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added citation, cage measurements
==Description of Dr. Smith's 8 cage hotel==
==Description of Dr. Smith's 8 cage hotel==
Rats were housed in standard polycarbonate wire-top cages measuring ?? X ?? X ?? modified with holes cut in the front and in the rear of the cage to accommodate one feeding compartment and two drinking ports. A stainless steel nest box was placed inside the cage. At the front of the cage a stainless steel food compartment held a 4 oz glass food jar. When a rat entered the feeding compartment, its head broke an infrared beam located above the food jar so that every second during the 23-h period the rat had its head inside the compartment was recorded. Thus, time in the food compartment during a feeding episode, not amount of food intake, was measured. However, under baseline conditions, it has been shown that there is a high correlation between direct measures of food consumption (using load beams or videography) and the duration of a feeding bout [JODI and MEGAN PAPER].
Citation: Smith, JC. Microstructure of the rat's intake of food, sucrose and saccharin in 24-hour tests. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 24 (2000)199-212. PMID 10714383
Old stainless steel wire-bottom cages (dimensions: xx X xx X xx cm) vs. Newer polycarbonate solid-bottom cages
Rats were housed in standard polycarbonate wire-top cages measuring 27 x 48 x 20 cm modified with holes cut in the front and in the rear of the cage to accommodate one feeding compartment and two drinking ports. A stainless steel nest box was placed inside the cage. At the front of the cage a stainless steel food compartment held a 4 oz glass food jar. When a rat entered the feeding compartment, its head broke an infrared beam located above the food jar so that every second during the 23-h period the rat had its head inside the compartment was recorded. Thus, time in the food compartment during a feeding episode, not amount of food intake, was measured. However, under baseline conditions, it has been shown that there is a high correlation between direct measures of food consumption (using load beams or videography) and the duration of a feeding bout [JODI and MEGAN PAPER].
A two-bottle stainless steel holder was located opposite the food compartment. In the present experiment, only one bottle was used; it was placed on the left side for the duration of the experiment. The sipper tube on the bottle was recessed behind a slot, allowing contact circuits to record each lick that the rat made during a 23-h period.
A two-bottle stainless steel holder was located opposite the food compartment. In the present experiment, only one bottle was used; it was placed on the left side for the duration of the experiment. The sipper tube on the bottle was recessed behind a slot, allowing contact circuits to record each lick that the rat made during a 23-h period.