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The establishment of invariable behaviour of rats in novel one-trial trace association task (OTTAT)
Alexová, Daniela ; Stuchlík, Aleš (advisor) ; Telenský, Petr (referee)
Animal episodic-like memory tasks represent important component of episodic memory research. However, currently available episodic-like memory tasks are not based on episodic-like memory or encompass important caveats. In our laboratory, we recently devised a novel one-trial trace association task (OTTAT) to examine one-time associations of temporally discontinuous stimuli. This thesis deals with the improvement of OTTAT protocol by rat strain and compartment divider ('doors') selection which optimally promote the establishment of invariable behaviour of rats in OTTAT. Moreover, the accuracy of one-trial associations is also assessed by determining specificity of "rapid escape" response to conditioned stimulus of given sound characteristics. In Experiment 1, rats (Sprague-Dawley (SD), n = 36; Wistar (WI), n = 17; Long-Evans (LE), n = 8) were habituated 15 min daily for 3 days with standard doors (9 x 11 cm opening) to modified light and dark apparatus. The number of transfers between compartments and values of time spent in dark compartment obtained from 3rd habituation session were evaluated as indicators of invariable behaviour of rats. We found WI rats spend significantly more time in dark compartment than LE (p = 0.002) and SD rats (p = 0.001) and have significantly fewer transfers than LE rats...
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Neuronal activity during stereotypical behavior in quinpirole induced animal model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Alexová, Daniela ; Valeš, Karel (advisor) ; Kopřivová, Jana (referee)
The main aim of this study was to determine the changes in neuronal activity of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and medial prefrontal cortex (MPC) in rats sensitized to D2/D3 receptor agonist quinpirole (QNP) during exploration of enriched open field arena. During the experiment, the evaluation of behavioural changes induced by quinpirole sensitization were also assessed and compared to previous results. For the purpose of this study, twenty-two adult male Long-Evans rats were used. The half of the rats was sensitized to QNP by receiving daily subcutaneous injections of quinpirole (0,5 mg/kg) while the other half received saline. Both groups were habituated for ten days to open-field arena enriched with two metal objects. The behaviour of animals was videotaped and the data about locomotion and the number of visits of each locale was obtained. On the eleventh day, the part of saline and quinpirole treated groups explored the open-field arena (t = 5 min) while the other two subgroups were left as respective cage-controls. Immediately after the end of experiment, all rats were sacrificed, and the extracted brains were cryopreserved. To determine the changes in neuronal activity of selected brain regions, fluorescence in situ hybridization of immediate early gene Arc was...
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Experimental models of ischemic brain injury
Alexová, Daniela ; Valeš, Karel (advisor) ; Alterová, Kateřina (referee)
Title: Experimental models of ischemic brain injury Author: Daniela Alexová Department: Department of Physiology Supervisor: RNDr. Karel Valeš, Ph.D. Abstract: This bachelor thesis focuses on the experimental models of ischemic brain injury closely related to one of the most common forms of brain damage, the ischemic stroke. This type of brain injury is connected to subsequent serious neurological deficits. The studies of experimental models of ischemic brain injury are therefore essential for primary and secondary research. The first two parts of the thesis are dedicated to brief characterization of stroke with focus on types of stroke, incidence, risk factors and molecular mechanism of injury. Next part summarizes the challenges of experimental modeling of ischemic brain injury and the specifics of small and big laboratory animals. The core of the thesis is the description of 11 most frequently used models. Selected models were divided into focal and global models and in each of these categories were furthermore characterized according to procedural performance, animal mortality or success of lesion induction. The key modifications of models introduced during the years in order to increase the reproducibility of brain injury are described as well. All 11 selected experimental models are summarized at the...
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