Related Experiment Videos
Motor Assessment in Huntington's Disease Mice
Stephen B Dunnett1, Simon P Brooks2
1Brain Repair Group, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. DunnettSB@cardiff.ac.uk.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|June 2, 2018
Summary
Researchers present six essential motor function tests for assessing Huntington's disease in mice. These methods offer objective, quantitative measures for studying disease progression and evaluating potential treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Models
- Neurological Disorders
Background:
- Striatal damage causes motor deficits, a hallmark of Huntington's disease (HD).
- Genetic models of HD, characterized by polyglutamine expansion in huntingtin protein, are crucial for research.
- Mice are a preferred animal model for studying HD pathophysiology and treatment due to advanced genetic tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide standardized, quantitative motor assessment protocols for experimental mice in HD research.
- To facilitate objective evaluation of disease progression and therapeutic interventions.
Main Methods:
- Detailed protocols for six common motor function tests are presented.
- Tests cover spontaneous activity, locomotor coordination, balance, and skilled limb use.
- Emphasis on simplicity, effectiveness, and efficiency for widespread adoption.
Main Results:
- The presented methods offer reliable and objective quantitative measures of motor performance.
- These protocols are widely applicable to Huntington's disease research in mice.
- Standardized testing aids in comparative analysis across studies.
Conclusions:
- The developed protocols are vital for advancing Huntington's disease research in mouse models.
- Objective motor assessment is critical for understanding disease mechanisms and developing treatments.
- These methods support the efficient and effective study of motor deficits in neurological disorders.