing cage |
| Experiment duration | Max 3600 seconds |
| Height sensors | 17 rings + 1 on the roof (capacitive sensors) |
| Height accuracy | 6mm |
| Weight accuracy | 0.1g |
| Data Acquisition | Via X-PAD software (included) |
| Data Portability | By USB flash drive (included) or LAN connection |
| Data Output | Results table in .csv |
|
Physical | |
| Cylinder diameter | 12 cm |
|
Cylinder Height |
25,5 cm |
|
Weight |
5Kg |
|
Shipping Weight |
8Kg |
|
Packing Dimensions |
36x55x45cm |
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Warranty | |
| Warranty | 36103 is covered by a 12-months warranty + 12 months after product registration |
Certain diseases and conditions affect rodents’ climbing abilities. For example, neurodegenerative disorders can impair their motor skills and climbing behavior. Researchers use these changes in climbing behavior to study and test potential treatments for such diseases.
In summary, climbing behavior in rats and mice is not just a simple activity but a multifaceted aspect of their biology with implications for their well-being, natural behavior, and various fields of research.
It provides valuable insights into their physiology, behavior, and responses to environmental and genetic factors, making it an essential component of biological and biomedical studies involving these rodents.
| 36103 Mouse Climbing Test - 1 Cage System (What's in the box) | |
|---|---|
|
36103 |
Mouse climbing test system for vertical movement assessment, including 4 channel electronic unit with USB for data export in Excel, climbing cylinder and ceiling (diameter 12cm, height, 25.5cm). |
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36103-001 |
Electronic unit for Mouse climbing test system |
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36103-002 |
Climbing test measuring cylinder with climbing cylinder and ceiling (diameter 12cm, height, 25.5cm) and divider. |
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36103-4 Mouse Climbing Test - 4 Cages System (What's in the box) | |
|
36103-4 |
Mouse climbing test system for vertical movement assessment, including 4 channel electronic unit with USB for data export in Excel, 4 climbing cylinders and ceiling (diameter 12cm, height, 25.5cm). |
| 36103-001 | Electronic unit for Mouse climbing test system |
| 36103-002 | Climbing test measuring cylinder with climbing cylinder and ceiling (diameter 12cm, height, 25.5cm) and divider |
|
Optional | |
| 36103-002 | Climbing test additional measuring cylinder with climbing cylinder and ceiling (diameter 12cm, height, 25.5cm) and divider |
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.
