梯级步行任务：一个评分系统，其实际应用。
Summary
梯级行走任务，是一个新的测试，以评估熟练的步行和配售，加强和肢体间协调措施，前肢和后肢。
Abstract
/中风，脊髓损伤和其他神经退行性疾病的动物模型的发展进步需要高灵敏度的测试，来阐述运动功能的不同方面，并确定哪怕是细微的运动能力丧失。为了提高疗效和分辨率的测试，测试应允许定性和定量的运动功能和敏感，在性能上的变化，在恢复期间。本研究介绍了一种新的任务，以评估在大鼠熟练的走在同一时间来衡量两个前肢和后肢功能。动物需要沿着水平梯梯级间距是可变的，并定期改变。梯级间距的变化，防止学习的梯级绝对和相对位置的动物，以便尽量减少动物的能力，通过学习障碍补偿。此外，改变的梯级之间的间距可以用于长期研究反复测试。前后肢性能的定量和定性的描述，包括肢体配售，加强合作协调的方法进行了介绍。此外，使用补偿性的战略失误或其他肢体的错位的补偿性步骤表示。
Protocol
梯级步行测试仪器水平梯级步行测试仪器，包括明确的有机玻璃和金属梯级（3毫米直径），这可能是插入创建一个1厘米之间的梯级的最小距离（见图1的地板的侧墙;。梅斯和Whishaw ，2003）。侧墙1米长，19厘米高的梯级的高度来衡量。阶梯高架地面30厘米以上，用中性启动笼和一个避难所（家笼）结束。由于动物习惯于在训练期间，仪器的海拔是不太可能导致焦虑。巷的宽度调?…
Discussion
本研究介绍了梯级步行作为一种新的测试，以评估熟练的行走，患肢安置和肢体协调的任务。行走任务的梯级允许之间微妙的干扰，通过定性和定量相结合的熟练步行分析的运动功能歧视。视频分析程序，可用于描述一个障碍，并抓一个梯级时，本文中所描述的简单的评量表显示，在肢体安置和数字屈曲任何错误。计数客流量错误的定性分析和交叉设备所需的时间。这些措施让脚的贴装精度和数?…
Disclosures
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Acknowledgements
这项研究得到了补助金，由英国医学研究理事会，自然科学和工程研究理事会，加拿大和加拿大中风网络。自由亚齐运动也支持由阿尔伯塔省文物基金会的医学研究。
References
- Chu, C. J., Jones, T. A. Experience-dependent structural plasticity in cortex heterotopic to focal sensorimotor cortical damage. Exp Neurol. 166, 403-414 (2000).
- Emerick, A. J., Kartje, G. L. Behavioral recovery and anatomical plasticity in adult rats after cortical lesion and treatment with monoclonal antibody IN-1. Behav Brain Res. 152, 315-325 (2004).
- Faraji, J., Metz, G. A. Sequential bilateral striatal lesions have additive effects on single skilled limb use in rats. Behav Brain Res. 177, 195-204 (2007).
- Farr, T. D., Liu, L., Colwell, K. L., Whishaw, I. Q., Metz, G. A. Bilateral alteration in stepping pattern after unilateral motor cortex injury: a new test strategy for analysis of skilled limb movements in neurological mouse models. J Neurosci Methods. 153, 104-113 (2006).
- Kleim, J. A., Barbay, S., Nudo, R. J. Functional reorganization of the rat motor cortex following motor skill learning. J Neurophysiol. 80, 3321-3325 (1998).
- Merkler, D., Metz, G. A., Raineteau, O., Dietz, V., Schwab, M. E., Fouad, K. Locomotor recovery in spinal cord-injured rats treated with an antibody neutralizing the myelin-associated neurite growth inhibitor Nogo-A. J Neurosci. 21, 3665-3673 (2001).
- McVea, D. A., Pearson, K. G. Stepping of the forelegs over obstacles establishes long-lasting memories in cats. Curr Biol. 17, R621-R623 (2007).
- Metz, G. A. S., Dietz, V., Schwab, M. E., Meent, H. v. a. n. d. e. The effects of unilateral pyramidal tract section on hindlimb motor performance in the rat. Behav Brain Res. 95, 37-46 (1998).
- Metz, G. A. S., Dietz, V., Schwab, M. E., Fouad, K. Efficient testing of motor function in spinal cord injured rats. Brain Res. 883, 165-177 (2000).
- Metz, G. A., Whishaw, I. Q. Drug-induced rotation intensity in unilateral dopamine-depleted rats is not correlated with end point or qualitative measures of forelimb or hindlimb motor performance. Neuroscience. 111, 325-336 (2002).
- Miklyaeva, E. I., Castaneda, E., Whishaw, I. Q. Skilled reaching deficits in unilateral dopamine-depleted rats: impairments in movement and posture and compensatory adjustments. J Neurosci. 14, 7148-7158 (1994).
- Muir, G. D., Whishaw, I. Q., Kolb, B. . Locomotion in The Behavior of the laboratory rat. , 150-161 (2005).
- Muir, G. D., Whishaw, I. Q. Ground reaction forces in locomoting hemi-parkinsonian rats: a definitive test for impairments and compensations. Exp Brain Res. 126, 307-314 (1999).
- Muir, G. D., Whishaw, I. Q. Red nucleus lesions impair overground locomotion in rats: a kinetic analysis. Eur J Neurosci. 12, 1113-1122 (2000).
- Riek-Burchardt, M., Henrich-Noack, P., Metz, G. A., Reymann, K. G. Detection of chronic sensorimotor impairments in the ladder rung walking task in rats with endothelin-1-induced mild focal ischemia. J Neurosci Methods. 137, 227-233 (2004).
- Ploughman, M., Attwood, Z., White, N., Doré, J. J., Corbett, D. Endurance exercise facilitates relearning of forelimb motor skill after focal ischemia. Eur J Neurosci. 25, 3453-3460 (2007).
- Thallmair, M., Metz, G. A. S., Z’Graggen, W. J., Kartje, G. L., Schwab, M. E. Functional recovery parallels enhanced plasticity of the lesioned adult CNS by antibodies to neurite growth inhibitors. Nature Neurosci. 1, 124-131 (1998).
- Meyenburg, J. v. o. n., Brosamle, C., Metz, G. A., Schwab, M. E. Regeneration and sprouting of chronically injured corticospinal tract fibers in adult rats promoted by NT-3 and the mAb IN-1, which neutralizes myelin-associated neurite growth inhibitors. Exp Neurol. 154, 583-594 (1998).
- Whishaw, I. Q., Coles, B. L., Pellis, S. M., Miklyaeva, E. I. Impairments and compensation in mouth and limb use in free feeding after unilateral dopamine depletions in a rat analog of human Parkinson’s disease. Behav Brain Res. 84, 167-177 (1997a).
- Whishaw, I. Q., Woodward, N. C., Miklyaeva, E., Pellis, S. M. Analysis of limb use by control rats and unilateral DA-depleted rats in the Montoya staircase test: movements, impairments and compensatory strategies. Behav Brain Res. 89, 167-177 (1997b).
- Whishaw, I. Q., Gorny, B., Sarna, J. Paw and limb use in skilled and spontaneous reaching after pyramidal tract, red nucleus and combined lesions in the rat: behavioral and anatomical dissociations. Behav Brain Res. 93, 167-183 (1998).
- Z’Graggen, W. J., Metz, G. A. S., Kartje, G. L., Schwab, M. E. Functional recovery and enhanced ccrtico-fugal plasticity in the adult rat after unilateral pyramidal tract section and blockade of myelin-associated neurite growth inhibitors. J Neurosci. 18, 4744-4757 (1998).
Cite This Article
Metz, G. A., Whishaw, I. Q. The Ladder Rung Walking Task: A Scoring System and its Practical Application.. J. Vis. Exp. (28), e1204, doi:10.3791/1204 (2009).