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TailTimer: A device for automating data collection in the rodent tail immersion assay

The tail immersion assay is a widely used method for measuring acute thermal pain in a way which is quantifiable and reproducible. It is non-invasive and measures response to a stimulus that may be encountered by an animal in its natural environment. However, quantification of tail withdrawal latenc...

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Autores principales: Udell, Mallory E., Ni, Jie, Garcia Martinez, Angel, Mulligan, Megan K., Redei, Eva E., Chen, Hao
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Public Library of Science 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8375991/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34411163
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256264
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author Udell, Mallory E.
Ni, Jie
Garcia Martinez, Angel
Mulligan, Megan K.
Redei, Eva E.
Chen, Hao
author_facet Udell, Mallory E.
Ni, Jie
Garcia Martinez, Angel
Mulligan, Megan K.
Redei, Eva E.
Chen, Hao
author_sort Udell, Mallory E.
collection PubMed
description The tail immersion assay is a widely used method for measuring acute thermal pain in a way which is quantifiable and reproducible. It is non-invasive and measures response to a stimulus that may be encountered by an animal in its natural environment. However, quantification of tail withdrawal latency relies on manual timing of tail flick using a stopwatch, and precise temperatures of the water at the time of measurement are most often not recorded. These two factors greatly reduce the reproducibility of tail immersion assay data and likely contribute to some of the discrepancies present among relevant literature. We designed a device, TailTimer, which uses a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, a digital temperature sensor, and two electrical wires, to automatically record tail withdrawal latency and water temperature. We programmed TailTimer to continuously display and record water temperature and to only permit the assay to be conducted when the water is within ± 0.25°C of the target temperature. Our software also records the identification of the animals using a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. We further adapted the RFID system to recognize several specific keys as user interface commands, allowing TailTimer to be operated via RFID fobs for increased usability. Data recorded using the TailTimer device showed a negative linear relationship between tail withdrawal latency and water temperature when tested between 47–50°C. We also observed a previously unreported, yet profound, effect of water mixing speed on latency. In one experiment using TailTimer, we observed significantly longer latencies following administration of oral oxycodone versus a distilled water control when measured after 15 mins or 1 h, but not after 4 h. TailTimer also detected significant strain differences in baseline latency. These findings valorize TailTimer in its sensitivity and reliability for measuring thermal pain thresholds.
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spelling pubmed-83759912021-08-20 TailTimer: A device for automating data collection in the rodent tail immersion assay Udell, Mallory E. Ni, Jie Garcia Martinez, Angel Mulligan, Megan K. Redei, Eva E. Chen, Hao PLoS One Research Article The tail immersion assay is a widely used method for measuring acute thermal pain in a way which is quantifiable and reproducible. It is non-invasive and measures response to a stimulus that may be encountered by an animal in its natural environment. However, quantification of tail withdrawal latency relies on manual timing of tail flick using a stopwatch, and precise temperatures of the water at the time of measurement are most often not recorded. These two factors greatly reduce the reproducibility of tail immersion assay data and likely contribute to some of the discrepancies present among relevant literature. We designed a device, TailTimer, which uses a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, a digital temperature sensor, and two electrical wires, to automatically record tail withdrawal latency and water temperature. We programmed TailTimer to continuously display and record water temperature and to only permit the assay to be conducted when the water is within ± 0.25°C of the target temperature. Our software also records the identification of the animals using a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. We further adapted the RFID system to recognize several specific keys as user interface commands, allowing TailTimer to be operated via RFID fobs for increased usability. Data recorded using the TailTimer device showed a negative linear relationship between tail withdrawal latency and water temperature when tested between 47–50°C. We also observed a previously unreported, yet profound, effect of water mixing speed on latency. In one experiment using TailTimer, we observed significantly longer latencies following administration of oral oxycodone versus a distilled water control when measured after 15 mins or 1 h, but not after 4 h. TailTimer also detected significant strain differences in baseline latency. These findings valorize TailTimer in its sensitivity and reliability for measuring thermal pain thresholds. Public Library of Science 2021-08-19 /pmc/articles/PMC8375991/ /pubmed/34411163 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256264 Text en © 2021 Udell et al https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Research Article
Udell, Mallory E.
Ni, Jie
Garcia Martinez, Angel
Mulligan, Megan K.
Redei, Eva E.
Chen, Hao
TailTimer: A device for automating data collection in the rodent tail immersion assay
title TailTimer: A device for automating data collection in the rodent tail immersion assay
title_full TailTimer: A device for automating data collection in the rodent tail immersion assay
title_fullStr TailTimer: A device for automating data collection in the rodent tail immersion assay
title_full_unstemmed TailTimer: A device for automating data collection in the rodent tail immersion assay
title_short TailTimer: A device for automating data collection in the rodent tail immersion assay
title_sort tailtimer: a device for automating data collection in the rodent tail immersion assay
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8375991/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34411163
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256264
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