The CatWalk method: A detailed analysis of behavioral changes after acute inflammatory pain in the rat

Gabriel, Anne F.; Marcus, Marco A. E.; Honig, Wiel; Walenkamp, G. H. I. M.; Joosten, Elbert A.J.

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2007.02.003

Cited by 115 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is based on the possibilities of genetic targeting and the wide availability of distinct antibodies. By consequence, gait analysis studies have been introduced in rats to describe normal locomotion (Clarke and Parker, 1986), pain adaptations (Gabriel et al, 2007) and functional deficits after nerve injury (Wang et al, 2008). In mice, only few studies have examined the gait, analyzing characteristics in healthy animals Still, 1999, 2001) as well as functional deficits in arthritic mice (Williams et al, 1993) and SOD1-transgenic mice (Wooley et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vivo gait analysis in a mouse femur fracture model

Histing

Kristen

Roth

et al. 2010

Journal of Biomechanics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vivo gait analysis in a mouse femur fracture model

Histing

Kristen

Roth

et al. 2010

Journal of Biomechanics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Using the CatWalk-automated gait analysis method, we found that focal ischemia led to a persistent reduction in paw pressure and maximal area of paw contact. These gait impairments are likely because of an altered use of the plantar surface of the paw, a pattern commonly observed in other models of central nervous system injury including sciatic nerve resection, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, and pain (Gabriel et al, 2007;Gensel et al, 2006;Vlamings et al, 2007;Vogelaar et al, 2004). The absolute values and impairment in foot print intensity and paw contact area were always greater in the forepaws than hindpaws of ischemic rats, possibly because the forepaws play a more important role in supporting the body weight during walking.…”

Section: Comparing Gait Impairments After Ischemic Stroke With Other mentioning

confidence: 91%

A Comprehensive Analysis of Gait Impairment after Experimental Stroke and the Therapeutic Effect of Environmental Enrichment in Rats

Wang

Bontempi

Hong

et al. 2008

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although gait changes are considered as reliable indices of stroke severity and efficacy of rehabilitative therapies in humans, data from animal models of focal ischemia are lacking. To determine the effect of stroke on gait function in adult rats with distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), we assessed the longitudinal changes in gait using an automated computerassisted gait analysis system. Four days after MCAO, intensity, maximal area of contact, and paw angle were significantly decreased in the affected forepaw whereas the double support time using ipsilateral paws increased. Relative print positions between the fore and hindpaws and limb coupling were also altered, suggesting that stroke affected sensorimotor status and reduced limb coordination. Except for paw angle, these impairments persisted for at least 5 weeks. However, unlike human stroke patients, stride length and stance were not affected in rats with MCAO. Environmental enrichment for 4 weeks improved paw contact area and relative print position of the affected limb and reduced double support time in ischemic rats compared with controls. Our results indicate that gait analysis provides great insight into various aspects of motor function changes in ischemic quadrupeds, and that environmental enrichment is beneficial in reducing a variety of poststroke gait impairments possibly through enhanced structural plasticity mechanisms within injured cortical neuronal networks underlying locomotor function.

show abstract

“…Pawprint designations were assigned and data were analyzed using the CatWalk analysis software (version 7.1.6). The parameters analyzed have been previously described in detail (Gabriel et al, 2007;Hamers et al, 2006), and included the following: (1) maximum area: the area of the ipsilateral forepaw at maximal contact; (2) duty factor: the percentage of the stepcycle spent in stance; and (3) regularity index: a measure of interlimb coordination. Three trials per day were analyzed and averaged to obtain a daily value.…”

Section: Behavioral Assessmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of a Graded Cervical Hemicontusion Spinal Cord Injury Model in Adult Male Rats

Dunham

Siriphorn

Chompoopong

et al. 2010

Journal of Neurotrauma

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Most experimental models of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rodents induce damage in the thoracic cord and subsequently examine hindlimb function as an indicator of recovery. In these models, functional recovery is most attributable to white-matter preservation and is less influenced by grey-matter sparing. In contrast, most clinical cases of SCI occur at the lower cervical levels, a region in which both grey-matter and white-matter sparing contribute to functional motor recovery. Thus experimental cervical SCI models are beginning to be developed and used to assess protective and pharmacological interventions following SCI. The objective of this study was to characterize a model of graded cervical hemicontusion SCI with regard to several histological and behavioral outcome measures, including novel forelimb behavioral tasks. Using a commercially available rodent spinal cord impactor, adult male rats received hemicontusion SCI at vertebral level C5 at 100, 200, or 300 kdyn force, to produce mild, moderate, or severe injury severities. Tests of skilled and unskilled forelimb and locomotor function were employed to assess functional recovery, and spinal cord tissue was collected to assess lesion severity. Deficits in skilled and unskilled forelimb function and locomotion relating to injury severity were observed, as well as decreases in neuronal numbers, white-matter area, and white-matter gliosis. Significant correlations were observed between behavioral and histological data. Taken together, these data suggest that the forelimb functional and locomotor assessments employed here are sensitive enough to measure functional changes, and that this hemicontusion model can be used to evaluate potential protective and regenerative therapeutic strategies.

show abstract

The CatWalk method: A detailed analysis of behavioral changes after acute inflammatory pain in the rat

Cited by 115 publications

References 21 publications

In vivo gait analysis in a mouse femur fracture model

In vivo gait analysis in a mouse femur fracture model

A Comprehensive Analysis of Gait Impairment after Experimental Stroke and the Therapeutic Effect of Environmental Enrichment in Rats

Characterization of a Graded Cervical Hemicontusion Spinal Cord Injury Model in Adult Male Rats

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About