Hot Water Tail Immersion Test for mice and rats

Description

IITC Life Science's Hot Water Tail Immersion Test apparatus is used to evaluate analgesic effects by measuring the tail-flick reflex in rodents. In this procedure, the distal portion of a mouse or rat's tail is immersed in a water bath maintained at a constant, elevated temperature. The instrument records the latency time for the animal to exhibit a characteristic flick or withdrawal of its tail from the heated water. This reflexive response serves as a behavioral endpoint for assessing thermal pain thresholds. The system generally consists of a temperature-controlled water reservoir, a holder or restraint to position the animal's tail, and an automated timing mechanism that stops upon detection of the tail movement. This test is a common preclinical model for studying pain mechanisms and screening the potency of potential pain-relief medications, offering an alternative to radiant heat tail-flick methods.