Protocol abstract
Nature Protocols 2, - 277 - 281 (2007)
Published online: 22 February 2007 | doi:10.1038/nprot.2007.19
Subject Categories: Neuroscience | Model organisms | Pharmacology and toxicology
The parallel rod floor test: a measure of ataxia in mice
Helen M Kamens1 & John C Crabbe1
Abstract
The parallel rod floor test is a new model of ataxia in mice. It allows the simultaneous measurement of ataxia and locomotor activity. This protocol is designed for researchers examining ethanol-induced motor incoordination in mice, but it should be applicable to other sedative/hypnotic drugs and to testing cerebellar mutant mice or mice with engineered genetic defects. This protocol takes 3 d, with the time per day depending on how many animals are tested. The test allows researchers to quantify differences in motor coordination among genotypes of mice that may differ in locomotor activity. Unlike many other methods for assessing incoordination, the parallel rod floor test yields similar patterns of genetic sensitivity across a range of variant forms of the apparatus.
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Portland Alcohol Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University and VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA.
Correspondence to: Helen M Kamens1 e-mail: kamensh@ohsu.edu
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