The Essen University Hospital Essen comprises of a behavioral phenotyping unit, providing the conduction of several behavioral tests validated for analyzing aspects of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric diseases. The conception, management evaluation of these tests is carried out in close cooperation with the central animal facility of the University Clinic using Noldus: The Observer XT analysis software.

Paradigms for assessing anxiety-associated behavior:

• Elevated Plus-Maze Test
• Open Field Test
• Dark-Light Box

Paradigms for assessing cognition (learning and memory):

• Barnes Maze
• Novel Object Recognition /Y-Maze
• Morris Water Maze
• IntelliCage (long term investigation in home cages)

Paradigms for assessing sensorimotor gating:

• Prepuls inhibition (PPI) of the Acoustic Startle Response (ASR) (SR-LAB, San Diego Instruments)

Paradigms for assessing Stress-Coping Behavior:

• Forced Swim Test
• Sucrose Preference Test

Paradigms for assessing Locomotor functions and Activity

• Open Field Test
• Rotarod Test
• Grip Strength Test

Contact

Priv.-Doz. Dr. rer. nat. Martin Hadamitzky
Tel. +49 (0)201 723-85516 oder -4761

Neurobiology

Methods:
Immunehistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, stereotaxic surgeries, intracranial microinjections

Equipment:
Cryostat (Leica CM 1950), Vibratome (Leica VT 1000S), stereotaxic apparatus (Stoelting, Narishige, TSE rat/mouse), stereomicroscop (Leica)