BEAM WALKING or BEAM BALANCE TEST

The beam balance test (or beam walking assay) is used to assess fine motor coordination and balance in rodents, especially in experimental models associated with an alteration of the motor skills (brain injury, genetic manipulations, and/or pharmacological treatments…).

The goal of this test is for the subject to stay upright and walk across an elevated narrow beam to a safe box/platform. This test usually takes several consecutive days of test: some days of training and 1 day of testing. Performance on the beam is quantified by measuring the time it takes for the subject to cross the beam and the number of paw slips that occur in the process.

This task is particularly useful for detecting subtle deficits in motor skills and balance that may not be detected by other motor tests, such as the Rotarod.

PANLAB BEAM BALANCE TEST - DESCRIPTION

The Panlab beam balance test is composed of:

• A goal box (15 cm wide, 22 cm deep, 18 cm high)
• 2 tripods - adjustable height from 50 to 130 cm and with built-in level to check horizontality
• 4 ledge tapered beams (120 cm long) with following width dimensions:
• 0.5 cm upper beam width on 2.2 cm bottom beam width
• 2 cm upper beam width on 4 cm bottom beam width
• 1.5 cm upper beam width on 5.5 cm bottom beam width
• 6 cm upper beam width on 10 cm bottom beam width

The beam can be horizontal or the tripods height can be adjusted to make a slope.

The goal box and beams are easy to remove/assemble using manual screws below the beam.

NEW CATCH NET OPTION!

The 76-116/LE782CN “catch net” can be used to ensure that the animals do not injure themselves if they fall (optional item).

 The inclined geotaxis board (slant board) is mainly used to assess motor coordination in rodents when challenged on a sloped surface.

The subjects are placed individually on the sloped platform facing in a downward direction (negative geotaxis). The latency to turn and orient themselves to be facing up the slope is recorded. This can be repeated at varying inclines to assess motor coordination and righting.

Delays in the ability to reorient could be indicative of delays in motor, balance, or vestibular function.

The inclined geotaxis board consists of sloped platforms of varying angles from horizontal to the desktop (0° to 90°).

The foot misplacement corridor test is used for assessing motor coordination and balance (gait control) in small laboratory animal (rats and mice).

The foot misplacement corridor test is made of a narrow corridor with clear Plexiglas side walls and opened extremities connecting the corridor to two plastic home cages, one for each side. The floor of the corridor consists of removable metal bars. The animal is placed at one extremity of the corridor and is required to walk on the bars as if walking on a horizontal ladder. The use of a ladder allows observing separately the front and hind foot placement in order to accurately count the total number of foot misplacements (misseps).

The bars can be removed to vary the distance/space between the bars and make the test more difficult for the animal. The changes in bar spacing also prevent animals from learning the location of the bars and so minimize the ability of the animals to compensate for impairments through learning. The width of the corridor can be adjusted to the size of the animal to prevent the animal from turning around.

The system can be combined with the use of a video tracking system for video recording and eventually assess a global evaluation of the animal trajectory, displacement and speed during the test.

This test is a qualitative test with a high sensitivity to determine even subtle loss of movement capacity.

The body reversal corridor is used for assessing muscle control and movement coordination in rats.

The apparatus consist of a narrow black Perspex corridor with a closed end. The corridor is provided with two supporting paws for ensuring its stability during the test.

The rat is placed in the corridor facing the closed end. The researcher evaluates the time spent by the animal to turn over (body reversal) and reach the opposite opened end of the corridor.

2020 Virtual FENS Highlights - Enhance your Rota Rod Experiment!

• New Speed Rage (2-90 RPM)
• New Editable Acceleration/Ramp mode
• New Speed Protocol & Rocking Modes
• New Integral Cover for Mice

Rota Rod description

Our Rota Rod provides an easy way to test the effects of drugs,brain damage, or diseases on motor coordination or fatigue resistance in rodents.

The animal is placed on the rotating lane of the Rota Rod and the timer is started. When the animal drops safely into its own lane, the time latency to fall (minutes and seconds) and rotation speed are automatically recorded. A removable upper separator for rat models is included to prevent interference between animals running in adjacent lanes.

The Rota Rod is controlled by an advanced microprocessor which provides precise timing control and ultra-accurate speed regulation. Rotation can be electronically set at a constant speed (2 to 90 rpm). Alternatively, acceleration rate may be selected at a defined time (2 to 5999 sec, 1 sec increments).

Unique in the market, the extended speed range (2 to 90 RPM)combined with the expanded acceleration mode settings, speed protocols and rocking modes, make the experimental reach of the rota rod exceptionally flexible.

The touchscreen graphic user interface allows clear visualization of timing and speed for each lane. Change modes, adjust speed, and create protocols right from the main screen for greater flexibility with maximum functionality and usability. The data can be read on the screen and/or exported to the SEDACOM software for saving the data in table form by lanes/trials.

The new integral cover option helps confine the animals if they fall off of the rod (only available for mice).

Parameters measured

• Animal latency to fall
• Rotation speed when fall occurs

The Dynamic Weight Bearing - New Incapacitance Test, is a new test for assessing spontaneous pain in freely moving rodents, which is based on an instrumented-floor cage and a combined video acquisition system. The Dynamic Weight Bearing test, especially suitable for research on Parkinson and allodynia, was a major break-through in the field of research on analgesia: operator-independent, time-saving, convenient for manipulating large amounts of rodents, and induces no stress on the animal (rat or mouse). The system has been used extensively by many customers from private firms to academic labs since 2008 for various types of research on analgesia and nociception.

The Dynamic Weight Bearing system also offers the possibility of conducting the experiment over a longer observational period (5 minutes) without an operator (thus reducing stress on the animal), and without any habituation period. With these exclusive features, the DWB opens a new and improved generation of instruments for drugs screening and optimization of preclinical models. The latest version is now a semi-automatic, operator-independent instrument. 

Operating principle

Performing the same measurements as the original manual Version, the Advanced DWB (Dynamic Weight Bearing) improves two of the turnkey points of the system: the speed of operation and the operator independent factor. The Advanced DWB allows the user to reduce the most important phase of the process by a factor of 8 to 10, thus the analysis of 1 animal will take 1 to 2 minutes and be operator-independent.

The results encompass a lot of valuable information but will ask for a minimum of manpower and many more animal analysis can be done in the same amount of time than with a manual instrument. The software gives the weight distribution of the animal (rat or mouse), per limb, with additional ratio computations and filtering options. 

Analysis and replay can be performed on site or remotely using Bioseb's exclusive software for Dynamic Weight Bearing and Incapacitance tests. During the analysis and replay, the operator can check and secure each limb recognition for hind and front paws. The weight distribution of the animal (rat or mouse) per limb is then shown in the result window, for each time period with the mean and the variation coefficient. 

Parameters measured

• Weight for each paw (g and % total animal weight)
• Weight for grouped front and rear paws (g and %total animal weight)
• Left/Right and Front/Rear weight ratio
• Surface for each paw (mm²)
• Surface for grouped front and rear paws (mm²)
• Variability (standart deviation/mean) for each parameter
• Parameters are given for each posture and as a mean for the whole experiment
• Duration of different postures (4 paws, rearing…) over the whole experiment (s)
• Total time spent on each paw over the whole experiment (s)

The Kinetic Weight Bearing (KWB) system is an alternative method generating quantitative data on footprints and gait in spontaneously moving animals. 

The unique "sensor-mat" technology originally designed by Bioseb for the Dynamic Weight Bearing application has been refined and adapted to make kinetic analysis possible. This allows the weight borne by each individual paw to be tracked during a walking sequence in a corridor. The Kinetic Weight Bearing Instrument provides additional information on applied weight as well as the speed and acceleration of each paw as the animal moves toward an end point of the runway platform. This additional information provides data on coordination and gait comparison paw to paw and step to step. The system combines the video of a freely walking rodent (mouse or rat) with the pressure applied by each paw in real time using an array of not less than 4000 or 6000 sensors depending on the corridor's length.

Operation principle

The Kinetic Weight Bearing (KWB) Instrument offers automated parameter analysis for each paw of a rodent on Maximum Force (mN), Mass Velocity (N/s), and Maximum surface area (cm2). Additional Gait Parameters are also analyzed, speed, cadence, overlaps, and step patterns, are all compared and statistically processed. An automated analysis package is available for automatic analysis of a batch of experiments, saving time in analysis, and making the results more consistent and less operator dependent.

The instrument combines the video of a freely moving rodent with the data supplied by the mat including up to 6000 sensors that cover the full length of a corridor at the end of which lies the animal's home cage. Gait analysis can be carried out, and can be applied in the study of diseases such as CNS ischemia, SCI, and Neurotrauma, for example.

Bioseb has demonstrated that the rising time to the maximum force of each animal step differs across different animal models. The KWB is able to compare the path of the animal's "Geometric Center of Gravity" with the actual "Weighted Center of Gravity", and show significant differences. Changes in weight distribution from left to right, front to back and contra-lateral compensation are easily measured, thus providing useful information for your research work on nociception and analgesia.

Gait analysis has been extensively used in phenotyping of CNS diseases such as cerebral ischemia, neurodegenerative diseases, Spinal Cord Injury models and some pain models like neurotrauma (Nerve Crush, SNI…). The kinetic weight bearing system adds a major feature to existing gait analysis systems by including the measurement of the force applied by each individual paw to the floor the animal is walking upon.

Parameters measured:

• Scored prints/total
• Steps number for each paw
• Animal speed
• Paw speed
• Cadence 
• BoS front rear
• Overlap left/right
• Animal weight (g)
• Mean forces/weight ratio
• Peak force for each paw/animal weight
• Peak surface for each paw
• Stride length /paw
• Swing duration /paw (s)
• Stance duration/ paw (s)
• Propulsion duration /paw (s)
• Step duration /paw (s)
• Ratio of any 2 parameters

Panlab restrainers for rodents are manufactured from Perspex cylinders mounted on a flat black Perspex base. All the models have free access through both extremes, by opening the respective tilting door that is fixed by a screw at the upper part of the restrainer.

Animals can be immobilised by sliding the doors along the restrainer. A slot in the base of the door allows for the whole tail to be available for the pulse transducer and cuff installation, the i.v. drug administration or the blood extraction.

Specially designed restrainers for startle reflex experiments are built on an opened base for allowing free animal contact with the grid and then providing shocks. Additional screws are available for a strong fixation of the restrainer on the grid avoiding any displacement due to the animal movements during the experiment. 

The easy operation of the doors and its disposition on the extremes of the restrainer makes the manipulation of the animal convenient and avoids the animal to be dragged backwards, protecting it from injuries in the feet.

Available in 6 different sizes, the restrainers cover all the range of rat & mice.

Rotational behaviour has proved a popular technique for screening the behavioural effects of a wide variety of lesions, drugs, and other experimental manipulations on the brain of rodents. This test is widely carried out in experiments using animal models of Parkinson disease with unilateral lesions in the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system.

Basically, the subject wears an adjustable harness with a soft ring connected to the rotation sensor by a flexible tie. The subject is then placed into a transparent container (cylinder or bowl) with a lateral support for a vertical stand. 

A bi-directional rotation sensor provides a double (right and left turns) output with adjustable regulation of pulses/turns. Two configurations are available for rotation counting: individual counter or a multicounter.

When using a multicounter, the new SEDACOM 2.0 version provides an easy and convenient way to visualize and export the data on a computer for further analysis.

The grip strength meter allows the study of neuromuscular functions in rodents by determining the maximum force displayed by an animal. This test is included in the Functional Observational Battery (FOB) to screen for neurobehavioral toxicity. In this context, changes in grip strength are interpreted as evidence of motor neurotoxicity.

Basically, the grip strength meter is positioned horizontally and the subjects are held by the tail and lowered towards the apparatus. The animals are allowed to grasp the metal grid or triangular pull bar and are then pulled backwards in the horizontal plane. The force applied to the grid or to the bar just before it loses grip is recorded as the peak tension. This force can be measured in grams, Newtons or Ibs.

The grip test includes one accessory by default (bar for rat, grid for rat, bar for mouse or grid for mouse). A different part number is available depending of the included accessory chosen by the customer. The other available accessories can still be added if needed.

Data output is carried out through RS232, printer, or chart recorder. Depending on the grid type used, grip strength can be measured from the front or hind paws.

The SEDACOM 2.0 or BIO-CIS software provides an easy and convenient way to visualize and export the data on a computer for further analysis.

The StartFear Combined system is a polyvalent system for conducting both fear conditioning and startle reflex experiments in one same enclosure, regardless the animal is a rat or a mouse (from 15grs to 300 grs. or more depending on the use or not of a restrainer).

Basically, the StartFear system allows recording and analysis of the signal generated by the animal movement through a high sensitivity Weight Transducer system.

The analogical signal is transmitted to the FREEZING and STARTLE software modules through the load cell unit for recording purposes and posterior analysis in terms of activity/immobility (FREEZING) or startle response characterization (STARTLE).

An additional interface associated with corresponding hardware allows controlling the stimuli (light, sounds, shock, air puff) from the STARTLE and FREEZING modules of the PACKWIN software (PACKWINCSST and PACKWINCSFR, respectively).

The StartFear cage is made with black methacrylate walls and a transparent front door. In fear conditioning experiment, the walls, cover and floor can be of different materials or colours. Moreover, a transparent cylinder can be placed into the experimental chamber in order to modify the contextual spatial perception of the subject during the test phase.

The new SEDACOM 2.0 version is a very easy, convenient and cost-saving data transfer software providing an ideal environment for visualizing the registered data on a computer and exporting them in a format that simplifies any further post-analysis processes. SEDACOM increases the functionalities of the devices, saving and listing automatically all the data of the current or stored sessions.

SEDACOM can be used with a wide range of devices from several lines of Panlab products for measuring physiology and behaviour in small laboratory animals (motor activity, pain sensitivity, body temperature, memory etc.)

The name of SEDACOM comes from SErial DAta COMmunication due to the direct communication of the Panlab devices to the computer through an RS232 serial port communication. Nowadays, some optional accessories are offered for allowing the use of the USB technology making possible running experiment on a laptop, if requested.

SeDaCom can adquire data from up to 9 devices at the same time, limited exclusively by the number of series ports available on the computer. An additional hub or board with serial ports (not included) can be installed to expand the number of connections. SeDaCom will automatically recognize the number of systems connected.

Productos relacionados

• Electronic Von Frey (up to EVF3 version)
• Hot Plate
• IR Actimeter
• Non invasive blood pressure
• Passive avoidance box
• Plethysmometer
• Rat paw pressure
• Rotarod
• Rotameter
• Shuttle box
• Tail-flick meter
• Treadmill