Source Paper
Age-related changes in behavior in C57BL/6J mice from young adulthood to middle age
Hirotaka Shoji, Keizo Takao, Satoko Hattori, Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
Molecular Brain • 2016
Rotarod Test
Objective: Assessment of motor coordination and balance on a rotating rod
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment1
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not specified
Materials4
Software1
Not specified • Not specified
1 item available from ConductScience
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Protocol Steps
Animal housing and maintenance
House mice in plastic cages with sterilized PaperClean Bedding under 12-hour light/dark cycle with lights on at 7:00 am. Provide ad libitum access to CRF-1 food and water.
Note: Housing density varied: 1.3% housed with 1 animal per cage, 2.3% with 2, 6.7% with 3, 80.1% with 4, 8.9% with 5, and 0.7% with 6 animals per cage at beginning of test battery
View evidence from paper
“housed in plastic cages with sterilized PaperClean Bedding (Japan SLC) under a 12-hr light/dark cycle (lights on at 7:00 am) with access to food (CRF-1, Oriental Yeast Co., Ltd.) and water ad libitum”
Behavioral test battery ordering
Perform rotarod test as part of a standardized behavioral test battery. The typical order is: general health and neurological screening, light/dark transition, open field, elevated plus maze, hot plate, social interaction, rotarod, startle response/prepulse inhibition, Porsolt forced swim, Barnes maze, contextual and cued fear conditioning, and tail suspension tests.
Note: More than 75% of mice were subjected to tests in accordance with the standard order, although some strains had tests omitted or reordered
View evidence from paper
“The mice were generally tested in the following order; general health and neurological screening, light/dark transition, open field, elevated plus maze, hot plate, social interaction, rotarod, startle response/prepulse inhibition, Porsolt forced swim, Barnes maze, contextual and cued fear conditioning, and tail suspension tests. The interval between tests was at least 1 day.”
Rotarod test execution
Conduct rotarod test to assess motor coordination and balance. Specific parameters of the rotarod test (speed, duration, acceleration) are not detailed in the provided methods section.
Note: Test performed between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Some mice may fall from the apparatus during testing.
View evidence from paper
“Behavioral testing was performed between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.”
Apparatus cleaning and disinfection
After all behavioral tests are completed, clean all apparatus with super hypochlorous water and 70% ethanol to prevent bias due to olfactory cues.
Note: This cleaning protocol applies to all apparatus used in the behavioral test battery
View evidence from paper
“After the tests, all apparatus were cleaned with super hypochlorous water and 70% ethanol to prevent a bias due to olfactory cues.”