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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Applying the RatWalker System for Gait Analysis in a Genetic Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 18, 2021
A chronic mouse model of Parkinson's disease has a reduced gait pattern certainty
Max J Kurz1, Konstantinos Pothakos, Sakeena Jamaluddin
1Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States. mkurz@uh.edu
Abstract:
The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a chronic Parkinson's disease mouse model will display less certainty in its gait pattern due to basal ganglia dysfunction. A chronic Parkinson's disease mouse model was induced by injecting male C57/BL mice with 10 doses of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (25mg/kg) (MPTP) and probenecid (250 mg/kg) (P) over 5 weeks. This chronic model produces a severe and persistent loss of nigrostriatal neurons resulting in dopamine depletion and locomotor impairment. The control mice were treated with probenecid alone. Fifteen weeks after the last MPTP/P treatment, the mice were videotaped in the sagittal plane with a digital camera (60 Hz) as they ran on a motorized treadmill at a speed of 10 m/min. The indices of gait and gait variability were calculated. Stride length was significantly (p=0.016) more variable in the chronic MPTP/P mice. Additionally, the chronic MPTP/P mice had a statistically less certain gait pattern when compared to the control mice (p=0.02). These results suggest that variability in the gait pattern can be used to evaluate changes in neural function. Additionally, our results imply that disorder of the basal ganglia results in less certainty in modulating the descending motor command that controls the gait pattern.
Insights
Parkinson's disease mouse models exhibit increased gait variability due to basal ganglia dysfunction. This gait uncertainty in chronic Parkinson's models suggests potential for evaluating neural function changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Parkinson's Disease Research
Background:
- Basal ganglia dysfunction is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, leading to motor impairments.
- Altered gait patterns and variability are observed in Parkinson's patients.
- A chronic Parkinson's disease mouse model is crucial for studying disease progression and therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gait pattern certainty in a chronic Parkinson's disease mouse model.
- To determine if basal ganglia dysfunction in this model leads to less predictable gait.
- To explore gait variability as a potential biomarker for neural function changes.
Main Methods:
- Induction of a chronic Parkinson's model in male C57/BL mice using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and probenecid (P).
- Control group received probenecid alone.
- Gait analysis of mice running on a treadmill 15 weeks post-treatment, focusing on stride length variability and gait certainty.
Main Results:
- Chronic MPTP/P mice showed significantly increased stride length variability (p=0.016).
- Gait pattern certainty was statistically reduced in the chronic MPTP/P mice compared to controls (p=0.02).
- These findings indicate a less certain gait pattern in the Parkinson's model.
Conclusions:
- Gait variability can serve as an indicator for assessing alterations in neural function.
- Basal ganglia disorder is implicated in reduced certainty of gait pattern modulation.
- The chronic Parkinson's mouse model effectively replicates gait disturbances relevant to the disease.
