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Designed by scientists for scientists
SR-LAB™ startle response system is your best choice for startle reflex testing. The system’s design ensures accurate results for all paradigms. You will not be limited by the software to any specific paradigms, either—it supports any paradigm while ensuring your data is saved in a single-file for easy retrieval and export.
Test up to 16 animals at one time in SDI’s unique tubular enclosures which eliminate restraint stress and keep the animal in place to gather the most reliable data.
The SR-LAB startle response system is the world’s most widely used startle reflex behavioral research system and the most successful for measuring startle habituation, pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) and Fear Potentiated Startle (FPS).
Execute any and all startle reflex testing paradigm using the SR-LAB Software and specialized additional kits—and ensure accuracy using SR-LAB’s proprietary accelerometer which accommodates the rapid force changes in startle testing.
The only system of its kind that expands to 16 test stations, your SR-LAB™ will test a large number of animals at any given time. It will also test animals of varying sizes—from the smallest mouse to the largest rat using one of five sizes of easily changeable animal enclosures.
The basic SR-LAB System will test the Startle Habituation and Pre-Pulse Inhibition paradigms with no additional kits required. To test the Fear Potentiated Startle paradigm, simply add on the SR-LAB Potentiated Startle Kit which includes the SDI Shocker (a proprietary design that keeps the animal from determining any patterns), a shock grid, and a cue light. Support any of these paradigms with the SR-LAB software, with no additional software required.
With the SR-LAB software, you can develop and execute any startle reflex testing paradigm. Other systems utilize different software for each paradigm which has two drawbacks: One—you will spend more money, and two—you have no flexibility in designing your own paradigms, and instead are limited to the paradigms offered by the manufacturer.
Be assured all trials are executed without missing any trials using SR-LAB’s concept of a Session containing Trials (discrete tests). Each session will run the animals through all the trials, and save all trial data for later analysis.
Define your trials to meet your specific needs by selecting commands from a wide range within a predefined menu and then entering your start/stop times.
Set your session level parameters, construct trial lists, and set up Inter-Trial Intervals using SR-LAB’s simple point-and-click interface.
Your session parameters can include number of samples, sample rate, background noise level, and repetitions. You can also define and edit sessions with the click of a mouse by inserting or removing Trials. In addition, edit or rename your sessions any time with ease.
The ability to automatically randomize durations of for Inter Trial Intervals assures that the animal will not discern a pattern that would skew results.
Monitor your test process at a glance by viewing response waveforms. Unlike other systems, the waveform visual gives you quick assurance that the calculated numbers are accurate.
Verify all of your startle response data with the View Wave™ post session data analysis tool. View Wave™” helps you verify data accuracy by working off scoring parameters set by you. For each response, you can review the complete waveform to verify your numeric data. Scoring parameter you can set include Baseline, Onset Window Start, End Analysis and Onset Criterion. View Wave™ also assures your calculated values are correct by allowing you to see, export, and use your raw data values.
Combine all of your data with a quick point-and-click in into ASCII file format or another statistical program. SR-LAB Software will preview the data for you, then take it from there. Once you’ve combined your data, you can export to Microsoft® Excel at any time.
SR-LAB’s accelerometer is a key factor in the accuracy the system provides. The sensor reacts very quickly to sudden force changes—assuring you get an accurate reading for the smallest mouse to the largest rat. The accuracy provided by the sensor is aided by a complimentary enclosure design, which tightly couples the enclosure with the sensor. Other systems use Load Cells which do not react as well to sudden force changes and also have limited ranges, requiring you to change load cells as animal weights change.
The SR-LAB’s tubular enclosures are designed to allow the animals to turn around freely without constraint—thus avoiding restraint stress that can alter results. At the same time, the tubular design keeps animals over the sensor for reliable results. Your subjects will be monitored using an ultra-stable, hermetically sealed motion sensor that records a wide range of startle responses. Enclosures are designed with clear acrylic for easy cleaning and are available in five different sizes.
If the paradigms you need are not included with SR-LAB’s basic kit, add-on kits are available, requiring no additional software or constraints. Add-on kits offered include:
The Pure Tone Kit supplies up to three specific frequencies of sound and is generally used as a pre-pulse stimulus. This kit is also used for gap detection startle reflex testing. You control the frequency, amplitude and duration via the SR-LAB software.
An add-on light to the animal enclosure is used as a Pre-Pulse stimulus to provide cross-modal startle reflex testing. On and off times are controlled from the SR-LAB software.
The Tactile Kit provides an air puff stimulus, which is generally used as a kinder, gentler alternative to shock.
The Relay Chassis gives you maximum flexibility in your startle testing.
It contains four relays to control the On/Off of external devices (which are not supplied by San Diego Instruments). The SR-LAB Software controls the Relay Chassis.
The kit supplies an immense amount of bright light within the test station, which brings on anxiety in the animal. The LED lights give off no heat, which can affect the animal. This kit is used for anxiety potentiated startle testing.
The baseline response of each of your test stations will be set to the same level prior to testing using the Standardization Unit, which attaches to the top of the animal enclosure and places a repeating fixed force on the sensor. Adjust the response level to the guideline numbers in the user’s manual by turning the Response Adjust dial on the side of the test station. After setting one test station, all you need to do is move the Standardization Unit to the next station and repeat. This assures that results data from multiple tests stations can be compared and your resulting analysis is reliable.
Measurement of Startle Response, Prepulse Inhibition and Habituation
Geyer MA, Swerdlow NR.
5-HT1A Receptor Knockout, but not 5-HT1B Receptor Knockout Mice, Show Reduced Startle Reactivity and Footshock-induced Sensitization, as Measured with the Acoustic Startle Response
Anneloes Dirks, Tommy Pattija, J. Adriaan Bouwknechta, Tatjana T. Westphala, Theo H. Hijzena, Lucianne Groeninka, Jan van der Gugtena, Ronald S. Oostingb, René Henc, Mark A. Geyerd and Berend Oliviera
Startle Responses, Heart Rate, and Temperature in 5-HT1B Receptor Knockout Mice
Bouwknecht, J Adriaan; Hijzen, Theo H.; van der Gugten, Jan; Dirks, Anneloes; A. Maes, Robert A.; Hen, Rene; Geyer, Mark A.; Olivier, Berend
The Effects of Perinatal AZT Exposure on the Acoustic Startle Response in Adult Rats
Susan M. Melnicka, Jeremy Weedonb and Diana L. Dow-Edwards
GABA-A and 5-HT1A receptor agonists block expression of fear-potentiated startle in mice
Risbrough, Victoria B.; Brodkin, Jesse D.; Geyer, Mark A.
Metabotropic Glutamate Subtype 5 Receptors Modulate Locomotor Activity and Sensorimotor Gating in Rodents
Kinney GG, Burno M, Campbell UC, Hernandez LM, Rodriguez D, Bristow LJ, Conn PJ.
The Absolute Value Calibrator provides a known force in Newtons to the animal enclosure sensor. “Newton” is a standard unit of force in the “International System of Units”. The SR-LAB Absolute Value Calibration (AVC) software reads the standardized force produced by the AV calibrator and builds a small file recording an adjustment factor for each test chamber in a “Calibration Log” file. The Log file provides a historical record of system stability and verifies that calibrations are performed. The adjustment factor is then applied to the animal test results, automatically adjusting for any variances in the test chambers. While recalibration with the AV calibrator could be done every so often, adjustments for variations in sensitivity are automatic. When using the SR-LAB AVC software, all results are reported in absolute Newton units rather than millivolts.
