Use of Rotorod as a Method for the Qualitative Analysis of Walking in Rat

A control animal carries its weight evenly on its four paws with paw placement occurring just outside the midline of the body. In contrast, the six OHDA lesion animal carries the majority of its weight on the paw ipse lateral to the lesion. In effect, walking with a limp.

The control animal's head is carried high and engages in frequent erratic movement. While the six OHDA animal carries its head low and Steady, the Control animal's weightbearing paw releases from the rotor rod quickly and is carried high. So the digits are well clear of the drum surface, its digits spread wide, and contact the rotor rod in an arpeggio movement from digit five through one.

The six OHDA animal rides the paw contralateral to the lesion longer before release and advances it more slowly. Note it carries the paw low with the digits often dragging on the drum surface, which compromises the Placement. The control Has a longer stride than the six OHDA animal with four paw placement occurring further forward on the drum and hind paw release occurring further back.

Note that the lesion animal's posture is rigid with the head carried low and steady. The control's hind paw typically overlaps the four paw during a Complete stride from the side View. The controls paw is raised clear from the roto rod and the digits contact the drum surface and an arpeggio movement from digit five through one.

The six oh HDA animals paw often drags along the drum surface and the digits often do not open for placement, causing them to fold Under the paw. As the control animal's, hind limb pushes off the rotor rod, surface the paw rotates to the outside. There is a corresponding rise in the backside of the rat as the leg extends, as is little to no rise during the same phase of the six OHDA Animal step, the control Animal places its hind paws with the toes just outside the midline axis of the body.

As the paw reaches the end of the stride, the paw pivots outward as the animal pushes off the drum surface. Note that the six OHDA animals paws are placed parallel with the midline axis of the body, and do not pivot at the end of the Stride.