Sep 19, 2024

Public workspaceRodent Gait Analysis Using Linear Track Protocol

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.n2bvjnwjbgk5/v1
  • Rose B. Creed1,
  • Alexandra Nelson2
  • 1University of California, San Francisco;
  • 2UCSF
Rose B. Creed
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.n2bvjnwjbgk5/v1
Protocol Citation: Rose B. Creed, Alexandra Nelson 2024. Rodent Gait Analysis Using Linear Track Protocol. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.n2bvjnwjbgk5/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 19, 2024
Last Modified: September 20, 2024
Protocol Integer ID: 108063
Keywords: ASAPCRN, rodent gait analysis, quantitative aspects of mouse locomotor behavior, mouse locomotor behavior, using linear track protocol, linear track protocol this protocol, gait, protocol
Disclaimer
ETHICS DISCLAIMER

The protocols.io team notes that research involving animals and humans must be conducted according to internationally-accepted standards and should always have prior approval from an Institutional Ethics Committee or Board.
Abstract
This protocol is used to evaluate quantitative aspects of mouse locomotor behavior (gait).



Materials
Supplies:

  • Home-made catwalk apparatus consisting of clear acrylic walking corridor (33 inches long x 3.25 inches wide) on an acrylic stand (8.25 inches high - which are glued to the side of the base).
  • Home-made black acrylic “home” box (8 inches width/ 8 inches length/ 8 inches height).
  • Bedding and enrichment (placed in black “home” box to entice mouse to walk).
  • Mirror (26.5 inches long x 8.5 inches wide) placed underneath the catwalk.
  • High-speed camera (60 fps or higher) pointed at mirror.
Setup:

  • Clean apparatus with 70% ethanol between animals.
  • Replace bedding/enrichment in the black “home” box.
Troubleshooting
Procedure
There is no need to habituate mice to the apparatus; mice will walk across voluntarily to enter the black box.
Start video recording.
Place mouse on open end of the catwalk; observe to make sure mouse walks towards the black “home” box.
When mouse reaches “home” box, stop video recording.
Remove mouse from “home” box and re-place on the open end.
Repeat this process 4-5 times (or until mouse stops traversing catwalk). A greater number of trials yields a higher number of strides for subsequent analysis.
After final trial, return mouse to home cage.
Data can be analyzed by following the steps described in: https://github.com/UCSF-Nelson-Lab/Catwalk-Analysi