Mao1 project protocol

Motor performance and body weight in 16 Collaborative Cross strains of mice   (2015)

Mao J, Snijders AM
With: Langley SA, Huang Y, Hang M, Bouchard KE, Celniker SE, Brown JB, Jansson JK, Karpen GH




Project protocol - Contents

Workflow and sampling

Step
Procedure
 Equipment
Data collected
1 Weigh mice Scales Body weight
2
 Rotarod Accelerating rotarod
Speed prior to falling off rotarod

Equipment and supplies

  • Scales for body weight
  • Accelerating rotarod (spindle diameter 30 mm and lane dimension of 50 mm; 20 rpm/min)

Procedure: Accelerating rotarod

    1. All testing is conducted during the animal's light cycle.
    2. Mice are weighed on test day.
    3. Mice are placed on a rotarod spindle at a 45-degree angle.
    4. Mice are subjected to a slow-speed waiting mode (4 rpm for 5-10 s).
    5. Acceleration is started after the waiting period and set for 20 rpm/min for all mice.
    6. Animal falls are detected by a pressure sensitive lever, which automatically stops and records the speed at the time of the fall.
    7. Mice are tested consecutively an average of 3.3 times (range: 3-5).
    8. Repeat measurements of speed at the time of animal falling are averaged.

Data collected by investigator

  • body weight
  • speed prior to falling off accelerating rotarod