Elevated Plus Maze Test
The elevated plus maze test is a classical experimental method for measuring anxiety response and can also be used to build anxiety stress models. It is an important research tool in the field of neuroscience for studying the causes of anxiety and discovering anxiolytic drugs.
Our company's customized testing services help clients solve all the challenges in the anxiety related behavior tests. We offer a flexible elevated plus maze testing service that allows us to modify the maze to suit the client's demands and incorporate the factors that the client wants to study. We are committed to evaluating the perfect test solutions for our clients to reduce experimental errors and present high quality experimental results.
Introduction of Elevated Plus Maze
The elevated plus maze has two open and closed arms respectively, crossed in the shape of a cross and at a certain height from the ground. The rodents’ dark-loving nature tends to move with the arm closed, but the psychology of exploration prompts it to want to explore the open arm, and this contradictory psychology will cause the experimental animal to feel anxious.
Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of the elevated plus maze.
Experimental Flow
- The experimental animal is placed with its back to the experimental operator in the central area of the maze so that it faces the open arm and leaves quickly.
- Using animal behavior analysis software, the trajectories of experimental animals in the maze within 5 min were observed and recorded, and the experimental test indexes were automatically calculated.
- After finishing the experiment, remove the experimental animals and clean the experimental chamber. After replacing the experimental animals, repeat the above operation.
Experimental Indexes
| Indexes | Description |
|---|---|
| Number of access to the open arm | Number of entries to either open arm (The animal's limbs enter the arm or 80% of the animal's body enters the arm). |
| Open arm activities | Duration of the animal's total limb entry or 80% of the body entry into the open arm. |
| Number of access to the closed arm | Number of entries to either closed arm. |
| Closed arm activities | Duration of the animal's total limb entry or 80% body entry into the closed arm. |
| Number of downward explorations | The number of the experimental animal stretched its head and shoulders out to the edge of the open arm while holding the edge of the maze with its front paws while exploring under the maze when it was in the central area or in the open arm. |
| Number of closed arms and upright rear legs | The number of times the animal's legs supported the body upright after the front leg was raised with the arm closed. |
| Central region activities | The distance travelled and the retention time of the experimental animals in this central area. |
Applications
The elevated plus maze test has a wide range of applications in drug discovery and research. We can assist our clients with customized services in the following related researches.
- Screening for new drugs with anti-anxiety effects.
- Research on the anxiolytic effect of benzodiazepines.
- Study the effects of psychotropic substance abuse and the function of hormones.
- Study the effects of stress on reproduction, aging, pregnancy, etc.
Our company offers professional one-stop services from experimental design to results analysis to bring breakthroughs to your research. We guarantee on-time delivery of test results. If you need, you can contact us at any time.