The micro processor controlled Rota Rod for mice features a front panel with a large, very readable back-light display. The panel can be oriented to select the most comfortable angle for the operator, to avoid glare, etc.
This Mouse Rota Rod has two operating modes:
Constant Speed Mode – where the angular speed (RPM) is preset by the operator, in the range between 4 and 50 rotations per minute.
Accelerating Speed Mode - where the operator presets both the
duration and the steepness of the ramp, e.g., 4 minutes to pass from 4 to 40 RPM, 5 minutes to pass from 6 to 30 RPM, etc.
The display shows the actual angular speed (RMS at each instant) in real time. It also shows the endurance time of each animal and the speed at which the animal looses its grip and falls.
The data of each experiment can be stored or routed in real time to the PC.
This Rota-Rod operates under the same principle as the Constant Speed Rota-Rod Treadmill but with an added Acceleration feature. The “Rota-Rod” technique has been originated by a 1957 paper of N.W Dunham and T.S Miya and has proved to be of great value in research involving screening of drugs which are potentially active on motor coordination.
These Rota-Rods are the result of many years of research in cooperation with the latest development in behavioral and pharmacological research; they basically consist of five 3 cm diameter drums which are suitably machined to provide grip. Six flanges divide the drums, enabling five mice to be on the treadmill simultaneously.
By operating with animals running on an accelerating drum, screening results are less scattered. In other words, a single “session” acts as conditioning and training run. This model has been originated by a paper of B.J. Jones and D.J. Roberts “The Quantitative Measurement of Motor Inco-ordination in Naive Mice Using an Accelerating Rotarod.”
The machine is provided with a motor drive which operates in ACCELERATION, LOCK or RESET mode. The acceleration phase
is monitored by a bar-graph type of speed indicator, placed on the front panel.
Conditioning the Animal
Some research workers think advisable to carry out some kind of “conditioning” before starting the motor coordination test. With the drums at minimum speed each rodent is placed in its section in order to familiarize it with the revolving drum. After two-three training runs of 1-2 minutes at intervals of 2-3 hours, the rats should be ready for the test proper.
Data Acquisition and Recording
These Rota-Rod Treadmills are supplied with a connector for branching them to the 6-Channel Multifunction Printer. This printer is a microprocessor controlled device designed to acquire data from 6 independent channels. Each Rota-Rod requires 4 channels exported to a PC computer. The data export to a PC requires the purchase of the Win-DAS Software Package, see accessories. This must be purchased as a separate product.
Each Treadmill is supplied complete with the following components: Dust Cover, Trip Plate, complete with Spring & Iron Keeper, Transmission Belt, Spare Fuses for either 115 V or 230 V and Instruction Manual. BibliographyMethod Papers
• N.W. Dunham & T.S. Miya: “A Note on a Simple Apparatus for Detecting Neurological Deficit in Rats & Mice” J. Am. Pharmaceut. Assoc., Scientific Edit., XLVI: No. 3, 1957
• B.J. Jones & D.J. Roberts: “The Quantitative Measurement of Motor Inco-ordination in Naive Mice Using an Accelerating Rotarod” J. Pharm. Pharmac.: 20: 302-304, 1968
Papers Dealing With Rota-Rod Techniques
• R. Duane Sofia: “Comparison of Two Methods for Measuring Drug-Induced Neurotoxicity” J. Pharmaceut. Sc.: 58, No. 7: 900-901, 1969
• H. Kuribara et alia: “Effects of Central Depressants on Rota-Rod and Traction Performances in Mice” Japan J. Pharmacol.: 27: 117-126, 1976
• M. S. Dar et alia: “Possible Role of Adenosine in the CNS Effects of Ethanol” Life Sciences: 33: 1363-1374, 1983
• M. S. Dar & W.R. Wooles: “Effect of Chronically Administered Methylxanthines on Ethanol-Induced Motor Inco-ordination in Mice” Life Sciences: 39: 1429-1437, 1986
• G.E. Leighton et alia: “Pharmacological Profile of PD 117302, a selective K-Opioid Agonist” Br. J. Pharmacol.: 92: 915-922, 1987