Name: feeding experimentation device (fed): construction and validation of an open-source device for measuring food intake in rodents
Uploaded: 2017-02-21T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Feeding Experimentation Device FED: Construction and Validation of an Open-source Device for Measuring Food Intake in Rodents at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). We thank the NIH Section on Instrumentation and the NIH Library for assistance with 3D printing.

NOTE: This protocol is written for components specifically named in the Table of Materials. While similar functionality can be achieved using other hardware, FED was programmed for the Arduino Pro microcontroller (henceforth termed: microcontroller) and listed accessories. Other microcontrollers may work equally well, but will require the user to modify the code to support them. Offline data analysis was coded using the Python programming language.
1. Preparation and Software Installation
<ol>
	<li>Procure elect...

<ol>
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The Feeding Experimentation Device (FED) is a flexible food intake monitoring system. Here, we describe detailed instructions on fabricating and troubleshooting the device, including the assembly of 3D printed hardware, soldering of electrical components, and uploading of sketches onto the microcontrollers. Though it is important to follow all steps outlined in the protocol carefully, there are critical steps that deserve extra attention in each section to ensure a successful end product. The 3D printed rotating disk sho...

With the rise of global obesity over the latter part of the 20th century, there is renewed attention on the mechanisms underlying feeding1,2,3,4. Typically, food intake is weighed manually5, or with commercially-available feeding systems. Commercial systems are excellent, but provide limited flexibility in modifying their designs or code. Here, we describe the Feeding Experimentation Device (FED): an open-source feeding system for measuring food intake with fine temporal resolution and minimal human interference6. FED is battery powered and fully contained within a 3D printed case that can fit inside of standard colony rack caging or other scientific equipment.
In its steady state, FED operates in a low-power mode with a food pellet resting in its food well. The presence of the pellet is monitored via an infrared beam. When a mouse removes a pellet, a photointerrupter sensor sends a signal to the microcontroller and the time-stamp is logged on the onboard secure digital (SD) card. Concurrently, a transistor-transistor logic (TTL) output provides a real-time output of pellet retrieval. Immediately following this event, the motor rotates to dispense another pellet, and the system returns to its low power mode. Due to its open-source nature, FED can be modified and improved to fit specific research needs. For example, the code can be easily altered to limit feeding to specific times of the day, or to stop dispensing when a number of pellets has been reached, without requiring human interference.
Here, we outline the step-by-step instructions for the construction, validation, and use of FED for measuring food intake in mice. We provide a list of all components to construct a system. Importantly, no prior experience in electronics is needed to construct FED.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Electronics</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adafruit Motor/Stepper/Servo Shield for Arduino v2 Kit - v2.3</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>1438</td>
			<td>Use of other motor shields has not been tested and will require changes to the code</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adafruit Assembled Data Logging shield for Arduino</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>1141</td>
			<td>Use of other data logging shields has not been tested and will require changes to the code</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PowerBoost 500 Charger</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>1944</td>
			<td>Other voltge regulator boards have not been tested, but should work if they have similar specifications</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FTDI Friend + extras - v1.0</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>284</td>
			<td>Any FTDI-USB connection will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small Reduction Stepper Motor - 5VDC 32-Step 1/16 Gearing</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>858</td>
			<td>Use of other stepper motors has not been tested</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Arduino Pro 328 - 5V/16MHz</td>
			<td>SparkFun</td>
			<td>DEV-10915</td>
			<td>Other Arduino boards should work, although may require changes to the code</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Photo Interrupter - GP1A57HRJ00F</td>
			<td>SparkFun</td>
			<td>SEN-09299</td>
			<td>Other photointerrupters will work, but may require changes to the 3D design</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SparkFun Photo Interrupter Breakout Board - GP1A57HRJ00F</td>
			<td>SparkFun</td>
			<td>BOB-09322</td>
			<td>Other photointerrupters will work, but may require changes to the 3D design</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Connectors, screws, and miscellaneous items</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shield stacking headers for Arduino (R3 Compatible)</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>85</td>
			<td>Any stacking header that says Arduiono R3 compatible will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Multi-Colored Heat Shrink Pack - 3/32&#34; + 1/8&#34; + 3/16&#34;</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>1649</td>
			<td>Any heatshrink will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hook-up Wire Spool Set - 22AWG Solid Core - 6x25ft</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>1311</td>
			<td>Any wire will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lithium Ion Battery Pack - 3.7V 4400mAh</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>354</td>
			<td>Any 3.7V Lithium battery with a JST connector will work&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SD/MicroSD Memory Card (8GB SDHC)</td>
			<td>Adafruit</td>
			<td>1294</td>
			<td>Any SD card will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 Ohm BNC Bulkhead Jack (3/8&#34; D-Hole)</td>
			<td>L-com</td>
			<td>BAC70A</td>
			<td>Any BNC bulkhead will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Type 316 Stainless Steel Pan Head Phillips Sheet metal screw, No 6 size, 1/4&#34; Length</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>90184A120</td>
			<td>Any screws of this specification will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Type 316 Stainless Steel Pan Head Phillips Sheet metal screw, No 2 size, 1/4&#34; Length</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>91735A102</td>
			<td>Any screws of this specification will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nylon 100 Degree Flat Head Slotted Machine Screw, 4-40 Thread, 1&#34; Length</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>90241A253</td>
			<td>Any screws of this specification will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nylon Hex Nut, 4-40 Thread Size</td>
			<td>McMaster-Carr</td>
			<td>94812A200</td>
			<td>Any nut of this specification will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2Pin JST M F Connector 200mm 22AWG Wire Cable</td>
			<td>NewEgg</td>
			<td>9SIA27C3FY2876</td>
			<td>Any 2 pin connector will work for this connection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Metal Pushbutton - Latching (16mm, Red)</td>
			<td>SparkFun</td>
			<td>COM-11971</td>
			<td>Any push button or switch will work</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Resistor Kit - 1/4W</td>
			<td>SparkFun</td>
			<td>COM-10969</td>
			<td>Any 1/4W resistors will work</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

feeding experimentation device (fed): construction and validation of an open-source device for measuring food intake in rodents

Food intake measurements are essential for many research studies. Here, we provide a detailed description of a novel solution for measuring food intake in mice: the Feeding Experimentation Device (FED). FED is an open-source system that was designed to facilitate flexibility in food intake studies. Due to its compact and battery powered design, FED can be placed within standard home cages or other experimental equipment. Food intake measurements can also be synchronized with other equipment in real-time via FED's transistor-transistor logic (TTL) digital output, or in post-acquisition processing as FED timestamps every event with a real-time clock. When in use, a food pellet sits within FED's food well where it is monitored via an infrared beam. When the pellet is removed by the mouse, FED logs the timestamp onto its internal secure digital (SD) card and dispenses another pellet. FED can run for up to 5 days before it is necessary to charge the battery and refill the pellet hopper, minimizing human interference in data collection. Assembly of FED requires minimal engineering background, and off-the-shelf materials and electronics were prioritized in its construction. We also provide scripts for analysis of food intake and meal patterns. Finally, FED is open-source and all design and construction files are online, to facilitate modifications and improvements by other researchers.

Validation tests involving the use of animals were reviewed and approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. To demonstrate the use of FED for measuring home cage feeding, adult female C57BL/6 mice (n = 4) were individually housed with ad libitum access to water and standard laboratory chow under a 12/12 h light/dark cycle (lights on at 05:00). After a one week habituation period, the food hopper w...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Feeding Experimentation Device FED: Construction and Validation of an Open-source Device for Measuring Food Intake in Rodents at JoVE.com

Feeding Experimentation Device FED: Construction and Validation of an Open-source Device for Measuring Food Intake in Rodents

Feeding Experimentation Device (FED) is an open-source device for measuring food intake in mice. FED can also synchronize food intake measurements with other techniques via a real-time digital output. Here, we provide a step-by-step tutorial for the construction, validation, and usage of FED.

Feeding Experimentation Device (FED): Construction and Validation of an Open-source Device for Measuring Food Intake in Rodents

Food intake measurements are essential for many research studies. Here, we provide a detailed description of a novel solution for measuring food intake in ...

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