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Updated: Sep 16, 2025
Sagittal Plane Kinematic Gait Analysis in C57BL/6 Mice Subjected to MOG35-55 Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: November 4, 2017
High-Speed-Ventral-Plane Videography Identifies Specific Gait Pattern Changes in Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination in
Paula Giesler1, Markus Kipp1, Alexander Hawlitschka1
1Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Gertrudenstraße 9, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
Abstract:
Gait disturbances are among the most prominent motor symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS), yet their functional characterization in preclinical models remains limited. In this study, we used high-speed ventral plane videography (DigiGait™) to analyze locomotor behavior during 5 weeks of cuprizone-induced demyelination in 10 male C57BL/6 mice. Gait analysis revealed significant alterations in stride time (left front paw from 0.303 ± 0.01 s to 0.257 ± 0.007 s; p = 0.003), paw angle (right fore paw from -13.78 ± 0.928° to 5.456 ± 2.146°; p = 0.003), and midline distance (right hind paw from 1.889 ± 0.099 cm to 1.216 ± 0.096 cm; p = 0.013), particularly in the hind limbs. These behavioral impairments correlated with histopathological findings of reduced myelination and elevated microglial activation in motor-relevant brain regions, including the corpus callosum, caudate-putamen, and motor cortex. Notably, specific gait parameters showed strong correlations with the degree of demyelination, supporting their relevance as functional biomarkers. Our data demonstrate that high-resolution gait analysis provides a sensitive, non-invasive tool to monitor functional deficits in demyelinating models and may aid in evaluating therapeutic efficacy in future studies.
Insights
High-resolution gait analysis effectively tracks motor deficits in demyelination models. This non-invasive method correlates gait changes with brain pathology, aiding in evaluating new multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Gait disturbances are key motor symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Preclinical models often lack detailed functional characterization of MS-related gait changes.
- Cuprizone-induced demyelination is a common model for studying MS pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To functionally characterize gait alterations in a cuprizone-induced demyelination mouse model.
- To assess the correlation between gait parameters and histopathological demyelination.
- To validate high-resolution videography as a tool for monitoring MS-related motor deficits.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-speed ventral plane videography (DigiGait™) for gait analysis.
- Induced demyelination over 5 weeks using cuprizone in male C57BL/6 mice.
- Correlated quantitative gait data with histopathological assessments of myelination and microglial activation.
Main Results:
- Significant alterations in stride time, paw angle, and midline distance were observed, particularly in hind limbs.
- Behavioral impairments correlated with reduced myelination and increased microglial activation in motor-relevant brain areas.
- Specific gait parameters showed strong correlations with the extent of demyelination.
Conclusions:
- High-resolution gait analysis is a sensitive, non-invasive method for detecting functional deficits in demyelinating models.
- Gait parameters can serve as relevant functional biomarkers for MS.
- This approach can aid in evaluating the efficacy of future therapeutic interventions for MS.
