Rotarod Instrument

INSTRUMENTAL SEMINAR

By Dr Deepti Patil

April 7, 2023 ROTAROD 2

ROTAROD

Dr Deepti Patil


INTRODUCTION

• The loss of muscle grip is an indication of muscle

relaxation.

• This effect can be easily studied in animals using

inclined plane or rotating rod

• The fall off time from the rotating rod between

control and test drug treated animal is taken as an

index of muscle relaxation


HISTORY

• The “Rota-Rod” technique has been originated

by a 1957 paper of N.W Dunham and T.S Miya

and has proved to be of great value in research

involving screening of drugs which are

potentially active on motor co-ordination.


PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

• When a mouse falls off in its cylinder section

onto the plate below, the plate trips and the

corresponding magnetic switch is activated,

thereby recording the animal’s endurance

(staying power) time in seconds.


Conti…

• The display shows the actual angular speed

(RPM). At the end of a run, the display shows

for each animal the running time and the

instrument rotation speed at the time the

animal fell off.


MOTOR SKILLS TESTSDrug-induced turning (Rotation Test)Forelimb asymmetry (Cylinder Test)Beam walkingGrip strengthGrid walkingPlacing testRotarodLanding Foot Spread TestSkilled reaching (forelimb motor control)


MOTOR PROBLEMSDisorders may have both peripheral and central

origins: • Cerebellum • Brain stem• Striatum• Basal ganglia• Motor cortex• Spinal cord• Peripheral nervous system • Musculoskeletal deficits


ANIMAL TESTS FOR MOTOR ABILITY

Balance (e.g. Rotarod)

Reflex testing

Strength testing

Gross activity levels (GAL)

Fine motor analysis (FMA)

Straight observation


ROTAROD• Rotarod provides an easy way to test the

motor activity in rodents. Central nervous system damage, Disease effects on motor activity, Drugs administration, and Fatigue

Assessed by measuring the time during which the animal will keep on walking on the rotating bar


USES

Motor abnormalities:

• Coordination

• Weakness

• Muscle tonicity

• Involuntary movements


CONTI….

Other domain:

• Sensory function

• Cognitive ability

• Anxiety

• Non-motor seizures


TYPES

1. Three lane Rotarod

2. Four lane Rotarod

3. Five lane Rotarod

4. Rotarod with increased falling distance

5. Mice Rotarod

6. Rat Rotarod






PARTS

• Cover Set • Timer knobs for operating the individual lanes • Floor Grids • Droppings collector




PROCEDURE

• Weigh the animals and number them

• Turn on the Rota rod. Select an appropriate

speed (20-25rpm is ideal).

• Place the animals one by one on the rotating

rod


Conti…

• Note down the fall off time when the mouse

falls from the rotating rod

• A normal mouse generally falls off within

3-5min

• Compare the fall off time before and after

treatment.


“Placing the Mice on the Rotor”


THANK YOU

Documents

Rotarod Instrument