Introduction<\/b><\/p>\n
Rotarod performance is measured using a computerized rotarod system (San Diego Instruments, San Diego, CA) to test the ability of mice to maintain balance on a rotating rod. \u00a0The entire rotarod apparatus is kept and run in a laminar flow hood. \u00a0Up to four mice are placed on the rod within their individual lanes in the rotarod enclosure. \u00a0The four animal compartments are separated to prevent the mice from having visual or physical interactions. \u00a0The rod is positioned one and a half feet above the floor of the lower compartment as an incentive to remain on the rod. \u00a0The lower compartment of the rotarod apparatus is enclosed to prevent the animals from escaping after completing the task. \u00a0Seven photobeams are embedded in each of the four lanes of the rotarod enclosure, consisting of detectors and emitters. \u00a0The body of the mouse on the rotarod breaks several of the seven photobeams; the exact number depending on the orientation of the mouse. \u00a0Software tracks the photobeam breaks during the animal\u2019s participation in the task. \u00a0Once the mouse falls from the rotarod, no beam is broken and the animal\u2019s final run time is recorded. \u00a0When the photobeams in all four lanes are unbroken, the rod stops rotating and the final time for each of the animals is reported and saved to a Microsoft Excel file. \u00a0A typical experiment takes four days to complete: one orientation day followed by three test days consisting of three runs per day. \u00a0The assay is therefore an assessment of performance learning in addition to an evaluation of motor function.<\/span><\/p>\n Variables<\/b><\/p>\n Prices and Guarantees<\/b><\/p>\n\n
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