Assessment of Motor Coordination and Balance in Mice Using the Rotarod, Elevated Bridge, and Footprint Tests

In order fully to utilize animal models of disease states, to test experimental therapeutics, and to understand the underlying pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disease, behavioral characterization of the model is essential. Deterioration of normal motor function within a disease state signals the progression of an underlying pathological process, and identifies disease-sensitive time points according to which the onset of therapeutic trials may be scheduled. Deterioration in the performance of motor tasks may also indicate the point when motor deficits begin to compromise our ability to measure other deficits within cognitive and behavioral domains. In acute therapeutic trials, the separation of motor from cognitive or behavioral function may be crucial in determining the functional specificity of the drug effect. If we are to accurately measure motor performance in disease progression or during drug trials, tests of motor function that have been highly optimized with respect to sensitivity must be applied. Since motor coordination and balance are essential to normal motor function, tests that probe these facets are ideal for the purpose. In this chapter, we describe in detail three test protocols that principally measure motor coordination (the rotarod and footprint tests) and balance (the elevated bridge test) in mice. Curr. Protoc. Mouse Biol. 2:37-53 © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.