Normative data on the hind foot of Sprague-Dawley rats

Rats play a crucial role in advancing scientific research and contributing to the understanding of various diseases. The striking structural similarity between the rat foot and the intricate anatomy of the human hand has drawn scientific interest to these animals. However, detailed morphometric and functional analyses of the adult Sprague-Dawley rat foot, including its dimensions, range of motion, and grip strength, remain limited in the literature. We aimed to examine the hind feet of 42 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, each weighing 300-350 g. Using a multifaceted approach, we inspected hind paw morphology and performed descriptive statistical analyses of foot dimensions (a), measured unilateral hind foot grasping strength (b), assessed joint mobility (c), and examined the microscopic appearance of the hind foot third digit (d). One animal was additionally used to observe the hind limb skeletal architecture using microcomputed tomography. This study provides critical normative data regarding the structure and function of the hind foot in adult Sprague-Dawley rats, thereby facilitating future studies on musculoskeletal diseases.