LABORAS: Initial pharmacological validation of a system allowing continuous monitoring of laboratory rodent behaviour.

A newly developed apparatus for automated behavioural analysis, Laboratory Animal Behaviour Observation, Registration and Analysis System (LABORAS), has been further validated with respect to the ability of the system to detect the pharmacodynamic effects of standard pharmacological tools. Data were obtained from rats administered with mCPP (reversal with SB242084), 8-OH-DPAT (reversal with WAY100635), amphetamine (reversal with haloperidol) and angiotensin, with the focus on locomotor activity, feeding and drinking behaviours. The data captured and analysed by LABORAS, suggests that the automated system is able to detect pharmacologically induced changes in behaviour, reliably and efficiently, with a significant reduction in the number of animals required, and reduced operator input.