Motor Coordination and Balance in Rodents:

Gait test

The gait test is a useful apparatus to measure motor lesions (Motor Coordination and Balance in Rodents) and other related dysfunction related to gait

Uses:

1. 1 .The Gait test is used in the assessment of stride length and evaluation of gait in rodent models of diseases.
2. 2 .Analysis of motor impairments, and in evaluating the effects of pharmacological compounds.
3. 3 .The test involves observing the footprints of the subject on the runway to assess the stride length. The test is a simple and reliable task that can be used in indexing basal ganglia dysfunction.

1. Dimensions and Features:
2. Total size: 60cm x 60cm x 40cm (l x w x h)
3. Runway: 40cm x 4.5cm x 9.5cm (l x w x h)
4. Housing: 14.5 cm x 20cm x 6.5cm (l x w x h)
5. Housing entrance: 4.5cm opening
6. Paper lining on the runway: 4.5cm x 40 cm (w x l)

1. Parameter to study:

Measurement of Stride length. The stride length is measured as the distance between two hind paws’ or between two fore paws’ prints. 

1. Procedure :
2. Paws of the subject are wetted with a non-toxic ink (usually blue-black ink), and the subject is placed at the start of the runway facing the box.
3. The experiment ends when the subject has entered the box.
4. During the experiment, if the subject stops or changes direction, no data is recorded.

1. Importance:

1. Gait test is used in the assessment of stride length and evaluation of gait.
2. The test involves observing the footprints of the subject on the runway to assess the stride length.
3. The test is a simple and reliable task that can be used in indexing basal ganglia dysfunction.