STARTLE AND FEAR CONDITIONING System

For fear conditioning and startle reflex

Description
Key features
Specs
How to order
Publications
Downloads

Description

The StartFear Combined system is a polyvalent system for conducting both fear conditioning and startle reflex experiments in one same enclosure, regardless the animal is a rat or a mouse (from 15grs to 300 grs. or more depending on the use or not of a restrainer).

Basically, the StartFear system allows recording and analysis of the signal generated by the animal movement through a high sensitivity Weight Transducer system.

The analogical signal is transmitted to the FREEZING and STARTLE software modules through the load cell unit for recording purposes and posterior analysis in terms of activity/immobility (FREEZING) or startle response characterization (STARTLE).

An additional interface associated with corresponding hardware allows controlling the stimuli (light, sounds, shock, air puff) from the STARTLE and FREEZING modules of the PACKWIN software (PACKWINCSST and PACKWINCSFR, respectively).

The StartFear cage is made with black methacrylate walls and a transparent front door. In fear conditioning experiment, the walls, cover and floor can be of different materials or colours. Moreover, a transparent cylinder can be placed into the experimental chamber in order to modify the contextual spatial perception of the subject during the test phase.

 

Specs

Chamber a& Control Units

Chamber Dimensions

250 (W) x 250 (D) x 250 (H) mm

Sound Attenuating Box Dimensions

670 (W) x 530 (D) x 550 (H) mm

Floor grid

Included grid : 10 mm spaced bars, LE100501/760240 grid: 6 mm spaced bars

Material Composition

Methacrylate, aluminium, stainless steel

Maximum number of stations

8 stations connected to a PC*

Sensors sensitivity

From 10 mg to 2 kg

Sounds Frequency and Amplitude

PrePulse/Pulse: adjustable from 200 to 10000 Hz - max 120 dB; White noise: from 60 to 120 dB

Certifications

CE Compliant

Power Supply

110V/220V, 50/60Hz

Computer requirement

For sound card and performance requirements, a specific model of HP computer is recommended (ask for more information)


*When used for Startle or Fear conditioning applications (PACKWINCSST and PACKWINCSFR), the use of specific models of HP computer is mandatory due to sound card and PC performance requirements.
Contact our technical support team for any confirmation about the current HP model specifications.

Holders size (Only for Startle experiments)

LE117MM

76-0675

90 (Length) x 30 (Diam.) mm

LE117M

76-0235

100 (Length) x 34 (Diam.) mm

LE117RM

76-1056

150 (Length) x 44 (Diam.) mm

LE117R

76-0236

200 (Length) x 64 (Diam.) mm

LE117RR

76-0676

225 (Length) x 74 (Diam.) mm

Publications

Our more recent publications...

See the Download section for a more complete list of publications

 

  • Xing F et al. Photoacoustic treatment mitigates cognitive dysfunction in a model of sleep-wake rhythm disturbance. Neural Regen Res. 2020 Jun;15(6):1094-1101. (fear conditioning)
  • Westmark PR et al. Preclinical testing of the ketogenic diet in fragile X mice. Neurochem Int. 2020 Mar;134:104687. (fear conditioning)
  • Ma L et al. Enhanced apoptosis and decreased ampa receptors are involved in deficit in fear memory in rin1 knockout rats. J Affect Disord. 2020 Feb 27;268:173-182. (fear conditioning)
  • Monteiro J et al. Energization by multiple substrates and calcium challenge reveal dysfunctions in brain mitochondria in a model related to acute psychosis. J Bioenerg Biomembr. 2020 Feb;52(1):1-15. (fear conditioning)
  • Davis SM et al. Inflammatory neonatal pain disrupts maternal behavior and subsequent fear conditioning in a rodent model. Dev Psychobiol. 2020 Jan;62(1):88-98. (fear conditioning)
  • Du Y et al. Sevoflurane plays a reduced role in cognitive impairment compared with isoflurane: limited effect on fear memory retention. Neural Regen Res. 2020 Jan;15(1):96-102. (fear conditioning)
  • Hossain MR et al. MDGA1-deficiency attenuates prepulse inhibition with alterations of dopamine and serotonin metabolism: An ex vivo HPLC-ECD analysis. Neurosci Lett. 2020 Jan 18;716:134677. (Startle PPI)
  • Li JG et al. A pharmacological chaperone improves memory by reducing Aβ and tau neuropathology in a mouse model with plaques and tangles. Mol Neurodegener. 2020 Jan 22;15(1):1. (fear conditioning)
  • Liu H et al. GLYX-13 pretreatment ameliorates long-term isoflurane exposure-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Neural Regen Res. 2020 Jan;15(1):128-135. (fear conditioning)
  • Chen J et al. Oxidative stress induces different tissue dependent effects on Mutyh-deficient mice. Free Radic Biol Med. 2019 Nov 1;143:482-493. (fear conditioning)
  • Ferreira FF et al. Social support favors extinction and impairs acquisition of both short- and long-term contextual fear conditioning memory. Neurosci Lett. 2019 Nov 1;712:134505.  (fear conditioning)
  • Zhang T et al. Lgl1 deficiency disrupts hippocampal development and impairs cognitive performance in mice. Genes Brain Behav. 2019 Nov;18(8):e12605. (fear conditioning)
  • de Assis Brasil ES et al. (2019) The blockade of the serotoninergic receptors 5-HT5A, 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 in the basolateral amygdala, but not in the hippocampus facilitate the extinction of fear memory. Behav Brain Res. 2019 Oct 17;372:112055.
  • Thomas ME et al. Evidence of Hyperacusis in Adult Rats Following Non-traumatic Sound Exposure. Front Syst Neurosci. 2019 Oct 23;13:55. (Startle PPI)
  • Ding J et al. Late glucocorticoid receptor antagonism changes the outcome of adult life stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 Sep;107:169-178. (fear conditioning)
  • Lee J et al. Vaccinia-related kinase 2 plays a critical role in microglia-mediated synapse elimination during neurodevelopment. Glia. 2019 Sep;67(9):1667-1679. (fear conditioning)
  • Serrano-Barroso A et al. Sign and goal tracker rats process differently the incentive salience of a conditioned stimulus. PLoS One. 2019 Sep 30;14(9):e0223109. (fear conditioning)
  • Cuadrado-Tejedor M et al. Taking Advantage of the Selectivity of Histone Deacetylases and Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors to Design Better Therapeutic Strategies to Treat Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci. 2019 Jun 21;11:149. (fear conditioning)
  • Salameh E et al. Chronic colitis-induced visceral pain is associated with increased anxiety during quiescent phase. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2019 Jun 1;316(6):G692-G700.
  • Jang Y et al. Trpm2 Ablation Accelerates Protein Aggregation by Impaired ADPR and Autophagic Clearance in the Brain. Mol Neurobiol. 2019 May;56(5):3819-3832. (Fear Conditioning)

 

How to order

Experimental chamber 

LE116

76-0280

FREEZING AND STARTLE Threshold Sensor including Sound Attenuating Box.

LE100501M

76-0240

Special electrified grid for very small animals (6 mm bar-spaced)

Control Units and Sound Calibration 

LE111

76-0281

Load Cell Amplifier (one for each Chamber)

LE1184*

76-1074

Stimuli Interface Unit (up to 4 chambers)

LE1188*

76-0283

Stimuli Interface Unit (up to 8 chambers)

SOUNDMETER

76-1131

Soundmeter, needed for Sound Calibration (with remote microphone and floor support)

LE100-26

76-0159

Shock generator with scrambler. 0-2 mA output (needed for Fear conditioned test and Fear-potentiated startle reflex. Optional for Prepulse inhibition test - PPI)

* The sound calibration requires the use of the SOUNDMETER 76-1131.

Holders (Only for Startle experiments) 

LE117MM

76-0675

Mouse Holder for Startle Reflex (up to 25 g - Check the holder size)*

LE117M

76-0235

Mouse Holder for Startle Reflex (up to 35 g - Check the holder size)*

LE117RM

76-1056

Rat Holder for Startle Reflex (up to 150 g - Check the holder size)*

LE117R

76-0236

Rat Holder for Startle Reflex (up to 150-200 g - Check the holder size)*

LE117RR

76-0676

Rat Holder for Startle Reflex (up to 250-300 g - Check the holder size)*

LE117XRR

76-0917

Large Rat - Ceiling Height Reductor for Startle Reflex (>300-350 g)*

* the correspondence between the holder model and animal weight is given as an approximation - check the size of the holder in our Specs tab in order to confirm the one needed for your experiments.

Software 

PACKWIN V2.0*

76-0002

Software for controlling up to 8 boxes

PACKWINCSFR

76-0701

PACKWIN experimental module for fear conditioning studies (FREEZING)

PACKWINCSST

76-0702

PACKWIN experimental module for startle studies (STARTLE)

* Please check the specification tab about the PC models that should be used with this software, especially for startle and fear conditioning experiments.

Video Options

CAMULTRATOPDC2

76-1342

Top Camera for StartFear box (USB 3.0 Digital Camera)

HUB4USB3

76-1298

USB Hub for up to 4 USB Digital Cameras

PCI4USB3

76-1303

PCI USB 3 Expansion Card

RECMEDIA8V1.0

76-1262

RECORD-IT! MEDIA for up to 8 USB Digital Cameras

Other Options 

LE119

76-0286

Air puff Unit (STARTLE)

LE115

76-0328

Contextual kit for Fear Conditioning test (FREEZING)

Downloads

PUBLICATIONS

Key features

  • Combined system for startle/freezing
  • Combined system for rats/mice
  • Weight transducer sensitivity optimized for mice
  • Easily removable tray
  • Different spacial context configurations available for fear conditioning paradigms
  • Accurate and traceable data
  • One same enclosure for both rat and mouse
  • No PCI cards required (USB connection)
 
 
 
 
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