Biomedical Chemistry: Research and Methods, 2018, 1(3), e00030
The 40th Anniversary of the Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Evolution of methods for assessing the motor function of laboratory rodents - neurodegenerative diseases models

M.M. Chicheva*, E.V. Vikhareva, A.V. Maltsev, A.A. Ustyugov

Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1 Severny proezd, Moscow region, Chernogolovka, 142432 Russia;*e-mail: chicheva.mariya@gmail.com

Key words: neurodegeneration; gait; animal models; motor function

DOI: 10.18097/BMCRM00030

The whole version of this paper is available in Russian.

This review contains information about different laboratorian rodent’s gait analysis systems. These methods are useful for the assessment of motor function in neurodegenerative models. The following aspects have been considered: ink traces technique, treadmills equipment, and modern gait analysis systems like TreadScan and CatWalk, which allows estimating a set of animals gait parameters. For each technique a detailed description and examples of its use for estimating gait parameters in neurodegenerative diseases are given.

Figure 1. Catwalk installation scheme, side view: 1 - red light lamp to enhance the contrast of areas where the paws touch the surface; 2 - glass plate illuminated from the inside by a fluorescent lamp; 3 - video camera; 4 - corridor along which the animal moves.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The study was support by RFBR (No. 16-04-01089); transgenic animals used in the study were provided by Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences «Transgen» collection, developed within project No. 0090-2017-0016; the study was conducted using equipment of Center for collective use of IPAC RAS in the framework of the State Scientific Assignment to IPAC RAS (No. 0090-2017-0019) and the program of the Russian Academy of Sciences the Theme №48.8. Search and research of mechanisms of action of neuroprotectors and stimulators of cognitive functions.

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