Source Paper
The DREADD agonist clozapine N-oxide (CNO) is reverse-metabolized to clozapine and produces clozapine-like interoceptive stimulus effects in rats and mice
Daniel F. Manvich, Kevin A. Webster, Stephanie L. Foster, Martilias S. Farrell, James C. Ritchie et al.
Scientific Reports • 2018
Drug Discrimination
Objective: Assess discriminative stimulus properties of drugs in operant chambers using behavioral experiments with rats and mice
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Protocol Steps
Animal housing and maintenance for drug discrimination rats
House rats individually in climate-controlled room under reverse 12-h light/dark cycle with lights on 2000 to 0800
Note: Maintain at ~90% free-feeding weight by providing 16-18g standard rodent chow daily approximately 30-60 min following training/test sessions. Water available ad libitum in home cage.
View evidence from paper
“Rats were individually housed in a climate-controlled room under a reverse 12-h light/dark cycle (lights on 2000 to 0800). The rats serving in drug discrimination experiments were maintained at ~90% free-feeding weight by providing 16–18 g of standard rodent chow daily approximately 30–60 min following training/test sessions”
Animal housing and maintenance for pharmacokinetic rats
House rats individually in climate-controlled room under reverse 12-h light/dark cycle
Note: Provide food ad libitum in home cage throughout duration of experiments. Water available ad libitum.
View evidence from paper
“while the eight rats employed in pharmacokinetic studies were provided food ad libitum in the home cage throughout the duration of experiments. Water was available ad libitum to all rats in their home cage.”
Behavioral testing schedule for rats
Conduct behavioral experiments in operant chambers within vivarium
View evidence from paper
“Behavioral experiments were conducted 5–6 days/week in operant chambers located within the vivarium between the hours of 1300 and 1600.”
Animal housing and maintenance for drug discrimination mice
House mice individually in clear plastic cages within climate-controlled vivarium on 12h light/dark cycle (0600/1800)
Note: Maintain at 85-90% free-feeding body weights on standard rodent chow made available in home cage ~30 min after daily training/testing. Water available ad libitum in home cages.
View evidence from paper
“These mice were individually housed in clear plastic cages within a climate-controlled vivarium on a 12 h light/dark cycle (0600/1800 and maintained at 85–90% free-feeding body weights on standard rodent chow which was made available in the home cage ~30 min after daily training/testing”
Daily transfer of mice for testing
Move mice daily from vivarium to laboratory for testing
View evidence from paper
“Mice were moved daily (6 to 7 days each week) from the vivarium to the laboratory where testing occurred.”
Animal housing and maintenance for pharmacokinetic mice
House mice in group housing in standard polycarbonate cages
Note: Provide ad libitum access to rodent chow and water throughout study duration
View evidence from paper
“These mice were group-housed in standard polycarbonate cages and had ad libitum access to rodent chow and water.”