Name: automated measurements of sleep and locomotor activity in mexican cavefish
Uploaded: 2019-03-21T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Automated Measurements of Sleep and Locomotor Activity in Mexican Cavefish at JoVE.com

This work was supported by NIGMS award GM127872 ACK, NINDS award 105072 to ERD and ACK, and NSF award 1656574 to ACK.

NOTE: Set up systems for behavioral tracking in larvae and adults.
1. Constructing a Sleep System for Larvae
NOTE: The monitoring system for tracking larval through juvenile fish aged 4 days post fertilization (dpf) through 30 dpf A. mexicanus requires multiple pieces of equipment including infrared (IR) lighting, acrylic IR light diffusers, automated light controls (timers), computers, cameras, and secondary materials such as wiring and powe...

<ol>
	<li>Keene, A. C., Duboue, E. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+origins+and+evolution+of+sleep.">The origins and evolution of sleep.</a> The Journal of Experimental Biology. , (2018).</li><li>Joiner, W. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Unraveling+the+Evolutionary+Determinants+of+Sleep.">Unraveling the Evolutionary Determinants of Sleep.</a> Current Biology. 26 (20), R1073-R1087 (2016).</li><li>Allada, R., Siegel, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Unearthing+the+phylogenetic+roots+of+sleep.">Unearthing the phylogenetic roots of sleep.</a> Current biology. 18, R670-R679 (2008).</li><li>Sehgal, A., Mignot, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetics+of+sleep+and+sleep+disorders.">Genetics of sleep and sleep disorders.</a> Cell. 146, 194-207 (2011).</li><li>Campbell, S. S., Tobler, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Animal+sleep:+a+review+of+sleep+duration+across+phylogeny.">Animal sleep: a review of sleep duration across phylogeny.</a> Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 8, 269-300 (1984).</li><li>Raizen, D. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lethargus+is+a+Caenorhabditis+elegans+sleep-like+state.">Lethargus is a Caenorhabditis elegans sleep-like state.</a> Nature. 451, 569-572 (2008).</li><li>Geissmann, Q., Rodriguez, L. G., Beckwith, E. J., French, A. S., Jamasb, A. R., Gilestro, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ethoscopes:+An+Open+Platform+For+High-Throughput+Ethomics.">Ethoscopes: An Open Platform For High-Throughput Ethomics.</a> bioRxiv. , 113647 (2017).</li><li>Garbe, D. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Context-specific+comparison+of+sleep+acquisition+systems+in+Drosophila.">Context-specific comparison of sleep acquisition systems in Drosophila.</a> Biology Open. 4 (11), (2015).</li><li>Branson, K., Robie, A. A., Bender, J., Perona, P., Dickinson, M. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-throughput+ethomics+in+large+groups+of+Drosophila.">High-throughput ethomics in large groups of Drosophila.</a> Nature Methods. 6 (6), 451-457 (2009).</li><li>Gilestro, G. 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N., Prober, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+zebrafish+sleep+and+arousal+states:+current+and+prospective+approaches.">Regulation of zebrafish sleep and arousal states: current and prospective approaches.</a> Frontiers in Neural Circuits. 7 (April), 58 (2013).</li><li>Elbaz, I., Foulkes, N. S., Gothilf, Y., Appelbaum, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circadian+clocks,+rhythmic+synaptic+plasticity+and+the+sleep-wake+cycle+in+zebrafish.">Circadian clocks, rhythmic synaptic plasticity and the sleep-wake cycle in zebrafish.</a> Frontiers in Neural Circuits. 7, (2013).</li><li>Dubou&#233;, E. R., Keene, A. C., Borowsky, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evolutionary+convergence+on+sleep+loss+in+cavefish+populations.">Evolutionary convergence on sleep loss in cavefish populations.</a> Current Biology. 21, 671-676 (2011).</li><li>Beale, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circadian+rhythms+in+Mexican+blind+cavefish+Astyanax+mexicanus+in+the+lab+and+in+the+field.">Circadian rhythms in Mexican blind cavefish Astyanax mexicanus in the lab and in the field.</a> Nature Communications. 4, 2769 (2013).</li><li>Keene, A. C., Yoshizawa, M., McGaugh, S. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Biology and Evolution of the Mexican Cavefish. , (2015).</li><li>Jeffery, W. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regressive+evolution+in+Astyanax+cavefish.">Regressive evolution in Astyanax cavefish.</a> Annual Review of Genetics. 43, 25-47 (2009).</li><li>Gross, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+complex+origin+of+Astyanax+cavefish.">The complex origin of Astyanax cavefish.</a> BMC Evolutionary Biology. 12, 105 (2012).</li><li>Aspiras, A., Rohner, N., Marineau, B., Borowsky, R., Tabin, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Melanocortin+4+receptor+mutations+contribute+to+the+adaptation+of+cavefish+to+nutrient-poor+conditions.">Melanocortin 4 receptor mutations contribute to the adaptation of cavefish to nutrient-poor conditions.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112 (31), 9688 (2015).</li><li>Jaggard, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+lateral+line+confers+evolutionarily+derived+sleep+loss+in+the+Mexican+cavefish.">The lateral line confers evolutionarily derived sleep loss in the Mexican cavefish.</a> Journal of Experimental Biology. 220 (2), (2017).</li><li>Jaggard, J. B., Stahl, B. A., Lloyd, E., Prober, D. A., Duboue, E. R., Keene, A. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hypocretin+underlies+the+evolution+of+sleep+loss+in+the+Mexican+cavefish.">Hypocretin underlies the evolution of sleep loss in the Mexican cavefish.</a> eLife. , e32637 (2018).</li><li>Hinaux, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Developmental+Staging+Table+for+Astyanax+mexicanus+Surface+Fish+and+Pacho+&#180;n+Cavefish.">A Developmental Staging Table for Astyanax mexicanus Surface Fish and Pacho &#180;n Cavefish.</a> Zebrafish. 8 (4), 155-165 (2011).</li><li>Bill, B. R., Petzold, A. M., Clark, K. J., La Schimmenti, ., Ekker, S. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+primer+for+morpholino+use+in+zebrafish.">A primer for morpholino use in zebrafish.</a> Zebrafish. 6 (1), 69-77 (2009).</li><li>Bilandzija, H., Ma, L., Parkhurst, A., Jeffery, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+potential+benefit+of+albinism+in+Astyanax+cavefish:+downregulation+of+the+oca2+gene+increases+tyrosine+and+catecholamine+levels+as+an+alternative+to+melanin+synthesis.">A potential benefit of albinism in Astyanax cavefish: downregulation of the oca2 gene increases tyrosine and catecholamine levels as an alternative to melanin synthesis.</a> Plos One. 8 (11), e80823 (2013).</li><li>Yokogawa, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+sleep+in+zebrafish+and+insomnia+in+hypocretin+receptor+mutants.">Characterization of sleep in zebrafish and insomnia in hypocretin receptor mutants.</a> PLoS Biology. 5, 2379-2397 (2007).</li><li>Appelbaum, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sleep-wake+regulation+and+hypocretin-melatonin+interaction+in+zebrafish.">Sleep-wake regulation and hypocretin-melatonin interaction in zebrafish.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 106, 21942-21947 (2009).</li><li>Singh, C., Oikonomou, G., Prober, D. 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This protocol describes a custom system for quantifying sleep and locomotor activity in larval and adult cavefish. Cavefish have emerged as a leading model for studying the evolution of sleep that can be used to investigate the genetic and neural basis of sleep regulation1. The critical steps in this protocol include optimization of lighting and video quality in order to assure accurate tracking that is necessary to quantify sleep. The system for acquisition and analysis described here are fully f...

Sleep is highly conserved throughout the animal kingdom at the physiological, functional, and behavioral levels1,2,3. While sleep in mammalian laboratory animals is typically assessed using electroencephalograms, electrophysiological recordings are less practical in small genetically amenable model systems and thus sleep is typically measured based on behavior3,4. Behavioral characteristics associated with sleep are highly conserved throughout the animal kingdom and include increased arousal threshold, reversibility with stimulation, and prolonged behavioral quiescence5. These measures can be used to characterize sleep in animals ranging from the nematode worm, C. elegans, through humans6.
The use of behavioral quiescence to characterize sleep requires automated tracking software. With tracking software, periods of activity and immobility are determined over a number of days, and long periods of inactivity are classified as sleep7,8. In recent years, multiple tracking systems have been developed for acquiring activity data among a diversity of small genetically-amenable model systems; including worms, fruit flies and fish9,10,11. These programs are accompanied by software that allows for automated tracking of animal behavior, including both open source freeware and commercially available software7,12,13,14. These systems differ in their flexibility and allow for efficient screening and characterization of sleep phenotypes in numerous genetically amendable models.
Genetic investigation of sleep in the zebrafish, Danio rerio, has led to the identification of numerous genes and neural circuits that regulate sleep15,16. While this has provided a powerful system for investigating the neural basis of sleep in a vertebrate laboratory animal, much less is known about how sleep evolves and how natural variation contributes to sleep regulation. The Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus (A. mexicanus), have evolved dramatic differences in sleep, locomotor activity and circadian rhythms17,18. These fish exist as eyed surface fish that inhabit the rivers of Mexico and Southern Texas and at least 29 cave populations around the Sierra Del Abra region of Northeast Mexico19,20,21. Remarkably, many behavioral differences, including sleep loss, appear to have emerged independently in multiple cavefish populations14,22. Therefore, cavefish provide a model for investigating the convergent evolution of sleep, circadian, and social behaviors.
This protocol describes a system for measuring sleep and locomotor behavior in A. mexicanus larvae and adults. A custom-built infrared-based recording system allows for video recording of animals under light and dark conditions. Commercially available software can be used to measure activity and custom macros are used to quantify several aspects of inactivity and determine periods of sleep. This protocol also describes experimental modifications for tracking the activity of multiple animals within a tank, providing the ability to examine interactions between sleep and social behaviors. These systems can be applied to measure sleep, circadian behavior, and locomotor activity in additional fish species including zebrafish and sticklebacks.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>12V power adaptor</td>
			<td>Environmental Lights</td>
			<td>24 Watt 12 VDC Power Supply</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acrylic dividers (adults)</td>
			<td>TAP Plastic</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Order sheets in sizes as needed</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adult infrared light power source</td>
			<td>Environmnental Lights 24 Watt 12 VDC Power Supply</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Battery pack</td>
			<td>CyberPower</td>
			<td>CP850PFCLCD</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Camera lens (adult)</td>
			<td>Navitar Zoom 7000</td>
			<td>Zoom 7000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Camera lens (larval)</td>
			<td>Fujian 35mm f/1.7</td>
			<td>B01CHX7668</td>
			<td>Purchase on Amazon</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Camera lens adapter</td>
			<td>d</td>
			<td>1524219</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Camera mount</td>
			<td>CowboyStudio Super Clamp</td>
			<td>B002LV7X1K</td>
			<td>Purchase on Amazon</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fish tank</td>
			<td>Deep Blue Professional</td>
			<td>ADB11006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heat sink (adult)</td>
			<td>M-D Building products</td>
			<td>SKU: 61085</td>
			<td>Cut to fit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heat sink (larval)</td>
			<td>M-D Building products</td>
			<td>SKU: 57000</td>
			<td>Cut to fit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Infrared lights (adults)</td>
			<td>Environmental Lights Infrared 850 nm 5050 LED strip</td>
			<td>irrf850-5050-60-reel</td>
			<td>Cut to fit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Infrared lights (larval)</td>
			<td>LED World</td>
			<td>B00MO9H7H4</td>
			<td>Purchase on Amazon</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IR-diffusing acrylic</td>
			<td>TAP Plastic</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Order sheets in sizes as needed</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laptop/computer</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Any laptop will work.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LED light</td>
			<td>Chanzon 10 High Power Led Chip 3W White (6000K-6500K/600mA-700mA/DC 3V-3.4V/3 Watt)</td>
			<td>B06XKTRSP7</td>
			<td>Use with Chanzon 25pcs 1W 3W 5W LED Heat Sink (2 pin Black) Aluminum Base Plate Panel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>light timer</td>
			<td>Century 24 Hour Plug-in Mechanical Timer Grounded</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plastic wall mount for IR</td>
			<td>Everbilt Plastic pegboard</td>
			<td>Model # 17961</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Power cable</td>
			<td>BNTECHGO 22 Gauge Silicone Wire</td>
			<td>B01K4RPE0Y</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Power source</td>
			<td>Rapid LED</td>
			<td>MOONLIGHT DRIVER (350MA)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue culture plates</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td colspan="2">12-well (FB012928) 24-well (FB012929)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tripod Ball head</td>
			<td>Demon DB-44</td>
			<td>B00TQ54CZO</td>
			<td>Purchase on Amazon</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>USB Hardrive</td>
			<td>Seagate 3TB backup</td>
			<td>STDT3000100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>USB Webcam</td>
			<td>Microsoft LifeCam</td>
			<td>Q2F-00014</td>
			<td>Purchase on Amazon</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wall mount for camera</td>
			<td>LDR Industries 1/2&#34; Steel pipe</td>
			<td>307 12X36</td>
			<td>Mounted on wall with Flange and 90 degree pipe elbow. Could also use a tripod to hold camera.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

automated measurements of sleep and locomotor activity in mexican cavefish

Across phyla, sleep is characterized by highly conserved behavioral characteristics that include elevated arousal threshold, rebound following sleep deprivation, and consolidated periods of behavioral immobility. The Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus (A. mexicanus), is a model for studying trait evolution in response to environmental perturbation. A. mexicanus exist as in eyed surface-dwelling forms and multiple blind cave-dwelling populations that have robust morphological and behavioral differences. Sleep loss has occurred in multiple, independently-evolved cavefish populations. This protocol describes a methodology for quantifying sleep and locomotor activity in A. mexicanus cave and surface fish. A cost-effective video monitoring system allows for behavioral imaging of individually-housed larval or adult fish for periods of a week or longer. The system can be applied to fish aged 4 days post fertilization through adulthood. The approach can also be adapted for measuring the effects of social interactions on sleep by recording multiple fish in a single arena. Following behavioral recordings, data is analyzed using automated tracking software and sleep analysis is processed using customized scripts that quantify multiple sleep variables including duration, bout length, and bout number. This system can be applied to measure sleep, circadian behavior, and locomotor activity in almost any fish species including zebrafish and sticklebacks.

Larvae ages 4-30 dpf can be reliably recorded in the custom-build closed system described in Figure 1. The system includes both IR and visible lighting to allow for recordings under light and dark conditions, under various visible light conditions (Figure 1A). The videos are then analyzed using tracking software (Figure 1B,C) and post-processed using a custom sleep macro (See <strong...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Automated Measurements of Sleep and Locomotor Activity in Mexican Cavefish at JoVE.com

Automated Measurements of Sleep and Locomotor Activity in Mexican Cavefish

This protocol details the methodology for quantifying locomotor behavior and sleep in the Mexican cavefish. Previous analyses are extended to measure these behaviors in socially-housed fish. This system can be widely applied to study sleep and activity in other fish species.

Across phyla, sleep is characterized by highly conserved behavioral characteristics that include elevated arousal threshold, rebound following sleep ...

This protocol can be used to quantify sleep and activity in any fish population and has the potential to expand the number of model systems used to study sleep regulation. The advantage of this technique is its flexibility. For example, fish can be tracked in a variety of arena sizes or in singly-housed or group-housed experiments.A strength of measuring sleep in this system is the amenability of the method for high throughput drug or genetic screening. We have applied this method to the study of the evolution of sleep in two different populations of cavefish that demonstrate dramatically different sleep phenotypes. Although it can be difficult to establish a system for behavioral imaging, our system provides a cost-effective method for studying larval and adult fish.To build the system to accurately track locomotor behavior for studying sleep and circadian rhythms in larval A.mexicanus, use 0.33-centimeter-thick white sign acrylic to construct a platform for the larval tracking system. Place the recording platform on top of the lighted square heat sink upon which fish-containing arenas will reside during the behavioral tracking experiments, and place a second acrylic inside the box between the lights in the animal housing to diffuse the infrared for optimal lighting and contrast. Place the entire larval tracking stage and lighting set up within an enclosed plastic tube.Use a rotary tool to remove the lens from an experimentally-suitable webcam. Remove the small screws on the back of the camera to remove the inner housing, and remove the small screws inside the body of the camera to loosen the remainder of the lens. Use a small screwdriver to remove any portions of the lens housing that are left after cutting the lens.And remove the blue light-emitting diode on the top part of the charge-coupled device or CCD housing. Next, return the inner housing to its original orientation before screwing the two outer screws back into their original positions. Use a small saw to route the inside of the camera to allow the camera to be fitted with a rounded plastic routing bit smoothing down the extra plastic until it can accompany a lens adapter.Install an infrared pass filter inside the camera as close to the CCD as possible without making direct contact with the camera, and screw the adapter of a 35-millimeter fixed lens in the front of the camera into the back of the lens. Then place the camera and lens into the hole drilled into the lid at the top of the tube that houses the stage and lights, and attach the USB to the computer on which the animals will be recorded. To construct a sleep system for adult fish, first cut infrared strips at approximately 46-centimeter intervals.And place a 46 by five by 0.32-centimeter 9%light pass white sign acrylic sheet directly in front of each infrared light strip to diffuse the infrared light. Then place all of the tanks on a rack that supports rear-mounted infrared lighting, and use opaque plastic dividers and 10-liter glass tanks to create individual arenas. To record the locomotor activity of the Mexican tetra fish place day four to six post-fertilization fish into individual wells of a 24-well tissue plate, and days 20 to 30 post-fertilization in individual wells of a six-well tissue plate.To record adult tetra sleep and activity in a social setting house up to five adults per 10-liter tank with or without the dividers. In this representative experiment larval fish from three independent cave fish populations displayed a significant reduction in sleep compared to surface fish. This sleep production is consistent across all of the ages tested as sleep was also significantly reduced in adult Pachon, Molino, and Tinaja cave fish compared to surface fish.Notably, social housing robustly reduced sleep in surface fish without affecting sleep in Pacho cave fish likely due to a basement effect in the cave fish populations. When recording the fish care should be taken to ensure that the camera lighting is optimal to enhance the signal of the fish relative to the background. Some basic command line coding is required for this protocol that is fully described in the text and should be amenable to any lab setting.This protocol has led to numerous questions about sleep evolution and is currently being used for drug screens, track sleep behavior, and understand how social behavior affects sleep.

automated-measurements-sleep-locomotor-activity-mexican

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

Mouse Short- and Long-term Locomotor Activity Analyzed by Video Tracking Software

Locomotor activity (LMA) is a simple and easily performed measurement of behavior in mice and other rodents. Improvements in video tracking software (VTS) have allowed it to be coupled to LMA testing, dramatically improving specificity and sensitivity when compared to the line crossings method with manual scoring. In addition, VTS enables high-throughput experimentation. While similar to automated video tracking used for the open field test (OFT), LMA testing is unique in that it allows mice to remain in their home cage and does not utilize the anxiogenic stimulus of bright lighting during the active phase of the light-dark cycle. Traditionally, LMA has been used for short periods of time (mins), while longer movement studies (hrs-days) have often used implanted transmitters and biotelemetry. With the option of real-time tracking, long-, like short-term LMA testing, can now be conducted using videography. Long-term LMA testing requires a specialized, but easily constructed, cage so that food and water (which is usually positioned on the cage top) does not obstruct videography. Importantly, videography and VTS allows for the quantification of parameters, such as path of mouse movement, that are difficult or unfeasible to measure with line crossing and/or biotelemetry. In sum, LMA testing coupled to VTS affords a more complete description of mouse movement and the ability to examine locomotion over an extended period of time.

Locomotor activity (LMA) is a simple and easily performed measurement of behavior in mice. Coupling of video tracking software (VTS) and LMA allows for the improvement of specificity and sensitivity, especially when compared with the manual, line crossing method of LMA analysis. Additionally VTS allows long-term tracking of mouse LMA.

Locomotor  activity (LMA) is a simple and easily performed measurement of behavior in mice  and other rodents. Improvements in video tracking software ...

Automated Visual Cognitive Tasks for Recording Neural Activity Using a Floor Projection Maze

Neuropsychological tasks used in primates to investigate mechanisms of learning and memory are typically visually guided cognitive tasks. We have developed visual cognitive tasks for rats using the Floor Projection Maze1,2&#160;that are optimized for visual abilities of rats permitting stronger comparisons of experimental findings with other species.
In order to investigate neural correlates of learning and memory, we have integrated electrophysiological recordings into fully automated cognitive tasks on the Floor Projection Maze1,2. Behavioral software interfaced with an animal tracking system allows monitoring of the animal's behavior with precise control of image presentation and reward contingencies for better trained animals. Integration with an in vivo electrophysiological recording system enables examination of behavioral correlates of neural activity at selected epochs of a given cognitive task.
We describe protocols for a model system that combines automated visual presentation of information to rodents and intracranial reward with electrophysiological approaches. Our model system offers a sophisticated set of tools as a framework for other cognitive tasks to better isolate and identify specific mechanisms contributing to particular cognitive processes.

We describe protocols for training rats for chronic electrophysiological recordings in fully automated cognitive tasks on a Floor Projection Maze.

Neuropsychological tasks used in primates to investigate mechanisms of learning and memory are typically visually guided cognitive tasks. We have ...

Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory

Although rises in cortisol can benefit memory consolidation, as can sleep soon after encoding, there is currently a paucity of literature as to how these two factors may interact to influence consolidation. Here we present a protocol to examine the interactive influence of cortisol and sleep on memory consolidation, by combining three methods: eye tracking, salivary cortisol analysis, and behavioral memory testing across sleep and wake delays. To assess resting cortisol levels, participants gave a saliva sample before viewing negative and neutral objects within scenes. To measure overt attention, participants&#8217; eye gaze was tracked during encoding. To manipulate whether sleep occurred during the consolidation window, participants either encoded scenes in the evening, slept overnight, and took a recognition test the next morning, or encoded scenes in the morning and remained awake during a comparably long retention interval. Additional control groups were tested after a 20&#160;min&#160;delay in the morning or evening, to control for time-of-day effects. Together, results showed that there is a direct relation between resting cortisol at encoding and subsequent memory, only following a period of sleep. Through eye tracking, it was further determined that for negative stimuli, this beneficial effect of cortisol on subsequent memory may be due to cortisol strengthening the relation between where participants look during encoding and what they are later able to remember. Overall, results obtained by a combination of these methods uncovered an interactive effect of sleep and cortisol on memory consolidation.

We present a protocol used to discover an interactive effect between sleep and cortisol on memory consolidation, particularly for negative arousing images. Specifically, the experimental design utilizes eye tracking, salivary cortisol analysis, and behavioral memory testing &#8211; methods that can be used with both healthy and clinical participants.

Although rises in cortisol can benefit memory consolidation, as can sleep soon after encoding, there is currently a paucity of literature as to how these ...

Behavioral and Locomotor Measurements Using an Open Field Activity Monitoring System for Skeletal Muscle Diseases

The open field activity monitoring system comprehensively assesses locomotor and behavioral activity levels of mice. It is a useful tool for assessing locomotive impairment in animal models of neuromuscular disease and efficacy of therapeutic drugs that may improve locomotion and/or muscle function. The open field activity measurement provides a different measure than muscle strength, which is commonly assessed by grip strength measurements. It can also show how drugs may affect other body systems as well when used with additional outcome measures. In addition, measures such as total distance traveled mirror the 6 min walk test, a clinical trial outcome measure. However, open field activity monitoring is also associated with significant challenges: Open field activity measurements vary according to animal strain, age, sex, and circadian rhythm. In addition, room temperature, humidity, lighting, noise, and even odor can affect assessment outcomes. Overall, this manuscript provides a well-tested and standardized open field activity SOP for preclinical trials in animal models of neuromuscular diseases. We provide a discussion of important considerations, typical results, data analysis, and detail the strengths and weaknesses of open field testing. In addition, we provide recommendations for optimal study design when using open field activity in a preclinical trial.

Open field activity levels are used to assess locomotive and behavioral activity levels. This protocol provides a well-designed, standardized protocol to use in preclinical trials for neuromuscular disorders.

The open field activity monitoring system comprehensively assesses locomotor and behavioral activity levels of mice. It is a useful tool for assessing ...

Use of the Open Field Maze to Measure Locomotor and Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice

Animal models have proven to be invaluable to researchers trying to answer questions regarding the mechanisms of behavior. The Open Field Maze is one of the most commonly used platforms to measure behaviors in animal models. It is a fast and relatively easy test that provides a variety of behavioral information ranging from general ambulatory ability to data regarding the emotionality of the subject animal. As it relates to rodent models, the procedure allows the study of different strains of mice or rats both laboratory bred and wild-captured. The technique also readily lends itself to the investigation of different pharmacological compounds for anxiolytic or anxiogenic effects. Here, a protocol for use of the open field maze to describe mouse behaviors is detailed and a simple analysis of general locomotor ability and anxiety-related emotional behaviors between two strains of C57BL/6 mice is performed. Briefly, using the described protocol we show Wild Type mice exhibited significantly less anxiety related behaviors than did age-matched Knock Out mice while both strains exhibited similar ambulatory ability.

A protocol is provided to use an Open Field Maze to access general locomotor activity, anxiety and emotionality in a laboratory mouse model.

Animal models have proven to be invaluable to researchers trying to answer questions regarding the mechanisms of behavior. The Open Field Maze is one of ...

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

Ancient Chinese literature has documented that acupuncture possesses efficient therapeutic effects on epilepsy and insomnia. There is, however, little research to reveal the possible mechanisms behind these effects. To investigate the effect of acupuncture on epilepsy and sleep, several issues need to be addressed. The first is to identify the acupoints, which correspond between humans, rats, and mice. Furthermore, the depth of insertion of the acupuncture needle, the degree of needle twist in manual needle acupuncture, and the stimulation parameters for electroacupuncture (EA) need to be determined. To evaluate the effects of acupuncture on epilepsy and sleep, a feasible model of epilepsy in rodents is required. We administer pilocarpine into the left central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to simulate focal temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in rats. Intraperitoneal (IP) injection of pilocarpine induces generalized epilepsy and status epilepticus (SE) in rats. Five IP injections of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) with a one-day interval between each injection successfully induces spontaneous generalized epilepsy in mice. Recordings of electrocorticograms (ECoGs), electromyograms (EMGs), brain temperature, and locomotor activity are used for sleep analysis in rats, while ECoGs, EMGs, and locomotor activity are employed for sleep analysis in mice. ECoG electrodes are implanted into the frontal, parietal, and contralateral occipital cortices, and a thermistor is implanted above the cerebral cortex by stereotactic surgery. EMG electrodes are implanted into the neck muscles, and an infrared detector determines locomotor activity. The criteria for categorizing vigilance stages, including wakefulness, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-REM (NREM) sleep are based on information from ECoGs, EMGs, brain temperature, and locomotor activity. Detailed classification criteria are stated in the text.

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms ECoGs and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture

This paper demonstrates the performance of acupuncture, epilepsy models, and the analysis of sleep in rodents. The acupuncture procedure and the identification of acupoints are described. Pilocarpine or pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) is used to induce epilepsy. Electrocorticogram (ECoG), electromyogram (EMG), brain temperature, and locomotor activity recordings are employed for sleep analysis.

Ancient Chinese literature has documented that acupuncture possesses efficient therapeutic effects on epilepsy and insomnia. There is, however, little ...

Using a Split-belt Treadmill to Evaluate Generalization of Human Locomotor Adaptation

Understanding the mechanisms underlying locomotor learning helps researchers and clinicians optimize gait retraining as part of motor rehabilitation. However, studying human locomotor learning can be challenging. During infancy and childhood, the neuromuscular system is quite immature, and it is unlikely that locomotor learning during early stages of development is governed by the same mechanisms as in adulthood. By the time humans reach maturity, they are so proficient at walking that it is difficult to come up with a sufficiently novel task to study de novo locomotor learning. The split-belt treadmill, which has two belts that can drive each leg at a different speed, enables the study of both short- (i.e., immediate) and long-term (i.e., over minutes-days; a form of motor learning) gait modifications in response to a novel change in the walking environment. Individuals can easily be screened for previous exposure to the split-belt treadmill, thus ensuring that all experimental participants have no (or equivalent) prior experience. This paper describes a typical split-belt treadmill adaptation protocol that incorporates testing methods to quantify locomotor learning and generalization of this learning to other walking contexts. A discussion of important considerations for designing split-belt treadmill experiments follows, including factors like treadmill belt speeds, rest breaks, and distractors. Additionally, potential but understudied confounding variables (e.g., arm movements, prior experience) are considered in the discussion.

We describe a protocol for investigating human locomotor adaptation using the split-belt treadmill, which has two belts that can drive each leg at a different speed. We specifically focus on a paradigm designed to test the generalization of adapted locomotor patterns to different walking contexts (e.g., gait speeds, walking environments).

Understanding the mechanisms underlying locomotor learning helps researchers and clinicians optimize gait retraining as part of motor rehabilitation. ...

Noninvasive, High-throughput Determination of Sleep Duration in Rodents

Traditionally, sleep is monitored by an electroencephalogram (EEG). EEG studies in rodents require surgical implantation of the electrodes followed by a long recovery period. To perform an EEG recording, the animal is connected to a receiver, creating an unnatural tether to the head-mount. EEG monitoring is time consuming, carries risk to the animal, and is not a completely natural setting for the measurement of sleep. Alternative methods to detect sleep, particularly in a high-throughput fashion, would greatly advance the field of sleep research. Here, we describe a validated method for detecting sleep via activity-based home-cage monitoring. Previous studies have shown that sleep assessed via this method has a high degree of agreement with sleep defined by traditional EEG-based measures. Whereas this method is validated for total sleep time, it is important to note that sleep bout duration should be assessed by an EEG which has better temporal resolution. The EEG can also differentiate rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep, giving more detail about the exact nature of sleep. Nevertheless, activity-based sleep determination can be used to analyze multiple days of undisturbed sleep and to assess sleep as a response to an acute event (like stress). Here, we show the power of this system to detect the response of mice to daily intraperitoneal injections.

We describe a high-throughput method of measuring sleep by means of activity-based home-cage monitoring. This method offers advantages over traditional EEG-based methods. It is well validated for the determination of total sleep duration and can be a powerful tool to monitor sleep in rodent models of human disease.

Traditionally, sleep is monitored by an electroencephalogram (EEG). EEG studies in rodents require surgical implantation of the electrodes followed by a ...

A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats

The kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation has been implicated in psychiatric disorders. Specifically, the astrocyte-derived metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA), an antagonist at both N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and &#945;7 nicotinic acetylcholine (&#945;7nACh) receptors, has been implicated in cognitive processes in health and disease. As KYNA levels are elevated in the brains of patients with schizophrenia, a malfunction at the glutamatergic and cholinergic receptors is believed to be causally related to cognitive dysfunction, a core domain of the psychopathology of the illness. KYNA may play a pathophysiologically significant role in individuals with schizophrenia. It is possible to elevate endogenous KYNA in the rodent brain by treating animals with the direct bioprecursor kynurenine, and preclinical studies in rats have demonstrated that acute elevations in KYNA may impact their learning and memory processes. The current protocol describes this experimental approach in detail and combines a) a biochemical analysis of blood kynurenine levels and brain KYNA formation (using high-performance liquid chromatography), b) behavioral testing to probe the hippocampal-dependent contextual memory (passive avoidance paradigm), and c) an assessment of sleep-wake behavior [telemetric recordings combining electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) signals] in rats. Taken together, a relationship between elevated KYNA, sleep, and cognition is studied, and this protocol describes in detail an experimental approach to understanding function outcomes of kynurenine elevation and KYNA formation in vivo in rats. Results obtained through variations of this protocol will test the hypothesis that the KP and KYNA serve pivotal roles in modulating sleep and cognition in health and disease states.

Alterations in the kynurenine pathway (KP) neuroactive metabolites are implicated in psychiatric illnesses. Investigating the functional outcomes of an altered kynurenine pathway metabolism in vivo in rodents may help elucidate novel therapeutic approaches. The current protocol combines biochemical and behavioral approaches to investigate the impact of an acute kynurenine challenge in rats.

The kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation has been implicated in psychiatric disorders. Specifically, the astrocyte-derived metabolite ...

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Sleep is critical for proper development and neural plasticity. Moreover, abnormal sleep patterns are characteristic of many neurodevelopmental disorders. Studying how chronic sleep restriction during development can affect adult behavior may add to our understanding of the emergence of behavioral symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders. While there are many methods that can be used to restrict sleep in rodents including forced locomotion, constant disruption, presentation of an aversive stimulus, or electric shock, many of these methods are very stressful and cannot be used in neonatal mice. Here, we describe gentle handling, a sleep deprivation technique that can be used chronically throughout development and into adulthood to achieve sleep restriction. Gentle handling involves close observation of the mice throughout the sleep deprivation period and requires the researcher to gently prod the animals whenever they are inactive or display behaviors associated with sleep. Coupled with EEG recordings, gentle handling could be used to selectively disrupt a specific phase of sleep such as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The technique of gentle handling is a powerful tool for the study of the effects of chronic sleep restriction even in neonatal mice that circumvents many of the more stressful procedures used for sleep deprivation.

We describe a sleep deprivation technique known as gentle handling where investigators gently prod mice any time sleep behavior is observed. This method is a powerful tool that allows researchers to study the effects that chronic sleep restriction throughout development can have on future brain physiology and behavior.

Sleep is critical for proper development and neural plasticity. Moreover, abnormal sleep patterns are characteristic of many neurodevelopmental disorders. ...