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An automated feeding and behavior monitoring system for rodents

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Lab Animal

Abstract

To develop pharmaceutical treatments for obesity and diabetes, researchers carry out food intake studies and more in-depth assessments of the feeding behavior in rodents. To facilitate such studies, the authors designed and developed a rodent behavior monitoring system that simultaneously measures food intake, water consumption and motor activity. When tested, their Automated Water Food Activity System (AWFAS) substantially increased throughput for routine rat food intake studies and also improved user ergonomics and safety. The authors describe their system and suggest that others could design similar systems or adapt certain features of the AWFAS to fit existing rodent caging systems.

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Figure 1: Automated Water Food Activity System (AWFAS).
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4: Self-closing, spring-loaded access door in an undocked cage.
Figure 5: AWFAS docking station.
Figure 6: Cage racks.
Figure 7: AWFAS sipper tube.
Figure 8: Food delivery system configured for (a) powder chow or (b) pellet chow.
Figure 9

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Fact Sheet: General Information and National Estimates in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, 2005). <http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2005.pdf>.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioelectronics Laboratory Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ

    Elio Furlano, Paul Augustine &  Gary Kath

  2. Central Pharmacology, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ

    Sloan Stribling &  Joseph Metzger

Authors
  1. Elio Furlano
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  2. Paul Augustine
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  3. Sloan Stribling
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  4. Joseph Metzger
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  5. Gary Kath
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elio Furlano.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Cite this article

Furlano, E., Augustine, P., Stribling, S. et al. An automated feeding and behavior monitoring system for rodents. Lab Anim 38, 375–380 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban1109-375

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban1109-375

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