Calibration of rotational acceleration for the rotarod test of rodent motor coordination

Martin Bohlen, Andy Cameron, Pamela Metten, John C. Crabbe, Douglas Wahlsten

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

The latency of mice and rats to fall from the accelerating rotarod can differ markedly between laboratories using the same brand of rod as well as between studies using different kinds of rods. These discrepancies can arise from different rod diameters, surface textures, test protocols, or laboratory environmental factors beyond the test itself, but it is also possible that the actual acceleration rates of the different rods do not correspond to the nominal rates set on the devices. This paper describes a simple method to measure acceleration rate of the rotarod and to set the rate to a desired value for any brand of rod.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)10-14
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Neuroscience Methods
Volume178
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 30 2009

Keywords

  • Behavioral test
  • Motor coordination
  • Mouse
  • Rat
  • Rotarod
  • Task parameters
  • Test standardization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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