Case Study 30 Long-Evans Male Rats
In the current study, 30 Long-Evans male rats will be profiled as passive, active, or flexible copers. After profiling, the rats will be divided into three groups of 10. Each group will consist of an equal number of the three different coping profiles. The animals will begin their weekly treatment of intravenous caffeine injections (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) starting in week one. In week two, the rats will begin training for the dry land maze (DLM) task. The rats will have three days of habituation to learn that wells within the open field are baited with food rewards. Then, the rats will progress from having all the wells baited to having only one well baited. The same well will be baited for a period of about four days in which the rats will
be assessed for their ability to correctly locate the baited well. Once these trials have been completed, the previously baited well will no longer be the designated well that the rats must locate. Behavior will be recorded using Ethovision 10.1 software (Noldus Information Technology, Inc., Leesburg, Virginia). Behavioral sequences will be used as a binary code to assess the complexity of the behavioral output. Genreral Linear Models and Detrented Fluctuation Analysis will be used to test the effects of caffeine on the response variables. Physiological measures will also be taken by exposing the rats to three cardiovascular trials in which they are positioned in a plexiglass tube for 15 minutes each time to determine if cardiovascular reactivity adapts across trials. Rat feces will be collected prior and subsequent to trials in order to assess stress hormone levels (CORT) and DHEA using standard ELIZA methods (from Enzo Life Science, Farmingdale, NY).
be assessed for their ability to correctly locate the baited well. Once these trials have been completed, the previously baited well will no longer be the designated well that the rats must locate. Behavior will be recorded using Ethovision 10.1 software (Noldus Information Technology, Inc., Leesburg, Virginia). Behavioral sequences will be used as a binary code to assess the complexity of the behavioral output. Genreral Linear Models and Detrented Fluctuation Analysis will be used to test the effects of caffeine on the response variables. Physiological measures will also be taken by exposing the rats to three cardiovascular trials in which they are positioned in a plexiglass tube for 15 minutes each time to determine if cardiovascular reactivity adapts across trials. Rat feces will be collected prior and subsequent to trials in order to assess stress hormone levels (CORT) and DHEA using standard ELIZA methods (from Enzo Life Science, Farmingdale, NY).