Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences, Chemin Fortuné Ferrini, BP 170, 38042 Grenoble, France.
J Neurosci Methods. 2012 Mar 15;204(2):306-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.11.025. Epub 2011 Nov 29.
For decades, several animal models of locomotion have allowed a better understanding of the basic physiological mechanisms of gait. However, unlike most of the mammals, the Order Primates is characterized by fundamental changes in locomotor behaviour. In particular, some primates use a specific pattern of locomotion and are able to naturally walk bipedally due possibly to a specific supra-spinal control of locomotion. These features must be taken into account when one considers to study the intrinsic properties of human gait. Thus, an experimental model of bipedal locomotion allowing precise and reproducible analysis of gait in non-human primate is still lacking. This study describes a non-human primate model of bipedal locomotion under restrained condition. We undertook a kinematic and biomechanic study in three Macaca fascicularis trained to walk bipedally on a treadmill. One of the primate was evaluated in complete head fixation. Gait visual analysis and electromyographic recordings provided pertinent description of the gait pattern. Step frequencies, step lengths, cycle and stance phase durations were correlated with Froude number (dimensionless velocity), whereas swing phase durations remained non-correlated. Gait patterns observed in our model were similar to those obtained in freely bipedal Macaca fuscata and to a lesser extend to Humans. Gait pattern was not modified by head fixation thereby allowing us to perform precise and repetitive micro electrode recordings of deep cerebral structures. Thus, the present model could provide a pertinent pre-clinical tool to study gait parameters and their neuronal control but also could be helpful to validate new therapeutics interventions.
几十年来，几种运动模型使我们能够更好地理解步态的基本生理机制。然而，与大多数哺乳动物不同，灵长目动物的运动行为有根本的变化。特别是，一些灵长类动物采用特定的运动模式，并且由于运动的特定脊髓上控制，能够自然地双足行走。在考虑研究人类步态的固有特性时，必须考虑到这些特征。因此，仍然缺乏允许对非人类灵长类动物步态进行精确和可重复分析的双足运动实验模型。本研究描述了一种在受限制条件下的非人类灵长类动物双足运动模型。我们对三只经过训练在跑步机上双足行走的猕猴进行了运动学和生物力学研究。其中一只灵长类动物在完全头部固定的情况下进行了评估。步态的视觉分析和肌电图记录提供了步态模式的相关描述。步频、步长、周期和支撑相持续时间与弗鲁德数（无量纲速度）相关，而摆动相持续时间则不相关。我们模型中观察到的步态模式与自由双足行走的猕猴相似，与人类的相似程度较低。头部固定并未改变步态模式，从而使我们能够对深部脑结构进行精确和重复的微电极记录。因此，该模型可以提供一种合适的临床前工具，用于研究步态参数及其神经控制，也可以有助于验证新的治疗干预措施。
