Test Description: Female mice are individually housed at 4 pm on the first day of testing in 48.2
cm x 26.5 cm home cages and administered food and water ad libitum. Animals are
exposed to a 12-hour light/dark cycle with lights turning on at 7 am and turning
off at 7 pm. The system software records the number of beam interruptions caused
by the animal's movements, with beam breaks automatically divided into ambulations.
Activity is recorded in 60, one-hour intervals during the three-day test. Data
generated are displayed by median activity levels recorded for each hour (circadian
rhythm) and median total activity during each light/dark cycle (locomotor activity)
over the three-day testing period. | |