3.3. Open field test
Overall locomotion (total distance travelled) in the open field test
was reduced after injection of atenolol, either alone or in combination
with ipratropium. However the speed of locomotion was not changed
when mice received atenolol, ipratropium or both these blockers.
After injection of diazepam mice were moving in the arena approximately
50% faster than in control experiments (Table 1).
Individual movement bouts that were matched to haemodynamic
data fell in the range 0–8 m/min after all treatments, which is why
this range of speeds was chosen for further analysis.
MAP of saline-treated mice in the absence of movement was 28–
30 mm Hg higher than in the home cage. MAP values did not change
with increase in the speed of movement in either saline or blockertreated
mice (Fig. 4A).