Use of rotorod as a method for the qualitative analysis of walking in rat.

High speed video analysis of the details of movement can provide a source of information about qualitative aspects of walking movements. When walking on a rotorod, animals remain in approximately the same place making repetitive movements of stepping. Thus the task provides a rich source of information on the details of foot stepping movements.

The topography of three-dimensional exploration: a new quantification of vertical and horizontal exploration, postural support, and exploratory bouts in the cylinder test.

The study of exploratory behavior in confined spaces can provide insights into both the spatial and the motor behavior of animals. In the present study, the behavior of rats placed inside of a cylinder (the cylinder test) for 5 min was examined to uncover: (1) the overall organization of exploratory behavior, (2) pattern of movement on the horizontal surface, (3) pattern of movement on the vertical surface, and (4) supporting and stepping movements. The results show that exploratory behavior is organized into a number of bouts of lateral and vertical scans with each bout ending by movement arrest and face washing.

Distinct forelimb and hind limb stepping impairments in unilateral dopamine-depleted rats: use of the rotorod as a method for the qualitative analysis of skilled walking.

The rotorod test, in which animals walk on a rotating drum, is widely used to assess motor status in laboratory rodents. Performance is measured by the duration that an animal stays up on the drum as a function of drum speed. Here we report that the task provides a rich source of information about qualitative aspects of walking movements.