大鼠物体识别实验装置的研制

Development of an apparatus for object recognition task in rats

目的研制一种可靠、稳定的用于检测大鼠识别记忆的行为学装置。方法结合机械工程和实验动物行为学技术研制能够模拟自然环境、封闭的大鼠物体识别实验装置,并用正常大鼠进行物体识别实验对其可行性进行验证。结果大鼠在封闭装置和传统敞口装置中对新奇物体探索时间都显著大于对熟悉物体探索时间(P<0.01,P<0.05),并且封闭装置中大鼠的相对辨别指数明显大于0(P<0.01);大鼠在封闭装置中测试期探索总时间、绝对辨别指数与传统敞口装置组比较差异都有显著性(P<0.05),而相对辨别指数无差异。两种常用体重大鼠在新装置中对新奇物体探索时间显著大于对熟悉物体探索时间(P<0.01),相对辨别指数也都大于0(P<0.01,P<0.05),并且两组的相对辨别指数无差异。结论大鼠在新装置中能够辨别出熟悉物体,表现出正常的记忆能力,并且探索水平优于敞口装置组。新研制的大鼠物体识别实验装置和传统敞口装置一样都能够用于检测大鼠的识别记忆能力,并能模拟自然环境、避免外界干扰。

Objective To develop an apparatus for object recognition task （ORT） in rat experiments, and to evaluate the recognition behavior activities in rats. Methods SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6-weeks with body weight 230 ~ 10 g and aged lO-weeks with body weight 340 ~ 10 g were used in this study. Combing the advantage of mechanical engineering and animal behavioristic techniques to develop a dosed apparatus stimulating the natural environment for ORT in rats and validate its feasibility for ORT test in rats. Results The 230 ~ 10 g rats in both the closed apparatus and open-field apparatus could discriminate the familiar object from novel one in the test phase （P 〈 O. 01, P 〈 0. 05）. Moreover, the relative discrimination index was significantly different from the chance level （0）in the closed apparatus groups （P 〈 0.01 ）, the total exploration time for the objects in the test phase, and the absolute discrimination index of rats in the closed apparatus group were significantly different from those of the open-field apparatus group （P 〈 0. 05） , however, the relative discrimination index was not significantly different. Meanwhile, the male Wistar rats of both 230 ~ 10 g and 340 ~ 10 g groups could discriminate the familiar object from novel object in the test phase （ P 〈 0. 01 ）. The relative discrimination index was significantly different from the chance level （0） in the two groups （ P 〈 0. 01, P 〈 0. 05）, but there was not significant difference, if compared with each other. Conclusions Normal rats in the closed apparatus can discriminate the familiar object from novel one in the test phase, performing the memory for the familiar object, but the exploration level was better than that of the open-field group. The new closed apparatus simulating the natural environment is as the same as the open-field apparatus and can be used for ORT in rats.