- Users -
- Publications -
- Technical specifications -
- Other products / accessories -  

Aron 4 plates test is widely considered has an effective way to screen anxiolitics (cf LeClea'ch and all. ). However it requires a constant operator's presence. Bioseb has recently proposed a way to automatise shock counting and recording of the results, allowing to chain up to 28 Aron 4 plates cages and simply link them to a PC (RS232 com port). An elegant and economical solution to screen large numbers of mice.

Operating principle
This apparatus consists of a cage (18×25×16 cm) floored by four identical rectangular metal plates (8×11 cm) separated from one another by a gap of 4 mm. The plates are connected to a shocker unit that can generate electric footshocks (0-3 mA; Timer 0-10 secondes; square pulses).

Following habituation period, the animal is subjected to an electric shock when crossing (transition) from one plate to another, i.e. two legs on one plate and two legs on another. Boissier et al. 1968 has described this test first. The number of punished crossings is generaly calculated for a period of 60 s. For example an anxiolytic substance is capable of augmenting the number of punished passages.

2 publications showing the efficienty of this instrument for your research work are available for download:

Effects of benzodiazepinic and GABAergic ligands on the anxiolytic-like activity of antidepressants in the four-plate test in mice, by Hascoet, Dubois et al.
(Poster presented at the Congrès P2T Physiology, Pharmacology and Thérapeutics in Toulouse, April 2007)
Click here to send a download request for this publication

Triggering factors for the abolishment of benzodiazepines effects in the four-plate test-retest, by B. Petit-Demoulière, M. Hascoet, M. Bourin et al
(Poster presented at the Congrès P2T Physiology, Pharmacology and Thérapeutics in Toulouse, April 2007)
Click here to send a download request for this publication