SHUTTLE BOX

for active and passive avoidance in rodents
DEPRESSION - LEARNING AND MEMORY

Panlab Shuttle Boxes LE916 (Rats) and LE918 (Mice) provide the ideal environment to carry out conditioned reflexes (Active and Passive Avoidance) in learning and memory studies.

Basically, the Panlab Shuttle box (LE916-918) consists of two equally sized compartments with two independent grid floors. A frontal door, in addition to the top ones, allows an easy access inside the box. The cage contains a general sound generator and a visual stimulus (light) for each compartment.

The Animal is detected by two Weight Transducers located above the static grids, avoiding the problems inherent to photoelectrical or grid tilting systems (high speeds of displacements in mice, tail detection in rats).

Panlab Shuttle box is thought to be easily set up and dismantled. Therefore, reconverting it to traditional Passive Box is quite straightforward by adding a sliding door (LE916D for mice or LE918D for rats). Furthermore, it is possible to set up different wall shapes or colours in order to further condition the subject of study either visually or spatially.

The shuttle boxes can be controlled by Programmer LE 2708 or Software (ShutAvoid). SeDaCom software is provided for transferring data from the programmer to a PC through a RS232 port (free of charge). It is not necessary the interface neither the use of board installed into the PC. The link is carried out by one only cable from one Box to the other. The first Box is connected to PC or Laptop by the port RS 232 or USB.
The second option is suitable for controlling a number of boxes simultaneously.


Parameters Measured
  • Latency to entrance into the black compartment (passive avoidance)
  • Number and latency of conditioned responses (active avoidance)
  • Number and latency of unconditioned responses (active avoidance)
  • Number and latency of null responses (active avoidance)
  • Number and latency of none responses (active avoidance)
  • Number of compartment changes during the intertrial intervals (active avoidance)
  • Latency mean and accumulated responses sorted by interval of time
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Key features
  • Highly sensitive weight transducer system for accurate animal detection
  • Easy to set up different wall shapes and colours
  • Optional guillotine door
  • Compartments with independent grid floor
  • Frontal and top doors for an easy access inside the box
  • Up to 8 Active Boxes can be controlled at once from a PC
  • Neither PC interface nor PC cards are required.
  • Safety System which guarantees that the shock intensity received by the animal is always the same value independently of the grid bars treaded.
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Components included
  • Active Box (Shuttle Box)
  • Control Unit with RS-232 communication's port
  • SeDaCom Software
  • Cables, connectors
  • Instructions manual
  • 2 years warranty
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Options
  • Motorized door to convert Active Box into Passive Box
  • Sound Attenuating Box
  • LE2708 Avoidance Programmer including shocker
  • ShutAvoid Software to control up to 8 Active or Passive Boxes
  • LE10026 Shocker unit with scrambler (0-2mA output)
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Specifications
LE916 Rat Cage Dimensions 510 (W) x 250 (D) x 240 (H) mm internal; 580 x 360 x 305 mm external
LE918 Mouse Cage Dimensions 590 (W) x 190 (D) x 240 (H) mm internal; 580 x 360 x 305 mm external
Minimum weight detected 10 grams (Mouse Box); 40 grams (Rat Box)
Material Composition Methacrylate, aluminium, stainless steel
Computer Requirements (withSeDaCom) PC: Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP (SP2 or higher) and Vista 32
Maximum number of stations (with ShutAvoid) 8 stations connected to a PC
Connection of several units to PC Neither PC interface nor PC card are required. One cable connects all units to the PC.
Certifications CE Compliant
Power Supply 110V/220V, 50/60Hz
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LE916 RATS SHUTTLE BOX with static floor (needs Shocker)
LE918 MICE SHUTTLE BOX with static floor (needs Shocker)
LE26 Sound attenuating box

Options

LE916D Guillotine door for rat Shuttle Box LE916 and make it capable to room Passive Avoidance experiments
LE918D Guillotine door for mouse Shuttle Box LE918 and make it capable to room Passive Avoidance experiments
LE2708 AVOIDANCE PROGRAMMER with shocker
SHUTAVOID PC SOFTWARE to control up to 8 Active/Passive Boxes
LE10026 Shock generator with scrambler. 0-2 mA output
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  • Prunell M et al. (1987) Antagonism of the stimulant and depressant effects of ethanol in rats by naloxone. 92(2): 215-218. (active avoidance, rat, Spain)
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Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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