Jun 01, 2026
Amphetamine-induced rotation
- 1California Institute of Technology
Protocol Citation: Sayan Dutta 2026. Amphetamine-induced rotation. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.81wgbwn8ngpk/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: September 09, 2025
Last Modified: June 01, 2026
Protocol Integer ID: 226809
Keywords: rotation the amphetamine, pharmacological stimulation with amphetamine, reflecting unilateral dopaminergic deficit, amphetamine, induced rotation test, unilateral dopaminergic deficit, rotation test, body rotation, induced rotation, asymmetrical motor function, following pharmacological stimulation, motor function
Abstract
The amphetamine-induced rotation test evaluates asymmetrical motor function, often reflecting unilateral dopaminergic deficits. It measures the number and direction of full-body rotations following pharmacological stimulation with amphetamine.
Materials
D-Amphetamine hemisulfate salt (Sigma-Aldrich#A5880-1G)
Safety warnings
Amphetamine is a controlled substance and should be handled following proper regulatory guidelines.
Ethics statement
Before beginning the procedure, ensure that all experimental steps have been reviewed and approved under the appropriate institutional protocols, and that all personnel involved are properly trained and compliant with institutional regulations.
Prepare a sterile solution of amphetamine at a dose of 1 mg/kg, ensuring it is fully dissolved in sterile saline and ready for intraperitoneal (IP) administration.
Administer the amphetamine to each animal via intraperitoneal injection, taking care to use proper sterile technique and handling to minimize stress.
After injection, transfer the animals to the behavior room and allow them to habituate for approximately 30 minutes, giving sufficient time for drug distribution and to reduce any stress-related behaviors that might confound results.
Following the habituation period, gently place each animal individually into an open field arena, ensuring that it has enough space to move freely and that its movements can be clearly captured by the recording setup.
Record the animal’s behavior continuously using an overhead video camera positioned to capture the entire arena, making sure that all full-body movements are visible for later analysis.
After recording, carefully review the video and manually count the number of rotational events over a 10-minute observation period, defining each rotation as a complete 360° turn of the animal’s body in either direction.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect the arena between each animal’s session to remove any scent marks or olfactory cues, ensuring a consistent environment for subsequent tests.