IMPC Phenotyping protocol Template
1:Title:
Combined SHIRPA and dysmorphology
2: Purpose:
To examine mice for obvious physical characteristics, behaviours and morphological abnormalities.
Description: abnormal locomotion/appearance/behaviour/reflex reactions
3: Protocol Metadata
Metadata
Location of test
Number of animals
Number of days since cage changed
Operator
Levels required
Open bench, LAF cabinet
Integer
Integer
Reference number
Required?
yes
yes
No
yes
4: Experimental Design
Minimum number: 7 of each sex
Age at test: 8 weeks
Sex: Both (sexually dymorphic)
5: Procedure
1. Allow the mice to acclimatise to the phenotyping room for a period of 30 minutes prior to
testing.
2. Throughout the test note any vocalisation or aggression.
3. Place the mouse in a clear cylinder over a wire grid and observe for parameters in set A.
4. Drop the mouse out of the cylinder by removing the wire gird whilst positioning 30 cm over
a SHIRPA arena and record the transfer arousal (parameter set B).
5. Record the number of 10cm squares the mouse moves into in the first 30 seconds in the
arena (parameter set B).
6. Allow the mouse to move freely around the arena whilst being observed for gait and tail
elevation (parameters in set B).
7. Approach the mouse with a hand and record response (parameter set B).
8. Hold the clickbox above the arena and press the button, record the response of the mouse
(parameter set B).
9. Pick up the mouse by the base of its tail and observe for parameters in set C.
10. The mouse is placed in a small perspex tube, turned upside down and observed for righting
reflex (parameter set D).
11. Place the mouse facing downwards on a metal grid which is held at a 90 degree angle.
Record the ability of the mouse to climb down the grid without losing its footing (parameter
set D).
12. Scruff the mouse and
 Feel the abdomen and assess for body tone (parameter set E)
 Push the hind paws with two fingers to assess muscle tone in the limbs.
 Pinch the middle digit of the hind paw gently and record if the limb is withdrawn
 Observe for the remaining parameters in set E.
13. Record any vocalisation and/or aggression which were observed throughout the entire test
(parameter set F).
6: Data Collection
IMPC Parameters (+ontology annotations)
Parameter set A – in viewing jar
Activity
Active, inactive or excessively active
Tremor
Present or absent
Palpebral closure
Presence or absence of eyelid closure
Body length
Short, normal, long
Mouse thickness
Thin, normal, fat
Fat distribution
Normal, abnormal
Coat hair on back and head
Colour, pattern, presence, placement, distribution, texture,
structure
Ear
Position, presence, shape, size, rotation
Eye
Opacity, presence, size, wetness, colour
Eyelid
Presence, closure
Parameter set B – in arena
Transfer arousal
Extended freeze (>5s), short freeze (<5s), immediate
movement
Locomotor activity
Number of squares in 30s
Gait
Fluidity of movement, co-ordination
Tail elevation
Dragging, horizontally extended, elevated
Startle response (click box)
No response, pinna reflex, exaggerated response
Touch escape
No response, response to touch, flees prior to touch,
Parameter set C – held by tail
Trunk curl
Present, absent
Limb grasping
Present, absent
Parameter set D
Contact righting reflex
Present, absent
Geotaxis
Normal, problems maintaining grip, unable to grip
Parameter set E – scruffed
Body tone
Flaccid no return to normality, normal resistance, increased
resistance- hard body tone
Limb tone
No or low resistance, normal, increased resistance
Toe pinch
Withdrawal, no response, exaggerated response
Coat hair on abdomen
Colour, pattern, presence, placement, distribution, texture,
structure
Limbs
Size, angle, flexibility, length, thickness, shape, structure
Paws
Shape, size, length, structure, foot pad structure
Digits
Thickness, presence, structure, length
Nail
Presence, length, thickness, curvature, brightness
Skin (general, nose, ear, hand, foot, tail)
Pattern, texture, wetness, brightness, colour shape
Head
Length, width, curvature, symmetry
Snout length
Long, short
Vibrasse
Presence, length, curvature, orientation
Mouth shape
abnormal
Lip shape
Cleft, abnormal,
Salivation
None, saliva present around margin of mouth, wet area
around entire mouth
Teeth
Presence, absence, abnormal, deformed, colour, size
misaligned
Vagina
Size, structure, presence
Testis
Size, structure, presence
Tail
Presence, length, thickness, shape, curvature
Parameter set F- throughout the test
Vocalisation
Presence, absence
Aggression
Presence, absence
Data QC
QC by user (% of each score for each parameter for baseline)
Data Analysis, annotation and display (+statistics)
A description of the analysis.
7: Additional Information