Differences among eight inbred strains of mice in motor ability and motor learning on a rotorod

Abstract

† These authors contributed equally to this manuscriptThe rotorod is commonly used to assess motor ability in mice. We examined a number of inbred strains to determine whether there is genetic variability in rotorod performance and motor learning. Mice received three trials per day for three days in a modified accelerating rotorod paradigm, and active rotation performance was calculated for each day. Male and female 129S1/SvImJ, A/J, BALB/cByJ, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6J, CBA/J, DBA/2J and FVB/NJ mice were tested. Strain and sex differences were observed in motor performance. Motor learning also differed across strains, as some strains showed an improvement in performance over the three days while other strains did not. In certain strains the weight and body length of the mouse correlated with rotorod performance. The role of vision in motor performance on the rotorod was assessed by a comparison of C3H/HeJ mice (with retinal degeneration) and congenic C3A.BLiA-Pde6b + (Pdeb+) mice (without retinal degeneration). The sight-impaired C3H mice stayed on the rotorod longer than did their sighted Pdeb+ partners, although both strains improved across days. Thus, we have demonstrated a genetic component in rotorod performance, and we have shown that factors other than inherent motor ability can contribute to rotorod performance in mice.

The anaesthetic combination of ketamine/midazolam does not alter the acquisition of spatial and motor tasks in adult mice

“…Moreover, there were no differences between groups concerning the number of animals that fell at each different speed (Figure 3). The results were unlikely to be influenced by physical weakness or fatigue 29 (animals performed better in later trials within a session) or by body weight 30 (no correlation between body weight and performance was found). Hence, the ketamine/ midazolam combination or midazolam alone had no impact on the acquisition of a motor task.…”

Dual role of delta-like 1 homolog (DLK1) in skeletal muscle development and adult muscle regeneration

“…1D). As a higher body mass usually correlates with a shorter active rotation time (McFadyen et al, 2003), this figure might be an underestimation. No apparent difference was observed in muscle morphology between Dlk1 −/− and Dlk1 +/+ mice, and no centrally located nuclei were observed, suggesting normal maturation of the myofibers (data not shown).…”

Steroids, sex and the cerebellar cortex: implications for human disease

“…Energy use differences may also exist in animal models; male rats have higher creatinine kinase activity than females, but females display a greater variety of creatinine kinase isoenzymes (15). Behaviorally, inbred mouse strain females show greater improvement in active rotation scores than males after three days (16), but this was not replicated in healthy rats (12). Human females need approximately 50 ms longer to make unexpected 90 degree turns while walking at all ages (17).…”