In order to introduce an alternate temperature sensation (hot or cold) within the rats for our experiments, we must formulate the ointment that produces such a sensation. In previous posts, I have mentioned "injecting" medications. Here, we are testing the effects of topical medications on rat behavior.We have three different ointments that we develop with varying concentrations:
- Vehicle (Control): It is 30% polyethlene glycol, 25% glycerin, 25% propylene glycol, and 20% ethanol.
- Menthol (Cold-sensation inducing): Developed in 0.5% and 15% concentration.
- Camphor (Hot-sensation inducing): Developed in 6% and 50% concentration.
These ointments affect the behavior of the rat, allowing us to determine their effects on thermoregulation.
Rohini,
ReplyDeleteWill you be using topical ointments in your project, or will you be injecting the rats? Will the data loggers be employed irrespective of the technique used to simulate cold or hot sensations?
This week, we decided to try out the topical ointments, as the injected medications have adverse side-effects, such as hyperthermia. We are completing a series of different experiments within our larger experiment, to sample which stimuli have which effect. We will be injecting the rats, using topical ointments, trapping the rats in set temperatures, and testing other stimuli to determine the effect on behavior modification and thermoregulation response.
DeleteThe dataloggers will be employed for all rats undergoing experimentation, as they are our most accurate form of determining temperature within the rat.