Jan 26, 2024
Barnes Maze Protocol
- Lisa Blackmer-Raynolds1,
- Ian Krout1,
- Tim Sampson1
- 1Emory University
Protocol Citation: Lisa Blackmer-Raynolds, Ian Krout, Tim Sampson 2024. Barnes Maze Protocol. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.kxygx3bozg8j/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working.
Created: January 25, 2024
Last Modified: May 31, 2024
Protocol Integer ID: 94180
Keywords: ASAPCRN, Behavior, Mice, Neruodegeneration, Alzheimers, Parkinson's, barnes maze protocol the barnes maze test, barnes maze test, maze test, barnes maze protocol, maze protocol, test of rodent, maze, memory testing, testing, training trial, memory ability, test, rodent, hidden escape box, spatial learning, animal
Funders Acknowledgements:
Aligning Science Across Parkinson's
Grant ID: ASAP020527
Abstract
The Barnes Maze test is a test of rodent’s spatial learning and memory abilities. In this test, animals are placed in an aversive environment (with a loud noise and bright lights) and trained to locate a hidden escape box. This particular protocol was adapted from a protocol by Attar et al. (2013) that allows for memory testing after only five training trials. The entire protocol takes 4 days:Protocol modified from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24236177/.
Figure 1. Schematic of timing for Barnes Maze Assessment.
Materials
- Barnes Maze
- 70% ethanol
- Camera and Noldus EthoVision software
- Clean rodent bedding
- Extra bright overhead lights (we use two 3,000 lumen overhead lamps)
- Plastic beaker
Protocol materials
70% EtOH
Troubleshooting
Set-up
Set up extra bright overhead lamps directly above maze so there is no difference in the brightness across the maze.
Set white noise maker to highest volume setting (butkeep off for now).
Make sure there are landmarks around the room that the animals can use to orient, everything in the room must be kept in the exact same spot throughout all training and testing days.
Habituation
1h 3m
Bring mice up to acclimate just outside the behavior room for at least 01:00:00 .
1h
Place fresh bedding in escape box and clean maze with 70% EtOH .
Place mouse in a clear plastic beaker and bring into behavior room.
Place mouse in middle of maze by flipping over the beaker and turn on the white noise maker.
Let mouse explore the maze for 00:00:30 (stay in the room).
30s
After 00:00:30 , gently guide the mouse towards the escape hole until they enter. To get them to enter, it is often helpful to gently pull their tail in the opposite direction.
30s
Once the mouse enters the escape hole, turn off the white noise maker, and leave the room.
Wait 00:02:00 before removing the mouse, placing them back in the plastic beaker and bringing them out to their cage.
2m
Clean maze (including the sides and inside of each hole), spin top table (leaving escape hole in same location), and replace escape hole bedding before beginning habituation for each mouse.
Training
Each mouse undergoes a total of 5 training trials spread out over two days. Typically, this means 2 trials on day 1 and 3 on day 2. Training trials for each mouse should not be run back-to-back. Instead, all mice should undergo training trial 1 before training trial 2 starts. During each trial:
Place fresh bedding in escape box and clean maze with 70% EtOH .
Start Ethovison (https://www.noldus.com/ethovision-xt) recording, place mouse in a clear plastic beaker and bring into behavior room.
Place mouse in middle of maze by flipping over the beaker, turn on the noise maker, and exit the room.
Watch the mouse and record:
a. The time it takes the mouse to first look at the escape hole.
b. The time it take the mouse to enter the escape hole (primary latency)
Once the mouse enters the hole turn off the noise maker. If the mouse doesn’t enter the escape hole after 00:03:00 , gently guide them to the hole.
3m
Allow the mouse to remain in the escape hole for 00:01:00 before returning to it’s cage.
1m
Clean maze, spin, and replace bedding before starting next mouse.
Data Analysis 1
30s
Graph up the first look and first entry for each trial. If the mice learned where the hole was, you’d expect to see a decrease in the values over time. Typically, the average latency for mice that have
learned where the hole is is around 00:00:30 . Controls for this test are distance traveled and velocity.
30s
Probe Trial
The probe trial must be run 72 hours after the last training day. During this phase, the escape box is removed so there is no chance that the mouse can locate the escape hole by sight or smell.
Clean maze with 70% EtOH
Start Ethovison recording, place mouse in a clear plastic beaker and bring into behavior room.
Place mouse in middle of maze by flipping over the beaker, turn on the noise maker (it will remain on throughout the duration of the trial), and exit the room.
- Watch the mouse and record in your notebook:
a. The amount of incorrect hole checks before the
mouse checks the target hole
b. The time it takes the mouse to first look at the
escape hole.
The trial ends after 90 seconds, the noise maker can be turned off and the mouse returned to their cage.
Clean and spin maze before running next mouse.
Data Analysis 2
Graph up latency, number of incorrect hole checks, and percent of time in target quadrant (this can be extracted from the EthoVison data). Distance traveled and velocity can serve as controls.
Protocol references
1. Attar A, Liu T, Chan WT, Hayes J, Nejad M, Lei K, Bitan G. A shortened Barnes maze protocol reveals memory deficits at 4-months of age in the triple-transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. PLoS One. 2013 Nov 13;8(11):e80355. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080355. PMID: 24236177; PMCID: PMC3827415.