Development of a locomotor rating scale for testing motor function in sheep

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Animal Models

Background:

• Myelomeningocele (MMC) research uses fetal sheep models to find paralysis cures.
• A standardized motor function assessment is lacking in MMC sheep models.
• This study addresses the need for a reliable scale to evaluate functional status in sheep.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive and reliable locomotor scale for assessing functional status in sheep.
• To establish a standardized method for evaluating motor recovery in MMC research.
• To provide a critical tool for assessing experimental treatments for MMC-related paralysis.

Main Methods:

• Developed a locomotor rating scale based on behavioral observations of lambs.
• Used 20 lambs: 15 with surgically created MMC defects and repair, 1 with sham operation, and 4 controls.
• Assessed motor function for 24 hours post-birth and performed inter-rater reliability testing.

Main Results:

• Defined 7 categories of locomotor recovery with a developed scoring system.
• The scale captured a wide range of neurological outcomes.
• Demonstrated minimal inter-rater variability (average SD ±0.431), with scores consistently close to consensus.

Conclusions:

• The developed sheep locomotor rating scale accurately captures subtle neurological differences.
• The scale exhibits minimal inter-rater variability, ensuring reliability.
• This standardized scale is crucial for validating experimental treatments aimed at curing MMC-related paralysis.