Rotational behavior has proved a popular technique for screening the behavioral effects of a wide variety of lesions, drugs, and other experimental manipulations on the brain of rodents. This test is widely carried out in experiments using animal models of Parkinson disease with unilateral lesions in the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system.

The subject wears an adjustable harness with Velcro connected to the rotation sensor by a flexible tie. Wide ranges of harnesses are available to fit different animal sizes. The subject is then placed into a transparent container (cylindrical or oval) with a lateral support for a vertical stand.

A bi-directional rotation sensor provides a double (right and left turns) output with adjustable regulation of pulses/turns (between 3 and 36 pulses per complete turn). Experiment duration and time intervals of measurement can be set. An external multicounter LE3806 is necessary for data storage; it counts the number of partial and complete left and right turns depending of the adjustments made on the rotation sensors. The computer interface SeDaCom allows easy exportation of data (through RS-232 serial port) in a format compatible with Excel.

Citations
Aymerich MS et al. (2006) Consequences of unilateral nigrostriatal denervation on the thalamostriatal pathway in rats. Eur. J. Neurosci. 23(8): 2099. (rat, Spain)
Bove J et al. (2006) Reversion of levodopa-induced motor fluctuations by the A2A antagonist CSC is associated with an increase in striatal preprodynorphin mRNA expression in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. Synapse. 59(7): 435-444. (rat, Spain)
Toledo-Aral JJ et al. (2003) Trophic restoration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway in long-term carotid body-grafted parkinsonian rats. J. Neurosci. 23(1): 141-148. (rat, Spain)
Segura-Aguilar J et al. (2002) Inhibition of DT-diaphorase is a requirement for Mn3+ to produce a 6-OH-dopamine like Rotational Behavior. Neurotoxicity Research, Volume 4, Number 2, 127 Đ 131 (rat, Chile)
Diaz-Veliz G et al. (2002) Behavioral effects of aminochrome and dopachrome injected in the rat substantia nigra. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 73(4):843-50 (rat, Chile)