See JAX Pipeline on the IMPC website for order of tasks for all mice tested

Project protocol: Hole board test

• Introduction
• Study design
• Workflow
• Equipment, software and supplies
• Reagents and solutions
• Procedure
• Measurements
• Experimental and technical parameters

Introduction

The hole board test monitors the activity of mice over a defined period of time in order to assess exploratory and attentional phenotypes.

Study design

Paradigm: Baseline study

Panel: Collaborative Cross

Number of strains: 7

Sex: Both

Age: 8-9 wks

Sample size: Seven mice per sex from at least two litters

Number of cohorts: 1

Workflow

Step	Description	Equipment	Data collected
1	Mice are acclimated to test room for at least 3 days	-	-
2	Each mouse is placed in the center of the arena	Hole board	-
3	Behavior is recorded for 20 min	Hole board	Number of hole pokes

Equipment, software and supplies

• Hole board: Accuscan Versamax with Nose Poke Holeboard [See Experimental and technical parameters]

Reagents and solutions

• 1% Virkon S solution

 

Procedure

1. Mice are allowed to acclimate to the testing room for a minimum of 3 days.
2. Photobeam sensor check is performed at the start of each test day or in the event of drift in control parameters using the built-in diagnostic function.
3. Each mouse is placed in the center of the arena facing to the left of the experimenter and released.
4. A 20-min recording period is started after all mice have been placed within an arena.
5. At the end of the 20-min trial, mice are removed from the arenas and returned to their home cages.
6. Chambers are cleaned with 1% Virkon S solution between mice to decontaminate and remove scent cues from previously tested mice.
7. Analysis of the recording is done to measure the activity of each mouse.

Data collection: The Accuscan Versamax system in configured to report parameters for each mouse. Versamax files are converted into text data files using Versadat. The program is used to output an ACT file (contains general movement information) and a HPS file (contains nose poke sequence information).

Data QC: Verify that total time of each run is 20 min.

 

Measurements

LIMS field name	MPD variable name	Description	Units	Series	Primary measurement	Series order	MPD computed	Calculation	Method	Data type
Total holepokes	hole_pokes	number of hole pokes, 20 min test	n						hole board test	Integer

Experimental and technical parameters

Light level in light zone	100-200 lux
Equipment name	Nose Poke Holeboard (16 holes; 4 x 4 arrangement)
Equipment manufacturer	Accuscan
Equipment model	Accuscan Versamax
Start time	0700 - 1700 EST
Disinfectant	1% Virkon Solution