Cannabinoids animal models and Metris products

Pharmaceutical companies are doing research on different Cannabinoid effects and different
types of drugs such as Marijuana, Cocaine, Dopamine, Amphetamine, Apomorfine.
There are many animal models and expertise available for cannabinoid research, including the
relation between genetics and cannabinoids.
How the Marijuana Receptors change the Integral Bio-Chemistry. Some of the Molecules that
are involved or been studied in a Model Organism. There is a worm that people study allots.
They have very simple Nervous Systems so you can define what exactly is going on. It turns out
this one Particular Molecule regulates what is known as a Transcription Factor (It turns on the
Expression of Genes.) It turns out that when you turn on the Expression of this Particular Gene
of the Worm Model it actually promotes Mimicking a condition that actually Promotes Longevity
of these worms. This Parallels what we've seen in mice model.
Molecular mechanisms of pain & cannabinoid action what we have now learned is that there is a
lot of crosstalk between the cannabinoid system & the morphine, the opioid system.

We would like to assist you to find and use the best possible measurement tools that work the
best for your specific experiments and research.

Cannabinoids can control everything in animal bodies including the animal brains.
Cannabinoids do kill brain cells and can therefore have sensor-motor effects, which we can see
in the form of behavioural changes.

Because of the wide range of Cannabinoids effects, it is very important to look at may
parameters at the same time in this type of research such as behavioural parameters (normal
and stereotypical), physiological parameters (temperature, cardiovascular, ECG, EEG), sleep
stages (abnormal or normal sleep), sound expressions (ultrasounds vocalisations).
This will help you to realize the statistical significance you need in your research and especially
in relation to long term factors and genetics that are associated with Cannabinoids.

Below, I will advice you general what kind of possibilities you have with Metris products and
when you can send me more information I can do it in detail.

For behavioural studies you can use the LABORAS system

Specifically for cannabinoids and addiction studies the most characteristic somatic behaviours in
rodents are wet dog shakes, head shakes, facial rubbing, front paw tremor, ataxia, hunched
posture, body tremor, ptosis, piloerection, hypo locomotion, circling, mastication, licking, rubbing,
and scratching.

The Laboras system already can recognise the following!!

Behavioural parameters
- Locomotion (hypo locomotion test, activity)
- Immobility (activity-passivity)
- Wet Dog Shakes (depression, stress)
- Head Shakes (depression, stress)
- Head Twitches (depression, stress)
- Hind Limb Licking (Formalin test, pain research)
- Scratching (allergy, CNS)
- Eating (metabolism, immunology, activity)
- Drinking (metabolism, immunology, activity)
- Sociality cage (social interaction study)
- Circling (clockwise and counter clockwise circle count, average circle size, average
circling speed, average time per circle) *

* Brain disorders are often related to mono-directional, by-directional hyper activities

Tracking parameters
- Position
- Position distribution (place preference test) *
- travelled distance
- Maximum velocity
- Average velocity

* Mice lacking the CB1 receptors don't like any changes. If they are moved to another part of the cage they act upset
and when they are put back to the original spot in the cage they relax, but if then put into another part of the cage
they get upset again

Custom made parameters or behaviours

If you need specific parameters, we can add extra parameters to the Laboras result summary
(Average Energy, Maximum Energy, Energy Variance, etc.)
We can also develop new algorithms which can detect new specific type of behaviours.

For us is very important:

- to have the right definition of the animal model that will be used
- to have the right definition of the specific behaviour
- to know that meaning and accuracy of the statistical end points that are required in your
studies

For ultrasounds vocalisation study you can use SONOTRACK system

For your experiment the following specific study possibilities can be done by recording,
analyzing and playing back ultrasonic vocalizations:
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Social Interaction
- Depression

For Sleep Study you can use SLEEPSIGN System

If you already have a DSI (DataSciences International) Telemetry system in you laboratory
(system that provides you with EEG and EMG signals) you can combine it with the SleepSign
system for Sleep stage analysis.
More information can be found on our website www.metris.nl. To get a better impression of the
LABORAS performance and possibilities you can watch the following videos:
http://www.metris.nl/media/videos/laboras/head_twitch_short.avi
http://www.metris.nl/media/videos/laboras/DOI_Pilot_15.wmv
http://www.metris.nl/media/videos/laboras/circling_kort.wmv

Metris B.V.
Technical Manager
Dr. Levon Bachdasarian
Mob: +31652653690
Office: +31235623400
Fax: +31235623425
Mail: levon@metris.nl