Abstract:

In the method of Water Tank, which is used preferably in the studies of sleep deprivation, it is possible to produce sleep deprevation in more than one experimental animal with platforms placed in a stable Water Tank. When compared with other methods, the general physiological condition of the animals at the end of experiment is not affected so negatively in this method. Our aim is to modify the method in a way to design a sleep deprivation with less stress, and to asses the suitability of our method with weight change. Experimental Group : The dimensions of the tank are 145 cmx44cmx45cm, and the height of water is at 15 cm. Fourteen platforms, 6.5 cm in diameters, are placed at 1 cm above the level of water. Environmental Control Group: 12 platforms, 13 cm in diameters, are used differently compared with the ones above. A grid is placed between the platforms. In order to assess weight change, 31 Wistar male rats aged 13-14 months are divided into three groups: Group I:A group in which a 72 hours’ sleep deprivation is designed. Group II:Control group of the environment of sleep deprivation.Group II:Home cage control group. The preand post- experimental weights are measured. The data is assessed using Kruskal-Wallis tests and Wilcoxon signed ranks tests. For a further analysis, the Dunn's method is used. The weight changes in the groups are compared with each others, and they are found significant (p<0.05).Though the decrease of weight is significant for Group I (p<0.05), it is not meaningful for Group II and III (p>0.05). While the decrease of weight in Group I shows that the sleep deprivation occurs, negligible decrease of weight in Group II indicates that the rats can sleep. These results point out the appropriateness of the model developed

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