A hacked kitchen scale-based system for quantification of grip strength in rodents

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Bioinstrumentation
• Animal Models

Background:

• Assessing neuromuscular function is vital for studying motor system dysfunction in rodent disease models.
• Commercial grip strength meters are often unaffordable, limiting research accessibility.
• Open-source bioinstrumentation principles promote modularity and flexibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the construction of a low-cost, open-source rodent grip strength apparatus.
• To provide a flexible and modular alternative to commercial instruments.
• To validate the system's reliability in a Parkinson's disease rat model.

Main Methods:

• A NodeMCU ESP-32S microcontroller was integrated with a digital kitchen scale.
• Custom open-source scripts were developed for data acquisition and analysis using the ratPASTA package.
• The griPASTA system was validated by measuring muscular rigidity in a 6-hydroxydopamine-induced rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Main Results:

• The griPASTA system allows for raw data collection and control of confounding factors.
• Significantly increased muscular rigidity was observed in the Parkinson's disease rat model.
• Neither trial speed nor animal weight were identified as significant confounders.

Conclusions:

• The griPASTA system offers a cost-effective, precise, and dependable method for rodent grip strength measurement.
• It utilizes readily available equipment and open-source software, enhancing research accessibility.
• This approach aligns with open-source bioinstrumentation principles for adaptable research tools.