Decapitated Rat whose body moves

[MikeSmith]

Hey guys,

I kind of feel sad not knowing exactly why this happens but im doing a rotation in a pharmacology lab in my PhD program and I have never worked with rats as an animal model. The lab is mainly based on neuroscience and the brain needs to taken from the rat rather quickly after death, they use a guillotine and for the first time i saw a rats head get chopped off. What i didnt expect was for the body to jerk around and flail about for about 1 minute after being headless.

Im assuming it has something to do with final action potentials stimulating muscle contraction in the presence of calcium and ATP but id love to hear other thoughts.

[Rduke55]

It's like a chicken with it's head cut off. It's just reflexes, etc. Part of it is due to the release of inhibition from the brain and also neurons are excited because they need energy to pump out sodium after an a.p., when that energy is gone, they can't do it so they're constantly depolarized.
The rat is dead when this is happening.

Also, be careful posting stuff like this on the net. Some people really are opposed to animal research and you're being pretty graphic.

[soko]

Obviously the soul trying to escape

[soon2bepro]

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Also, be careful posting stuff like this on the net. Some people really are opposed to animal research and you're being pretty graphic.

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Indeed, you should watch out about things like these. If nothing else it's pretty disgusting stuff. (I don't have a problem with this though)

The main problem is that this forum is both about science and philosophy [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Maybe you should try avoiding the description of why this has to be done, and simply ask the question.

[billygrippo]

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Also, be careful posting stuff like this on the net. Some people really are opposed to animal research and you're being pretty graphic.

[/ QUOTE ]

relax, they ate the rats afterwards.

[HendonRob]

Can't help with the rat I'm afraid but it was very wierd seeing a photo I took pop up as your avatar!

[soon2bepro]

haha, that's a nice one piz

[istewart]

[ QUOTE ]
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Also, be careful posting stuff like this on the net. Some people really are opposed to animal research and you're being pretty graphic.

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relax, they ate the rats afterwards.

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Wasn't a Chinese lab AFAIK.

[malorum]

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Obviously the soul trying to escape

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This is Heresy Rats dont have a soul.

My best guess is it was a demon contorting the dying body.

[MikeSmith]

my mistake, i hope i didnt offend anyone and in fact i am on the fence on how i feel about this, thanks for your input guys...sorry to anyone again.