See JAX Pipeline on the IMPC website for order of tasks for all mice tested

Project protocol: Rotarod test

• Introduction
• Study design
• Workflow
• Equipment, software and supplies
• Reagents and solutions
• Procedure
• Measurements
• Experimental and technical parameters

Introduction

The rotarod test assesses motor coordination, motor learning, and balance.

Study design

Paradigm: Baseline study

Panel: Collaborative Cross

Number of strains: 18

Sex: Both

Age: 10-12 wks

Sample size: Seven mice per sex from at least two litters

Number of cohorts: 1

Workflow

Step	Description	Equipment	Data collected
1	Mice are acclimated to test room for at least 30 min	-	-
2	Each mouse is placed on the rotarod in a separate lane	Rotarod	-
3	Rotarod testing (5 trials)	Rotarod	Latency to fall from rotarod

Equipment, software and supplies

• Rotarod (accelerating): Med Associates SOF-ENV-575 [See Experimental and technical parameters]

Reagents and solutions

• 1% Virkon S solution

 

Procedure

1. Mice are allowed to acclimate to the testing room for a minimum of 30 min.
2. Mice are tested for 5 trials with an acceleration of 7.2 rpm/min (trial max = 5 min).
3. Mice are placed in separate compartments of the rotating rod.
4. The latency to fall into the tray for each mouse is recorded by photobeam break.
5. Mice remain in the tray for the remainder of the trial.
6. A 30 s intertrial interval begins after the last mouse falls.
7. Equipment is cleaned between subjects with 1% Virkon S.

 

Data collection: Local data processing is implemented to calculate derived measures from this data and a table of the derived measures and raw data are reported per mouse in JaxLIMS.

Data QC: Failure to stay on wheel at start of test, mice holding any damaged edges of the sandpaper, equipment fault, trial interrupted, and calibration/recording errors are possible reasons to exclude data from analysis.

 

Measurements

LIMS field name	MPD variable name	Description	Units	Series	Primary measurement	Series order	MPD computed	Calculation	Method	Data type
Duration 1	latency_trial1	latency to fall from rotarod, trial 1	s	Yes	latency_trial1	1			rotarod	Float
Duration 2	latency_trial1	latency to fall from rotarod, trial 2	s	Yes	latency_trial1	2			rotarod	Float
Duration 3	latency_trial1	latency to fall from rotarod, trial 3	s	Yes	latency_trial1	3			rotarod	Float
Duration 4	latency_trial1	latency to fall from rotarod, trial 4	s	Yes	latency_trial1	4			rotarod	Float
Duration 5	latency_trial1	latency to fall from rotarod, trial 5	s	Yes	latency_trial1	5			rotarod	Float

Experimental and technical parameters

Equipment name	Rotarod (accelerating)
Equipment manufacturer	Med Associates
Equipment model	SOF-ENV-575
Diameter of rod	70 mm
Material of rod cover	320 grit sandpaper (applied with rubber cement)
Start speed	4 rpm
Acceleration	7.2 rpm/min
Max trial duration	5 min
Start time	0700 - 1800 EST
Disinfectant	1% Virkon Solution