Electroconvulsive therapy - threshold detection, ECT Unit

Background of electroconvulsive therapy unit

• Particularly useful for neurochemical and neuropharmacological research such as;
• General screening of potentially neurotropic substances
• Evaluating the depressant or stimulating action of drugs on the CNS
• Endocrinological investigations on the relationship between the nervous system and the hypophysis.

 Accurate and reproducible

• A constant current stimulator ensures reproducible results and accurate determination of the EC threshold.
• The impedance to the animal can be pre-measured and displayed. A warning is provided if the impedance is too great to deliver the desired current level, rather than the most suitable range for mice or rats.
• The Electroconvulsive Device is supplied with auricular (ear lobe) electrodes that allow an operator to deliver shock to a number of animals in a short time.
• Pinpoints variations in the threshold affected by drug action on cortex and sub-cortical regions.
• Can be used with other electrodes allowing for virtually any procedure.
• Analog output for connection to an oscilloscope or data acquisition system.
• An optional Biphasic Unit box may be placed between the animal and the Electroconvulsive Device to invert every other pulse. Maximum frequency in this case becomes 100Hz.
• Corneal electrodes are optional. Also custom designed electrodes are available on request.

Features and benefits of unit for electroconvulsive therapy in rats and mice

• Optional analogue output: can be connected to oscilloscope
• Any type of electrode can be used: allows for virtually any procedure
• Feedback circuitry: compensates for impedance variability due to animal-electrode contact

Applications of electroconvulsive therapy in mice and rats

The ECT Apparatus is specially designed for neurochemical and neuropharmacological research. It is particularly useful for:

• general screening of potentially neurotropic substances
• evaluating the depressant or stimulating action of drugs on the CNS
• endocrinological investigations on the relationship between the nervous sys-tem and the hypophysis.

A constant current output is used which ensures reproducible results and accurate determination of the EC threshold while also pinpointing any variation in the threshold brought about by drugs having specific action on the cortex and subcortical regions.
The shock parameters have been selected after consulting the most recent literature, in order to determinate the range of requirements likely to be needed when operating with mice and rats.
6Hz model: The 6-Hz corneal stimulation model, which was introduced in early fifties, has been recently rediscovered to test alternative approaches for drug-resistant seizures. Accordingly the ketogenic diet, which is known to be a valid treatment for refractory seizures, was found to be effective in counteracting seizures induced by the 6-Hz corneal stimulation. When compared with other models based on electrical stimulation, the 6-Hz paradigm is characterized by the induction of minimally convulsive or non-convulsive seizures with automatized behaviors, defined as “psychomotor seizures”. Ugo Basile ECT Unit performs the 6Hz model conveniently.