Source Paper
Forelimb akinesia in the rat Parkinson model: differential effects of dopamine agonists and nigral transplants as assessed by a new stepping test
M Olsson, G Nikkhah, C Bentlage, A Bjorklund
Journal of Neuroscience • 1995
Staircase Test
Objective: Assess skilled forelimb use and complex motor control in rats with dopamine lesions using the staircase test
This is a Staircase Test protocol using rat as the model organism. The procedure involves 7 procedural steps, 1 equipment items, 7 materials. Extracted from a 1995 paper published in Journal of Neuroscience.
Model and subjects
rat • Not specified • unknown • Not specified • Not specified
Study window
Estimated timing pending
Core workflow
Create unilateral dopamine lesion • Perform staircase test baseline • Administer dopamine agonist drugs
Primary readouts
- Skilled forelimb use performance on staircase test
- Complex motor control ability
- Effects of dopamine agonists on staircase test performance
- Effects of fetal nigral transplants on staircase test performance
Key equipment and reagents
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Protocol Steps
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Create unilateral dopamine lesion
Induce unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the mesencephalic dopamine system in rats
Note: This creates the Parkinson model with forelimb akinesia
View evidence from paper
“evaluate the usefulness of a new stepping test to monitor forelimb akinesia in rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the mesencephalic dopamine (DA) system”
Perform staircase test baseline
Assess skilled forelimb use and complex motor control in lesioned rats using the staircase test apparatus
Note: Establish baseline performance before drug or transplant interventions
View evidence from paper
“Identical experiments were performed on skilled forelimb use in the so-called staircase test”
Administer dopamine agonist drugs
Systemically inject low doses of dopamine agonists (apomorphine, SKF 38393, quinpirole) or L-dopa at subthreshold/subrotational doses
Note: Doses chosen to be subthreshold for induction of rotation behavior
View evidence from paper
“Systemic injections of low doses (chosen to be subthreshold for induction of rotation) of the mixed D1 and D2 receptor agonist apomorphine, the D1-selective agonist SKF 38393”
Perform staircase test after drug administration
Reassess skilled forelimb use on the staircase test following dopamine agonist or L-dopa administration
Note: Measure effects of pharmacological intervention on complex motor control
View evidence from paper
“Identical experiments were performed on skilled forelimb use in the so-called staircase test”
Implant fetal nigral transplants
Implant fetal dopamine neuron transplants as multiple deposits in the ipsilateral caudate-putamen and substantia nigra, or in substantia nigra alone
Note: Two implantation strategies tested: combined caudate-putamen and substantia nigra deposits versus substantia nigra alone
View evidence from paper
“Fetal nigral transplants, implanted as multiple deposits in the ipsilateral caudate-putamen and substantia nigra, restored initiation of stepping to a similar degree as the DA agonists. Nigral grafts placed in substantia nigra alone were also effective”
Perform staircase test after transplantation
Reassess skilled forelimb use on the staircase test following fetal nigral transplant implantation
Note: Measure effects of neural transplantation on complex motor control
View evidence from paper
“Identical experiments were performed on skilled forelimb use in the so-called staircase test”
Test drug effects in transplanted animals
Administer apomorphine or amphetamine to rats with nigral transplants and reassess staircase test performance
Note: Apomorphine at effective dose showed no additive effect; amphetamine appeared to further improve stepping in intranigral transplant animals
View evidence from paper
“Apomorphine, at a dose effective in the lesion-only animals, had no additive effect in the grafted rats, whereas amphetamine appeared to further improve stepping in the rats with intranigral transplants”