Abstract
A swim alley for testing the long-term performance capacity of rats is described. Rats swim back and forth in an alley, in temperature-controlled water, between platforms that are alternately and automatically raised and lowered. At the end of each traverse, an animal is allowed to rest on a raised platform for a period of time before the platform is lowered, which initiates the next traverse. Continuous measurement is made of speed of movement between platforms.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bättig, K. Das Schwimmen von Ratten durch einen Wasserkanal. Methodische und pharmacologische Einflüsse auf Leistung und Ermüdung. Helvetica Physiologica Acta, 1961, 19, 384–398.
Bättig, K. Die Wirkung von Training und Amphetamin auf Ausdauer und Geschwindigkeit der Schwimmleistung der Ratte. Psychopharmacologia, 1963, 4, 15–27.
Bättig, K. Die Wirkung von Nikotin auf die Schwimmausdauer testgewöhnter Ratten. Zeitschrift Praeventimedizin, 1968, 13, 111–131.
Bättig, K. The effect of nicotine on the swimming speed of pre-trained rats through a water alley. Psychopharmacologia, 1969, 15, 19–27.
Birren, J. E., & Kay, H. Swimming speed of the albino rat: 1. Age and sex differences. Journal of Gerontology, 1958, 13, 374–377.
Casarett, A. P. Swim-tank measurement of radiation-induced behavioral incapacitation. Psychological Reports, 1973, 33, 731–736.
Dagg, A. I., & Windsor, D. E. Swimming in northern terrestrial mammals. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1972, 50, 117–130.
Dawson, C. A., Nadel, E. R., & Horvath, S. M. Cardiac output of the cold-stressed swimming rat. American Journal of Physiology, 1968, 214, 320–325.
Dawson, C. A., Roemer, R. B., & Horvath, S. M. Body temperature and oxygen uptake in warm- and cold-adapted rats during swimming. Journal of Applied Phvsiology, 1970, 29, 150–154.
Hrubes, V., & Bättig, K. Effect of inhaled cigarette smoke on swimming endurance in the rat. Archives of Environmental Health, 1970, 21, 20–24.
Kay, H., & Birren, J. E. Swimming speed of the albino rat: II. Fatigue, practice, and drug effects on age and sex differences. Journal of Gerontology, 1958, 13, 378–385.
Kimeldorf, D. J., & Jones, D. C. The relationship of radiation dose to lethality among exercised animals exposed to roentgen rays. American Journal of Physiology, 1951, 167, 626–632.
Kimeldorf, D. J., Jones, D. C., & Castanera, T. J. Effect of X-irradiation upon the performance of daily exhaustive exercise by the rat. American Journal of Physiology, 1953, 174, 331–335.
King, N. W., Hunt, E. L., Castro, R. D., & Phillips, R. D. An automated swim alley for small animals: II. Training and procedures. Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation, 1974, 6, 535–540.
Lustinec, K. Oxygen consumption of rats during swimming. Physiologia Bohemoslovaca, 1958, 7, 208–215.
McArdle, W. D. Metabolic stress of endurance swimming in the laboratorv rat. Journal of Applied Physiology, 1967, 22, 50–54.
McArdle, W. D., & Montoye, H. J. Reliability of exhaustive swimming in the laboratory rat. Journal of Applied Physiology, 1966, 21, 1431–1434.
Tan, E. M., Hanson, M. E., & Richter, C. P. Swimming time of rats with relation to water temperature. Federation Proceedings, 1954, 13, 150–151 (Abstract).
Tucker, A., & Horvath, S. M. Metabolic responses to normoxia and hvpoxia in the altitude-adapted rat during swimming. Journal of Applied Physiology, 1971, 31, 760–765.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by the Office of Naval Research, Contract No. N00014-70-C-0332, with funds provided by the Naval Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
King, N.W., Hunt, E.L., Castro, R.D. et al. An automated swim alley for small animals: I. Instrumentation. Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation 6, 531–534 (1974). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03201341
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03201341