Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
Applying the RatWalker System for Gait Analysis in a Genetic Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 18, 2021
Coexistence of Gait Disturbances and Chorea in Experimental Huntington's Disease
João Casaca-Carreira1, Yasin Temel2, Marloes van Zelst3
1Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 ER Maastricht, Netherlands ; European Graduate School of Neuroscience (EURON), 6229 ER Maastricht, Netherlands.
Insights
Huntington's disease (HD) rat models show altered gait dynamics alongside choreic movements. These gait abnormalities appear distinct from chorea, suggesting separate origins in the basal ganglia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Pathology
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder.
- Key features include motor, cognitive, and psychiatric decline, with chorea and gait disturbances being prominent.
- Transgenic rat models (tgHD) offer insights into HD pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and characterize gait abnormalities and choreic movements in a tgHD rat model.
- To determine if gait alterations in HD are caused by chorea or arise independently.
- To analyze gait parameters at a symptomatic age (9 months) in tgHD rats.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Catwalk gait analysis system to assess static and dynamic gait parameters.
- Compared gait characteristics of tgHD rats with wild-type controls at 9 months of age.
- Focused on identifying alterations in gait dynamics and their correlation with choreiform movements.
Main Results:
- Dynamic gait parameters were more significantly affected than static parameters in tgHD rats.
- Increased step count, step cycles, and paw swing speed were observed in tgHD rats.
- Gait abnormalities were found to coexist with chorea, not be caused by it.
Conclusions:
- Gait disturbances in Huntington's disease models are distinct from choreic movements.
- These motor symptoms may originate from separate neural networks within the basal ganglia and associated pathways.
- TgHD rats provide a valuable model for studying the distinct motor deficits in Huntington's disease.
Abstract:
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by an expanded CAG repeat. The clinical features are progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive deterioration, and psychiatric disturbances. Unpredictable choreic movements, among the most characteristic hallmarks, may contribute to gait disturbances and loss of balance in HD individuals. In this study, we aimed to investigate and characterize the gait abnormalities and choreic movements in a transgenic rat model of HD (tgHD). TgHD presents typical neuropathological, neurophysiological, and behavioral aspects mimicking some of the key features of human HD and is the only described experimental model for HD that exhibits choreiform movements. We used the Catwalk, with emphasis on static and dynamic gait parameters, to test the hypothesis that at symptomatic age (9 months) the dynamic measures of gait in HD are altered and coexist with choreiform movements. Our results showed that the dynamic parameters seem to be more affected than static parameters at this age in tgHD rats. The number of steps and step cycles and swing speed of the paws were increased in tgHD rat in comparison to wild-type controls. Our study demonstrates that gait abnormalities coexist with chorea rather than being caused by it. These symptoms may originate from distinct networks in the basal ganglia and downstream connections.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...