Panlab/Harvard Apparatus Shuttle Boxes LE916 (Rats) and LE918 (Mice) provide the ideal environment to carry out conditioned reflexes (Active and Passive Avoidance) in learning and memory studies.

Basically, the Shuttle box (LE916-918) consists of two equally sized compartments with two independent grid floors. A frontal door, in addition to the top ones, allows an easy access inside the box. The cage contains a general sound generator and a visual stimulus (light) for each compartment.

The Animal is detected by two weight transducers located above the static grids, avoiding the problems inherent to photoelectrical or grid tilting systems (high speeds of displacements in mice, tail detection in rats).

Our Shuttle box is thought to be easily set up and dismantled. Therefore, reconverting it to traditional Passive Box is quite straightforward by adding a sliding door (LE916D for mice or LE918D for rats). Furthermore, it is possible to set up different wall shapes or colors in order to further condition the subject of study either visually or spatially.

The shuttle boxes can be controlled by Programmer LE2708 or Software (ShutAvoid). SeDaCom software is included for transferring data from the programmer to a PC through a RS-232 port. The connection is direct between the programmer and PC! No PCI card is needed! The link is carried out by one only cable from one Box to the other. The first Box is connected to PC or Laptop by the port RS-232 or USB.

The second option is suitable for controlling a number of boxes simultaneously.

Citations
Bura SA et al. (2007) Genetic and pharmacological approaches to evaluate the interaction between the cannabinoid and cholinergic systems in cognitive processes. Br. J. Pharmacol. 150(6): 758-765. (active avoidance, mouse, Spain).
Vicente F et al. (2006) Immunization and facilitation produced by predictable and controllable aversive events alternating with different duration unpredictable and uncontrollable aversive events. Int. J. Psychol. 41(5): 385-396. (learned heplessness, rat, spain)
Millan MJ et al. (2004) S32504, a novel naphtoxazine agonist at dopamine D3/D2 receptors: III. Actions in models of potential antidepressive and anxiolytic activity in comparison with ropinirole. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. (learned helplessness, rat, France, Poland, UK)
Aguilar R et al. (2003) Fearfulness and sex in F2 Roman rats: males display more fear though both sexes share the same fearfulness traits. Physiol. Behav. 78(4-5):723-32. (fear conditioning, rat, Spain)
Aguilar R et al. (2002) Learned fear, emotional reactivity and fear of heights: a factor analytic map from a large F2 intercross of roman rat strains. Brain res. Bull. 57(1):17-26. (active avoidance, fear conditioning, rat, Spain)
Fernandez-Teruel A et al. (2002) A quantitative trait locus influencing anxiety in the laboratory rat. Genome Res. 1-9. (active avoidance, rat, Spain)
Morón I, et al. (2002) Differential effects of bicuculline and muscimol microinjections into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis in taste and place aversive memory formation. Behav. Brain Res. 134: 425-431. (passive avoidance, rat, Spain, Mexico)
Martin M et al. (2002) Involvement of CB1 cannabinoid receptors in emotional behavior. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 159(4):379-87. (active avoidance, mouse, Spain)
Vale-Martinez A et al. (2002) Electrolytic and ibotenic acid lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis interrupt long-term retention, but not acquisition of two-way active avoidance, in rats. Exp. Bran Res. 142(1): 52-66. (active avoidance, rat, Spain)
Tenas-Huerga N et al. (1998) Facilitatory effects of thalamic reticular nucleus lesions on two-way active avoidance in rats Experimental Brain Research, 118(4): 511-516. (active avoidance, rat, Spain)
Rubio S et al. (1999) Active avoidance conditioning in rats: absence of sex difference and estrous effect. Psicothema 11(3): 655-661 (active avoidance, rat, Spain)
Prunell M et al. (1987) Antagonism of the stimulant and depressant effects of ethanol in rats by naloxone. 92(2): 215-218. (active avoidance, rat, Spain)