This Developmental battery is used to characterize early markers of behavior and to assess the impact of early prenatal or postnatal pharmacological, environmental, and genetic manipulations. This protocol yields a standarized observational assessment of various behavioral and functional parameters of rodents that occur or disappear during different phases of post-natal development. At birth rodent coordination, tactile sensitivity, hearing and vision continue to evolve during the first 3 weeks of life. Through sequential observations of sensory & motor reflexes including cliff avoidance, placing responses, tactile and acoustic startle responses, surface and air righting reflexes (amongst others), as well as milestone landmarks such as eye opening pinnae separation or fur appearance and general mesurements such as weight one can assess the developmental curve of pups.

This primary screen is a modification of the SHIRPA screen, which is based on that developed by Irwin (Irwin 1968), and is the most widely used tool to screen for potential therapeutic drugs and effects of gene manipulations. This is a standardized protocol that yields a standarized observational assessment of various behavioral and functional parameters in mice; thus enabling comparison of results both over time and across facilities. This screen is an excellent preliminary indicator of gross defects in gait or posture, motor control and coordination, changes in excitability and aggression, anxiety, salivation, lacrimation, piloerection, defecation, muscle tone and sensitivity to pain. Based on the results of this primary screening more specifically targeted and complex testing (below) can be carried out.

The complete phenotyping screen takes 3 weeks:

body weight, body position & posture, body length, coat appearance, skin color, respiration rate.

Gait/Stride (muscle, lower motor neuron and spinocerebellar function)

Pelvic elevation (muscle spinocerebellar function)

Locomotor activity in home cage and novel cage (emotion, muscle function & balance)

Tremor (emotion or physical issues)

Salivation/lacrimation (Sensory function)

Eyelid closure (sensory function)

Catalepsy (neurological function)

Gnawing (emotion, anxiety)

Corneal response (autonomic function)

Pinna reflex (autonomic function)

Touch escape (autonomic function)

Toe pinch (autonomic function)

Sensory neglect (sensory function)

Visual placing (muscle lower motor neuron, spinocerebellar function)

Surface righting (muscle lower motor neuron, spinocerebellar function)

Mid-air righting (muscle lower motor neuron, spinocerebellar function)

Visual cliff (sensory function)

Hind limb placing (muscle lower motor neuron, spinocerebellar function)

Wire Hanging (muscle lower motor neuron, spinocerebellar function & muscle strength)

grip strength (muscle strength)

Transfer arousal (autonomic function)

Piloerection (sensory function)

Negative/positive geotaxis (muscle lower motor neuron, spinocerebellar function)

Smell discrimination (sensory function)

Home cage activity (Motor function - circadian rhythms)

Rotarod (motor coordination & balance)

Plus maze (Anxiety)

Open-field (Habituation, anxiety, general physical activity level)

Swimming capability(General physical activity)

Accoustic startle(Hearing, emotionality)

Advanced tests will be selected based on scored observations and tests during week 1 and 2