{"Equipment":"

\n\tThe experimental apparatus consists of an outer attenuated chamber that serves to prevent external noise or vibrations interfering with experiment. Within this chamber a load cell platform that records the startle response is linked to the transducer and amplifier, which calibrates the load cell platform. An animal holder rests upon the load cell platform. A sound generator and the appropriate software regulate pulses from the amplifier.

\n","Procedure":"
  1. Transport mice (in their rack if possible) to the testing suite and leave undisturbed for a minimum of 30 minutes in the antechamber.  Take care not to stimulate the mouse before starting the experiment. Do not change the cage on the day of the experiment.
  2. The session is initiated with a 5 minute acclimation period (only background noise is on). In addition, it is an option to acclimate to the startle pulse in which 110-120 dB/40-60ms of white noise is presented alone, 5 times. These will be excluded from the statistical analysis.
  3. The session is then continued by presentations of different trial types, each of which should be presented 6-10 times in pseudorandom order, with an inter-trial interval (ITI) varying randomly between 20 and 30 seconds (or 10 and 20 if preferred). The trials are:

 

  1. Different pre-pulse trials of 20 ms duration of white noise stimuli which are presented alone (PP1, PP2, PP3, or PP4 dB; a minimum of 3 different pre-pulses should be utilized) or precede the pulse by 50-120 ms (PP1 + pulse, PP2 + pulse, PP3 + pulse, or PP4 + pulse) to derive the pre-pulse inhibition response. The intensities of the pre-pulse should be kept at levels above the background noise (BN) that do not elicit a significant startle response on their own, being approximately 2-20dB above BN (e.g. PP1=BN+5dB, PP2=BN+10, PP3=BN+15 and PP4=BN+20).
  2. Startle pulse trials where 110-120 dB/40-60 ms of white noise is presented alone.
  3. No stimulus (NOSTIM) trials in which only background noise is presented to measure baseline movement of the animal in the chamber.
  4. The BN set will vary according to the apparatus used (generally around 65-70dB depending on the noise of the environment).

 

  1. Startle response is recorded every millisecond for 65-100 ms after the onset of startle, i.e. 40-60 ms during the startle plus 25-40 ms after the startle ended; 65-100 ms from the end of the previous ITI for NOSTIM (see Fig. 1).

 

 

 

 

Fig.1. The different type of trials of the acoustic startle & pre-pulse inhibition test. A: pre-pulse alone (PP1, PP2, PP3 and PP4), B: startle preceded by pre-pulse (PP1_S, PP2_S, PP3_S and PP4_S), C: startle alone and D: NOSTIM. 

  1. Ensure that all apparatus are functioning correctly
  2. Place each mouse onto the load cell platform inside the sound attenuated acoustic chamber and secure the door close.
  3. Run the experimental session according to the experimental design described above.
  4. Remove each mouse at the end of the experimental session and record its weight before returning it to the relevant home cage.
  5. Wipe clean the animal holders and allow time to dry before loading another test cohort.
  6. At the end of the experimentation, save the data for detailed analysis of acoustic startle and acoustic pre-pulse inhibition responses.

Data collection. The maximal peak amplitude is used to determine the acoustic startle response. Basal startle responses S and PP-S, are calculated respectively as the average responses to the pulses presented alone and the average responses to the combined pre-pulse-pulses. The amount of pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) is calculated as a percentage score for each acoustic pre-pulse trial type:  % PPI= 100 x (S – PPi_S)/S.  The global level of PPI is also calculated as the mean %PPI for the different prepulse responses: 100 x [S?(PP1_S + PP2_S + PP3_S + PP4_S)/4]/S.

","Purpose":"

\n\tThe acoustic startle response is characterized by an exaggerated flinching response to an unexpected strong auditory stimulus (pulse). This response can be attenuated when it is preceded by a weaker stimulus (pre-pulse) and is the principle underlying pre-pulse inhibition (PPI). PPI has been described in numerous species, including mice and humans and provides an operational measure of sensorimotor gating reflecting the ability of an animal to successfully integrate and inhibit sensory information. Several clinical studies have shown that a number of human disorders have impaired PPI including: schizophrenia, Huntington’s disease, fragile X syndrome, and autism. The acoustic startle and PPI paradigm is therefore largely used to assess sensorimotor gating and the effects of a number of treatment modalities such as putative anti-psychotics, and to explore genetic and neurobiological mechanisms underlying behaviors of relevance to psychosis (Geyer, 1999; Ouagazzal et al., 2001).

\n

\n\tOntological description: MP:0002067 - abnormal sensory capabilities/reflexes/nociception.

\n","Experimental Design":"
\n\t\n
\n

\n\t 

\n","Notes":"

\n\tIllumination and noise levels in the holding room should be comparable to the housing suite during acclimation and testing to minimize their effects on behavioral outcome.

\n

\n\tThe maximal voltage change is to be used as the startle response over the recording interval. The background noise is on throughout the experiment and therefore between the prepulse and the startle.

\n

\n\tThe information about the date of the experiment, that is the date when the measurement is performed, is an important parameter which is to be submitted in the Experiment xml file (dateOfExperiment="2013-02-28").

\n

\n\tData QC

\n

\n\tThe calibration of the sound and the movement sensors are important for obtaining valid test results and therefore must be routinely calibrated, e.g. at least monthly. Each depends on the type of equipment used therefore follow manufacturer guidelines for effective calibration and provide that the sensitivity of the instrument be high enough to avoid inaccuracy on measures of prepulse inhibition.  It is recommended that the maximum signal peak of the startle response with a standard unit (e.g. male mouse C57) be in a range at about 800-1200 (higher is not a problem).

\n

\n\tMetadata With Example Values

\n

\n\t 

\n

\n\t 

\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tMetadata

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tExample

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tLight level in chamber

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe amount of light in the sound attenuated chamber. E.g. 70 (lx)

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tDate and time

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tDay and time the mice were tested.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tStartle stimulus

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe intensity of the startle pulse. E.g. 110 (dB).

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tBackground noise

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe intensity of the background noise. E.g. 65 (dB).

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tPre-pulse stimulus 1 (db)

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe intensity of the PP1 pulse. E.g. 70 (dB).

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tPre-pulse stimulus 2 (db)

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe intensity of the PP2 pulse. E.g. 75 (dB).

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tPre-pulse stimulus 3 (db)

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe intensity of the PP3 pulse. E.g. 80 (dB).

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tPre-pulse stimulus 4 (db)

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe intensity of the PP4 pulse. E.g. 85 (dB).

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tInter PP-S stimulus interval

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tTime between the pre-pulse and the startle stimulus. E.g. 50 ms.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tInter-trial interval

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tTime between each trial. Can be a fixed value or a random value in a fixed range. E.g. Random 10-20 sec (if stimulus order is random), or 20 sec.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tNumber of trials

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tNumber of repetition for each different type of trial. E.g. 6.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tIn-chamber adapt time

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tDuration of the in-chamber acclimation period with only background noise on. E.g. 300 sec.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tStimulus order

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe order in which the trials are presented. E.g. Pseudo random.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tMouse chamber ID

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tID of the chamber used when more than 1 is used. E.g. chamber 1.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tEquipment ID

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tID of the machine used when more than 1 is used  having same model and manufacturer. E.g. machine 1, machine 2, machine Minnie, machine Mickey Mouse, etc.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tEquipment Manufacturer

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tManufacturer of the equipment. E.g. San Diego Instruments.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tEquipment Model

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tModel of the equipment. E.g. SR-LAB Startle Response System.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tSoftware version

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tVersion of the software used to generate the pulses and collect the responses. Animal Startle SR-9020

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tMouse chamber dimension

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe internal diameter of the attenuated chamber.

\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tE.g. 3 (W, cm) x 3.5 (ID, cm).

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tSound generator manufacturer

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tManufacturer of the sound generator. E.g. San Diego Instruments.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tSound generator model

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tModel of the sound generator. E.g. SR-LAB Startle Response System.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tSound-proof box dimension

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tSound-proof box dimension.

\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tE.g. 33 (L, cm) x 43 (W, cm) x 33 (H, cm)

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tExperimenter ID

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tAn ID of any format to be used coherently both inside the same procedure and for all procedures. E.g. Harw_001, or 1/2/3.

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tDate equipment last calibrated

\n\t\t\t		\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\tMost recent date in which the equipment (or any part of) used in the procedure was subject to a calibration event.

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t 
\n\t\t\t
\n

\n\t 

\n"}