Research
Rodents
Various physiological parameters can be measured in rodents such as mice, rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, hares, etc…
For studies using anesthesia, the SA-TCS-6: Complete Small Animal Heater Controller with a 6” x 8”heated bed can be used to maintain the animal temperature.
To measure ECG and EMG from Rodents the recommended systems are:
- IX-BIO4-SA: a 4 channel ECG/EMG recorder.
- IX-BIO8-SA: a 8 channel ECG/EMG recorder
- IX-ECG12-SM: a 12-lead ECG recorder.
- IX-RA-834 with iWire-Bio4 or iWire-Bio8
- RS-NMECG : Neonatal Mouse ECG
ECG signals can be measured with the IX-BIOx. Measuring 2 channels of ECG, Lead I and Lead II allows LabScribe software to calculate Lead III, aVR, aVF and aVL . EMG signals can be measured at the same time as the ECG signals.
Application note on using the IX-BIO4-SA for recording 6 lead Rat ECG.
Application note on using the IX-ECG12 for recording 6 lead Rat ECG.
Analysing ECG’s recorded in LabScribe with Kubios HRV
Software:
LabScribe ECG Analysis Module
iWorx LabScribe ECG Software Module is a powerful and user-friendly tool intended to automate the analysis of ECG data from a variety of species.
Features:
- Measure R-R, PR, QT, QR and QTc intervals, QRS, T, P and TP durations, P, Q, R, S, T amplitudes and ST elevation, etc...
- Specific analysis templates are included to accurately delineate PQRST onset, durations and amplitudes
- Custom templates can also be created based on unique ECG profiles and saved to a library for future use
- Beat averaging and classification
- Outlier removal based on abnormal R-R intervals, heart rate, noise and activity
- Easily extract source data and average data as images or text files
- Plug and play compatible with all iWorx data acquisition
- Optional ASCII Text Import Module is also available that enables import of ECG data in text or edf format that was recorded by any other acquisition program
Heart Rate Variability
Kubios HRV - Heart Rate Variability Analysis Software is an advanced tool for studying the variability of heart beat intervals. Data can be exported from LabScribe using the edf export option and then imported into Kubios HRV for analysis, as shown in this technoteLabScribe Import Module
The iWorx ASCII Import Module enables import of data in text format that was recorded in any other data acquisition program. The module also allows the researcher to use the analysis functions in LabScribe software on data they may have previously recorded with a different program.Detailed information about using the modules is in the LabScribe ManualVideos:
To measure EMG from mice the recommended systems are:
- IX-BIO4-SA: a 4 channel ECG/EMG recorder.
- IX-BIO8-SA: a 8 channel ECG/EMG recorder
- IX-RA-834 with iWire-Bio4 or iWire-Bio8
Technote:
ERG
iWorx systems, recorders and software have been used for recording ERGs in rodents and insects as noted in these Citations.
Amplifiers
Differential Amplifier (DP-301) by Warner Instruments
The DP-301 is a single channel AC/DC differential pre-amplifier highly suited for EEG, EKG and extracellular recording.
Differential Amplifier (Model 3000) by A-M Systems
The Model 3000 High-Gain AC/DC Differential Amplifier is designed for low-noise recordings from excitable tissue. Specific applications include EEG, EKG, extracelluar recordings, and more.
Recorders
iWorx IX-RA-834 8 Channel Recorder
The iWorx RA-834 Recorder is the most advanced and feature-rich physiological data acquisition system on the market.
iWorx IX-400 Series Recorders
The iWorx 400 Series recorders are economical, high performance four, eight or sixteen channel data recorders for use with a broad range of analog amplifiers.
Citations
Samuels, Ivy S., et al. “Exclusion of Aldose Reductase as a mediator of ERG deficits in a mouse model of diabetic eye disease.” Visual neuroscience 29.06 (2012): 267-274.
Wu, Jiang, et al. “Contribution of Kir4. 1 to the mouse electroretinogram.” Molecular vision 10 (2004): 650.
Wu, Jiang, et al. “Voltage-dependent calcium channel CaV1. 3 subunits regulate the light peak of the electroretinogram.” Journal of neurophysiology 97.5 (2007): 3731-3735.
Wu, Jiang, Alan D. Marmorstein, and Neal S. Peachey. “Functional abnormalities in the retinal pigment epithelium of CFTR mutant mice.” Experimental eye research 83.2 (2006): 424-428.
PEACHEY, NEAL S., J. BRETT STANTON, and ALAN D. MARMORSTEIN. “Noninvasive recording and response characteristics of the rat dc-electroretinogram.” Visual neuroscience 19.06 (2002): 693-701.
Marmorstein, Alan D., Neal S. Peachey, and Karl G. Csaky. “In vivo gene transfer as a means to study the physiology and morphogenesis of the retinal pigment epithelium in the rat.” Methods 30.3 (2003): 277-285.
Marmorstein, Alan D., et al. “A model of best vitelliform macular dystrophy in rats.” Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 45.10 (2004): 3733-3739.
Wu, Jiang, Neal S. Peachey, and Alan D. Marmorstein. “Light-evoked responses of the mouse retinal pigment epithelium.” Journal of neurophysiology 91.3 (2004): 1134-1142.
Wu, Jiang, et al. “Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channel Ca.” Hum. Mol. Genet (2010).
Yu, Minzhong, et al. “Age-related changes in visual function in cystathionine-beta-synthase mutant mice, a model of hyperhomocysteinemia.” Experimental eye research 96.1 (2012): 124-131.
Won, Jungyeon, et al. “Membrane frizzled-related protein is necessary for the normal development and maintenance of photoreceptor outer segments.” Visual neuroscience 25.04 (2008): 563-574.
Shen, Yi, Wan-Yu Zhang, and George CY Chiou. “Effect of naringenin on NaIO3-induced retinal pigment epithelium degeneration and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in rats.” International journal of ophthalmology 3.1 (2010): 5.
Jiang, Wei, and G. C. Chiou. “Effects of hydralazine on NaIO3-induced rat retinal pigment epithelium degeneration.” Int J Ophthalmol 8 (2008): 1504-10.
Shen, Yi, Pei Zhuang, and George CY Chiou. “Effect of Guanabenz on Rat AMD Models and Rabbit Choroidal Blood Flow.” The open ophthalmology journal 5 (2011): 27.
Zhuang, Pei, Yi Shen, and George CY Chiou. “Effects of flavone on the oxidation-induced injury of retinal pigment epithelium cells.” International journal of ophthalmology 3.2 (2010): 99.
Samuels, Ivy S., et al. “Light-evoked responses of the retinal pigment epithelium: changes accompanying photoreceptor loss in the mouse.” Journal of neurophysiology 104.1 (2010): 391-402.
Shen, Yi, et al. “Effect of Tetramethylpyrazine on RPE degeneration, choroidal blood flow and oxidative stress of RPE cells.” International journal of ophthalmology 3.3 (2010): 205.
Dalziel, J. E., K. E. Dunstan, and S. C. Finch. “Combined effects of fungal alkaloids on intestinal motility in an in vitro rat model.” Journal of animal science 91.11 (2013): 5177-5182.
Rajashekhar, Gangaraju, et al. “Regenerative therapeutic potential of adipose stromal cells in early stage diabetic retinopathy.” PloS one 9.1 (2014): e84671.
Chabot, Christopher C., and Laura K. Webb. “Circadian rhythms of heart rate in freely moving and restrained American lobsters, Homarus americanus.” Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology 41.1 (2008): 29-41.
Proper assessment of cardiac function and hemodynamic performance requires a measurement of pressure from within the heart and peripheral arteries. iWorx offers several sol
utions for measuring pressure including fluid‐filled pressure transducers, catheter-tipped micro pressure sensors and non‐invasive tail cuff pressure systems.LabScribe software with the Blood Pressure Module provides built‐in software routines to perform a number of arterial and ventricular pressure calculationsFluid-Filled Catheter System
The BP-100/102 blood pressure transducer is an economical and accurate device used to measure direct arterial or venous pressure in animals using the fluid-filled catheter technique. A precision laser-trimmed chip provides accurate and linear measurements over a broad range of pressures. Pressure changes in the vessel are transmitted within the fluid-filled tube to the pressure transducer and acquired for monitoring and further analysis. Tubing is available as small as 1 mm in outside diameter making this technique well-suited for measuring pressures in very small vessels. Blood pressure systems include the transducer, cable, data recorder and software.Bladder Pressure
The BP-100/102 blood pressure transducer can also be used to measure bladder pressure.| Complete System | |
|---|---|
  | RS-IBP4 : 4 Channel Invasive BP system includes
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| System Components | |
|---|---|
| Transducers | |
 | BP-100 Intravascular Blood Pressure ProbeMeasures direct arterial or venous pressure in animals.BP-100RE Replacement Element for BP-100 Probe |
| BP-102 Blood Pressure TransducerWith integral 3cc flush device and stopcock, can be used to measuredirect arterial or venous pressure in animals. | |
| Recorders | |
 | IX-RA-834 RecorderThe iWorx RA Recorder is the foundation for iWorx advanced research systems. It include 4 transducer inputs, for recording 4 channels of Blood Pressure. Additional 4 channels of Blood Pressure can be recorded using the IA-400D amplifier and the 4 BNC inputs of the IX-RA-834. IX-RA-834 provides the ease of use and flexibility to speed your research. |
 | IX-404 RecorderThe iWorx 404 Recorder is an economical, high performance four channeldata recorders for use with a broad range of analog amplifiers. Therecorder offers 16-bit resolution at a maximum data collection speed of10 kHz, making it appropriate for most research applications. |
| Amplifier | |
 | IA-400DDedicated bridge amplifier for iWorx-brand transducers that providesfour channels of excitation power, gain, and noise filtration. |
| Cables | C-BNC: BNC CableC-DIN-EXT: Male/Female DIN 8 ExtensionC-DIN-ELTruwave Adapter Cable for Edwards Life sciences TRU-WAVE BP transducerC-DIN-GRASS-F Adapter Cable – Grass F to DIN 8 M (5 ft.)C-DIN-GRASS-M Adapter Cable – Grass M to DIN 8 M (5 ft.) |
- LabScribe Blood Pressure Module
- Heart Rate (HR)
- Maximum Pressure (Pmax)
- Minimum Pressure (Pmin)
- Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
- Systolic and diastolic pressure
- Maximum dP/dt (dP/dtmax)
- Minimum dP/dt (dP/dtmin)
- Pulse Height
- Notch Pressure
- Systolic Duration
- Diastolic Duration
- Cycle Duration
- Time To Peak
- Election Time
- Percent Recovery
- Heart Rate (HR)
- Maximum Pressure (Pmax)
- Minimum Pressure (Pmin)
- Mean Pressure (Pmean)
- End-systolic Pressure (Pes)
- End-diastolic Pressure (Ped)
- Maximum dP/dt (dP/dtmax)
- Minimum dP/dt (dP/dtmin)
- Developed Pressure - dP/dt@
- Contractility Index
- Relaxation Index
- Systolic Duration
- Diastolic Duration
- Cycle Duration
- Tension Time Index
- Relaxation Time
- Isovolumetric Time
- Tau (Weiss, Logistic, Glantz, Mirsky)
Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Systems
Invasive measures of pressure are not always possible and, as a result, there may be a need
for non-invasive methods to detect pressure. The most widely accepted technique for animals is the tail-cuff method. iWorx offers the new IITC Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Systems for mice and rats. The IITC Life Science tail cuff system is a compact, integrated single unit which includes a warming chamber, restrainer and tail cuff. The system is controlled by a built in touch screen interface with controls for temperature, test cycle, cuff inflation, cuff calibration and various test parameters. Up to 200 systems can be daisy chained to record independently or simultaneously. Data can be downloaded directly onto a USB thumb drive while also being acquired via analog output by LabScribe software for further analysis. Various sizes of restrainers and tail cuffs are available to suit a variety of research models.
MRBP-M Mouse Blood Pressure System (1 channel)
MRBP-R Rat Blood Pressure Systems (1 channel)
iWorx provide a manual Rodent NIBP system. This is a low cost alternative, for student research or for low throughput studies.
MC-520Peak and MC-140Peak Small Animal Metabolic Carts
These systems are suitable for recording and measuring Respiratory Quotient, VO2 and VCO2 in small- to medium-size animals. The systems include the IX-Peak recorder and Gas Analyzer, LabScribe software with the Metabolic Calculations Module and either a 1.4 L or 5.2 L animal chamber.
Citations for measuring EEG in Rats on Google Scholar
Recorders
iWorx IX-RA-834 8 Channel Recorder
The iWorx RA-834 Recorder is the most advanced and feature-rich physiological data acquisition system on the market.
View all citations on Google Scholar( over 275 citations)
Some Sample Citations:
Moyano-Porcile, Valentina et al, Short-term effects of Poly(I:C) on gut permeability, Pharmacological Research, Available online 2 July 2015, ISSN 1043-6618, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2015.06.016.
Moyano-Porcile, Valentina, et al, “Short-term effects of Poly (I: C) on gut permeability,” Pharmacological Research (2015).
Marmorstein, Alan D et al, “Bestrophin-1 influences transepithelial electrical properties and Ca2+ signaling in human retinal pigment epithelium.” Molecular vision 21 (2015): 347.
Peña, James R. et al. “Localized delivery of mechano-growth factor E-domain peptide via polymeric microstructures improves cardiac function following myocardial infarction.” Biomaterials 46 (2015): 26-34.
Dalziel, J. E., V. Mohan, J. Peters, R. C. Anderson, P. K. Gopal, and N. C. Roy. “The probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 inhibits propagating colonic contractions in the rat isolated large intestine.” Food & function 6, no. 1 (2015):256-263.
Ling, István, Balázs Mihalik, Lori-An Etherington, Gábor Kapus, Adrienn Pálvölgyi, Gábor Gigler, Szabolcs Kertész et al. “A novel GABA A alpha 5 receptor inhibitor with therapeutic potential.” European journal of pharmacology 764 (2015): 497-507.
Schwebe, Matthias, Sabine Ameling, Elke Hammer, Judith V. Monzel, Karina Bonitz, Susanne Budde, Kathleen Schult et al. “Protective effects of endothelin receptor A and B inhibitors against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy.” Biochemical pharmacology 94, no. 2 (2015): 109-129.
Allwood, Melissa A., Andrew J. Foster, Alicia M. Arkell, Marie-Soleil Beaudoin, Laelie A. Snook, Nadya Romanova, Coral L. Murrant, Graham P. Holloway, David C. Wright, and Jeremy A. Simpson. “Respiratory muscle weakness in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat.” American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (2015): ajpregu-00447.
Kaur, Jasdeep, Marty D. Spranger, Robert L. Hammond, Abhinav C. Krishnan, Alberto Alvarez, Robert A. Augustyniak, and Donal S. O’Leary. “Muscle metaboreflex activation during dynamic exercise evokes epinephrine release resulting in β2-mediated vasodilation.” American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology 308, no. 5 (2015): H524-H529.
McCarroll, Charlotte S., Charlotte L. Rossor, Linda R. Morrison, Liam J. Morrison, and Christopher M. Loughrey. “A Pre-clinical Animal Model of Trypanosoma brucei Infection Demonstrating Cardiac Dysfunction.” (2015): e0003811.