Mouse Neurobehavior Core

The Mouse Neurobehavior Core at Baylor College of Medicine provides Baylor investigators with access and training on the use of assays that provide insight into the behavioral consequences of genetic mutations in mice. The core facility, which consists of approximately 2,000 square feet of specially-designed laboratory space and specialized equipment, is located in the Transgenic Mouse Facility. Training for and use of the facility is currently available free of charge to all Baylor investigators.

All personnel using the core facility must:

•  Have access to TMF

•  Be on an animal protocol, including procedures to be done in the core, that was approved by the Baylor Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

•  Have proper training to use core equipment and perform the behavioral assay

To arrange for training, please contact Dr. Corinne Spencer approximately 1-2 months before the experiment. Training is provided for each assay and piece of equipment as the need arises. Please allow extra time to schedule training if you are planning to perform a battery of several assays or the Morris water maze task. Drs. Spencer and Richard Paylor are also available to assist with experimental design and data analysis.

Following training, use of the core facility is by approved reservation. Requests for the desired room/equipment are submitted via the BCM Intranet WebEvent calendar for the Transgenic Mouse Facility-Behavioral Core (available at http://intranet.bcm.tmc.edu/webevent-cgi/webevent.cgi).

The following equipment/behavioral assays are available:

Homecage activity monitoring - circadian locomotor activity

Open-field activity - exploratory activity and anxiety-related behavior

Light-dark exploration - anxiety-related behavior

Elevated plus maze - anxiety-related behavior

Stress-induced hyperthermia - unconditioned anxiety/ stress physiology

Acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition - sensorimotor responses, adaptation and gating

Rotarod - motor coordination and skill learning

Tremor meter - motor function

Grip strength meter - forelimb motor function

Wire-hang and dowel tests - motor function

Tail suspension - depression-related behavior

Fear conditioning - learning and memory

Passive avoidance (coming soon) - learning and memory

T-maze (not automated) - learning and memory

Morris water maze - learning and memory

Hotplate - analgesic-related responses

Tail-flick - analgesic-related responses

Partition test - social behaviors

Tube test - social behaviors

 New assays are constantly in development. If you do not see what you need, please contact us and we will try to assist you.

Contact Information:

Director: Richard Paylor, Ph.D.
E-mail: rpaylor@bcm.edu
Phone: 713-798-6124

Co-Director: Corinne Spencer, Ph.D.
E-mail: cspencer@bcm.edu
Phone: 713-798-8459