TITLE: GWAS Self-Administration
AUTHORS: Sharona Sedighim, Olivier George

[STEPS]
?. [Animal Arrival & Grouping]
When animals arrive at the lab, they will be left in a 2-week quarantine. During the end of this we will scan and mark the animals (prior to any testing or surgery).
?. [Animal Arrival & Grouping]
Animals separated into four groups, predetermined on the shipping sheet provided
?. [Animal Arrival & Grouping]
Groups:Oxy GWAS - 60 rats (30 female, 30 male)Cocaine GWAS - 60 rats (30 females, 30 males)Oxy Naives - About 16 rats (8 females, 8 males)Cocaine Naives - About 16 rats (8 females, 8 males)If one of the GWAS rats dies, replace it with a naive.
?. [Animal Arrival & Grouping]
Grab a rat from the cage, scan it, retrieving its RFID. Read RFID to the person with the shipping sheet, and determine which group the rat is in.
?. [Animal Arrival & Grouping]
Confirm ear tag and coat color of rat.
?. [Animal Arrival & Grouping]
Assign number to rat, preferably by coat color. Albino Brown HoodBlack HoodBrownBlack If both rats in the cage have the same coat color, then no order is needed. This method lets us remember the order of the rat in case the number fades out and makes it easier for individuals testing the rats.
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
ABC1SessionCocaine GWAS ProgramOxycodone GWAS Program2Short AccessGWAS 2HNEWGWAS 2HNEW3Long AccessGWAS 6HOXYGWAS 12H4Progressive RatioGWAS PRGWAS PR OPIATES5Preshock and ShockSHOCK GWASn/a
ABC1SessionCocaine GWAS ProgramOxycodone GWAS Program2Short AccessGWAS 2HNEWGWAS 2HNEW3Long AccessGWAS 6HOXYGWAS 12H4Progressive RatioGWAS PRGWAS PR OPIATES5Preshock and ShockSHOCK GWASn/a
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
This page will then show up. Here, you can open, close, and start sessions. When running a self-administration session, it’ll show the session you are running, the data (reward, active, inactive, and PR), etc.
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
"Open Experimental Session" window:Choose which program you want to run (orange)Click on “Custom filename” (red)In the text box under that (pink), write the name of the session you are running (ie: C08HSOXYLGA01)Go to the subject line (blue), write the rat that belongs in the box that is clicked (green) (ie: F801)Press “ok” (dark purple) to move on to the next box. Then go back to the subject line and write the next rat number (ie: F802)Once you are done loading all the boxes, press “close” (light purple)
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
?. [Computer Program: MedAssociates]
Open "Send Signals to Boxes" window under "Configure" tabIf you want to start all boxes, click on the “select all” (blue) button. All boxes should be checked (red). Click on “Issue” (green) to start all boxes. If you want to start only a select few boxes, select only the boxes you want to start (red), then press “issue” (green) to start them. You can go back and click on the boxes you want to start at another time point later.
?. [Animal Arrival & Grouping]
Write animal number, coat color, and ear punch on the ACP cage card.
?. [Putting Animals in Chambers]
Pick up rat from cage and place rat in chamber box.
?. [Putting Animals in Chambers]
View next section on how to set up MedAssociates program for starting the session.
?. [Putting Animals in Chambers]
Scan the rat, then chamber box to make sure the rat will run in the correct box. Look for a green check mark next to the rat ID on scanning sheet on the computer. If you see a red 'X' then the rat is in the wrong box or room.
?. [Putting Animals in Chambers]
Take the metal cap and hoodsie off of the rat's catheter, then flush it with 0.1 ml heparenized saline-cefazolin.
?. [Putting Animals in Chambers]
Connect the line to the catheter port and screw the metal cap on tight to prevent disconnections during the session.
?. [Taking Animals Out After Session]
After session is complete disconnect the animal from the line. Note any issues (disconnections, tangles, etc.)
?. [Taking Animals Out After Session]
Place the hoodsie and metal cap back on, then return animal to home cage.
?. [Taking Animals Out After Session]
Collect session data.
?. [Taking Animals Out After Session]
Clean chambers with quatricide and replace bedding in trays.