Jun 01, 2026
Hindlimb Rearing/Cylinder test
- 1California Institute of Technology
Protocol Citation: Sayan Dutta 2026. Hindlimb Rearing/Cylinder test . protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.kxygx47xwl8j/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: 226808
Keywords: hindlimb rearing test, hindlimb rearing, cylinder test, motor function in rodent, potential asymmetries in limb use, insights into motor activity, motor function, motor activity, rearing frequency, limb use, behavioral assay
Abstract
The cylinder test, also called the hindlimb rearing test, is a behavioral assay that evaluates vertical exploration and motor function in rodents. It measures rearing frequency and duration, providing insights into motor activity, balance, and potential asymmetries in limb use.
Habituate animals in the behavior room for 30 minutes prior to testing to minimize stress and novelty effects.
For two consecutive days before the test, allow animals to familiarize themselves with the cylinder setup to reduce variability due to novelty.
Place each animal individually inside a transparent acrylic cylinder (xx cm diameter, xx cm height) positioned on a clean, stable surface.
Record the session using a video camera positioned to capture all rearing events clearly.
Monitor the animal for the duration of the session, observing vertical exploratory behavior.
Count rearing events manually from the video recordings, defining a rearing event as the animal lifting both forelimbs off the ground.
After each session, clean the cylinder thoroughly to remove scent cues and maintain consistency for subsequent animals.