Apr 04, 2024

Public workspaceRotarod Test V.1

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.8epv5r6qjg1b/v1
  • Roberta Marongiu1,
  • Sabina Marciano2
  • 1Weill Cornell Medical College;
  • 2Weill Cornell medicine
Jacquelyn Haytayan
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.8epv5r6qjg1b/v1
Protocol Citation: Roberta Marongiu, Sabina Marciano 2024. Rotarod Test. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.8epv5r6qjg1b/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: April 04, 2024
Last Modified: May 05, 2025
Protocol Integer ID: 97805
Keywords: ASAPCRN, behavior, mouse, rotarod test behavioral, motor impairment, mice, coordination, balance, test
Funders Acknowledgements:
Aligning Science Across Parkinson's
Grant ID: 020608
Abstract
Behavioral assay to measure motor impairments, specifically balance and coordination, in mice.
Materials
  • MedAssociates mouse rotarod equipment
  • computer with rotarod software
  • Papertowels/kimwipes
  • ethanol
  • water
  • timer
Troubleshooting
Set up rotarod equipment as needed and clean thoroughly.
Turn on rotarod using green button and log into computer. Open software directly from desktop once machine is ON and connected.
Specify settings:
a. Protocol: Increasing speed
b. Speed: 4.0- 40 RPM
c. File name [EXP NAME].txt i. Important: save file as .txt to then convert to excel once saved.
d. Subject ID: animal number
Place mouse on rotarod—can place up to five animals at a time. Make sure mice are all facing the same direction (i.e. wall, AWAY from experimenter) before starting.
Press RESET to start. IMPORTANT. IF YOU DO NOT PRESS RESET, THE SPEED SETTINGS WON’T APPLY.
Record behavior for 5 minutes or until mouse falls. If mouse falls <5s, place back on rod, reset zone using button, and continue recording. If mouse stays static (not walking/running but gripping rod) and spins more than three times, remove and mark as failed trial.
a. IMPORTANT: The sensors register when a mouse falls and stops experiment for that zone. You must remove the fallen mouse as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t intercept another zone.
Place mice back in home cage and leave to rest for one minute before starting next trial. Clean rod in the meantime (within cage, use only water and/or kimwipe. Between cages, clean rod with ethanol and water).
Perform five 5-minute (300 second) trials per cage.