2007A0182 - Photoperiodic Effects on Avoidance Behaviour - 4E

 

Another Randy Nelson "E" protocol which was approved to use 32 male meadow voles and 10 female meadow voles.

Nelson states in the protocol, "The goal of this experiment is to determine the influence of day length, or photoperiod, on avoidance behaviors in meadow voles."

"The specific aim of this study is to determine whether meadow voles housed in short day lengths (winter conditions) reduce the amount of time they spend in proximity to another infected individual of the same species. ...Specifically, we will address the question: do male voles avoid infected males more than infected females, or visa versa? And if so, does this relationship vary depending on day length."

Now if this was purely a vole study I'd say nominate this for an Ig Nobel Prize,. (sidenote: winners this year included scientists who discovered that Viagra helps hamsters overcome jet lag) but that is not the case. Nelson claims that, "This study is relevant to human health in that humans are also at greater risk for pathogen transmission during winter months and this is a result of being in close proximity to others." Can we get a Duh please.

Ten voles are given an injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and used in behavioral testing. In this case the test is to roam freely in a cage for about 7 minutes and see if the voles might say hi to each other.

In this protocol the animals are lucky because, "at the end of behavioral testing, voles will be transferred to another protocol and paired for breeding."