Oct 24, 2025

Rotarod Test V.3

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.8epv5r6qjg1b/v3
  • Sabina Marciano1,2,
  • Roberta Marongiu1,2
  • 1Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065;
  • 2Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
Jacquelyn Haytayan
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.8epv5r6qjg1b/v3
Protocol Citation: Sabina Marciano, Roberta Marongiu 2025. Rotarod Test. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.8epv5r6qjg1b/v3Version created by Jacquelyn Haytayan
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: October 24, 2025
Last Modified: October 24, 2025
Protocol  Integer ID: 230700
Keywords: ASAPCRN, behavior, mouse, rotarod test behavioral, motor impairment, mice, coordination, balance
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
Acclimate mice to room for at least 1 hour.
Set up rotarod equipment as needed and clean thoroughly (Med Associates 5 Station Rotarod Mouse (ENV-571 o4 ENV-574).
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).
Wait 2-3 minutes before starting the next trial.
Perform five 5-minute (300 second) trials per cage.