Combined CatWalk Index: an improved method to measure mouse motor function using the automated gait analysis system
Samuel T Crowley1,2, Kazunori Kataoka2, Keiji Itaka3,4
1Department of Biofunction Research, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 2-10-3 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
BMC Research Notes
|April 29, 2018
Summary
A new Combined CatWalk Index (CCI) simplifies motor function assessment in mice after spinal cord injury (SCI). This automated gait analysis tool offers a reliable and objective score for SCI research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Animal Models
Background:
- Assessing motor function in mice is crucial for spinal cord injury (SCI) research.
- Traditional visual observation methods are prone to human error and subjectivity.
- Automated gait analysis systems like Noldus CatWalk XT offer objective data but require interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simplified mathematical model for quantifying mouse motor function using CatWalk XT data.
- To create a single, reliable score for assessing gait and motor recovery after SCI.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from mouse SCI experiments.
- Developed a mathematical model to combine multiple CatWalk XT gait parameters into a single score.
- Introduced the Combined CatWalk Index (CCI).
Main Results:
- The CCI demonstrated comparable results to existing methods like the Basso Mouse Scale.
- CCI exhibited a significantly lower coefficient of variation, indicating higher reliability.
- CCI showed a slightly stronger correlation with impact force in SCI models.
Conclusions:
- The Combined CatWalk Index (CCI) provides a robust and objective measure of motor function in mice.
- CCI is a potentially valuable tool for enhancing the precision and consistency of SCI research.
- This novel index simplifies data interpretation from automated gait analysis systems.
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