$1,390.00 – $1,490.00
This maze was initially introduced by Sato et al. (2017) for the study of learning and memory. It features five vertical and five horizontal corridors, enabling a versatile arrangement of pathways. Much like the Hebb-Williams maze, this setup allows for progressively challenging modular tests to assess spatial learning and memory in rodents. MazeEngineers offers this device for both mice and rats.
MazeEngineers offers custom-built behavioral mazes at no extra costādesigned to fit your exact research needs. Eliminate reproducibility issues from poor sizing or lingering scent cues with precision-engineered, modular, and smart mazes that adapt in real time to animal behavior. Publish new protocols, run adaptive experiments, and push the boundaries of behavioral science.
Mouse |
Transparent Corridor: 8 cm (w) x 80 cm (l) |
Corridor doors: 4cm (w) |
Cooridor doors placement: every 4cm |
End compartments: 15 cm (l) x 15 cm (w) |
End compartment door: 6cm (l) x 6 cm (w) |
Rat |
Transparent Corridor: 12 cm (w) x 110 cm (l) |
Corridor doors: 6cm (w) |
Cooridor doors placement: every 6cm |
End compartments: 20 cm (l) x 20 cm (w) |
End compartment door: 8cm (l) x 8 cm (w) |
The Flex Maze is specifically designed to evaluate lateral-flexion discomfort in rodents, providing a means to assess physical function related to disc degeneration. Millecamps et al. used this maze to explore how progressive, age-related disc degeneration affects the development of chronic lower back pain in SPARC-null mice.
Lower back pain encompasses several complex and painful conditions, including axial lower back pain (confined to the spine and lower back), radiating lower back pain (which extends to the legs and may be referred), and radicular pain (resulting from nerve root injury or inflammation). This apparatus allows for the assessment of behavioral indicators of axial and radiating lower back pain by examining how physical function declines with age and lumbar disc degeneration in SPARC-null mice. These mice are selected due to their closer mimicry of human lower back pain, exhibiting reduced intervertebral disc height, increased disc wedging, and histological signs of degeneration, alongside cutaneous hypersensitivity in the hind paw, axial discomfort, and diminished physical function (Millecamps et al., 2012).
SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) is a crucial protein involved in tissue remodeling following injury. Its levels decrease in human intervertebral discs with aging and disc degeneration. Thus, SPARC-null rodents are valuable for studying age-related behavioral signs of chronic lower back pain and investigating the link between disc degeneration and lower back pain in pre-clinical models. These SPARC-null mice are compared to wild-type (WT) mice of the same age to evaluate differences in responses and provide a control group (Millecamps et al., 2012).
The Flex Maze features a long, transparent corridor measuring 8 x 80 cm. The corridor is equipped with regularly spaced staggered doors that induce lateral flexion during exploration. Each door is 4 cm wide and alternates sides every 4 cm. At each end of the maze, there are neutral, beige compartments measuring 15 x 15 cm, each with a 6 x 6 cm opening (Millecamps et al., 2012).
Both SPARC-null and WT mice are bred in similar housing and lighting conditions and are fed a similar diet. Both types of rodents are assessed at similar ages to gauge differences in response and age-related changes.
Several variables and parameters are recorded to carry out the data analyses for the flex maze:
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These variables are recorded for the SPARC-null and WT mice at different ages to make a comparison. (Millecamps et al., 2012)
Millecamps, M., Tajerian, M., Naso, L., Sage, E. H. & Stone, L. S., (2012).Ā Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration associated with axial and radiating low back pain in ageing SPARC-null mice.Ā Pain, 153 (6), 1167-1179.
Alini, M., Eisenstein, S. M., Ito, K., Little, C., Kettler, A. A., Masuda, K., Melrose, J., Ralphs, J., Stokes, I. & Wilke, H. J. (2007).Ā Are animal models useful for studying human disc/degeneration?Ā European Spine Journal, 17(1), 2-19.
| Species | Mouse, Rat |
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DISCLAIMER: ConductScience and affiliate products are NOT designed for human consumption, testing, or clinical utilization. They are designed for pre-clinical utilization only. Customers purchasing apparatus for the purposes of scientific research or veterinary care affirm adherence to applicable regulatory bodies for the country in which their research or care is conducted.
