|
|
|
|
Small Animal Behavior Core Laboratory
Services
Tail
Flick
Description:
The Tail Flick Test is used to measure a rodent’s sensitivity to changing
temperature. The test subject is restrained in a conical polypropylene tube
with an opening through which its tail is exposed. In one version of the
test, the tail is
exposed to a heat lamp and the amount of time taken for the animal to move
(flick) its tail away from the heat is recorded.
Another version of the tail flick test is the water immersion method. In
that test,
approximately one third of the rodent’s tail from the tip is immersed into a
52OC ± 0.2 water bath and the amount of time until the rodent
flicks or removes its tail is recorded.
Purpose: Both
the heat lamp
and water
immersion versions of the test are used to assess spinal nociception.
|