Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912
Department of Chemistry and Physics, College of Science and Mathematics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912
eNeuro. 2023 Sep 6;10(9). doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0123-23.2023. Print 2023 Sep.
Reliable measurements of motor learning and coordination in mice are fundamental aspects of neuroscience research. Despite the advent of deep-learning approaches for motor assessment, performance testing on a rotating rod (rotarod) has remained a staple in the neuroscientist's toolbox. Surprisingly, commercially available rotarod instruments offer limited experimental flexibility at a relatively high cost. In order to address these concerns, we engineered a highly-customizable, low-budget rotarod device with increased functionality. Here, we present a detailed guide to assemble this rotarod using simple materials. Our apparatus incorporates a variation of interchangeable rod sizes and designs which provides for adjustable testing sensitivity. Moreover, our rotarod is driven by open-source software enabling bespoke acceleration ramps and sequences. Finally, we report the strengths and weaknesses of each rod design following multiday testing on cohorts of C57BL/6 mice. We expect explorations in deviant rod types to provide a foundation for the development of increasingly sensitive models for motor performance testing along with low-budget alternatives for the research community.
可靠的运动学习和协调测量是神经科学研究的基本方面。尽管深度学习方法在运动评估中得到了应用，但在旋转杆（转棒）上进行性能测试仍然是神经科学家工具包中的主要方法。令人惊讶的是，商业上可用的转棒仪器在相对较高的成本下提供了有限的实验灵活性。为了解决这些问题，我们设计了一种高度可定制、低成本的转棒装置，具有增强的功能。在这里，我们提供了一个使用简单材料组装这个转棒的详细指南。我们的仪器采用了可互换的棒尺寸和设计的变化，提供了可调节的测试灵敏度。此外，我们的转棒由开源软件驱动，允许定制加速度斜坡和序列。最后，我们报告了在 C57BL/6 小鼠的多个日测试队列中使用每种棒设计的优缺点。我们希望对不同类型的棒的探索能够为开发越来越敏感的运动性能测试模型以及为研究界提供低成本的替代方案提供基础。
