An analysis of the CatWalk XT and a composite score to assess neurofunctional deficits after photothrombosis in mice

J Bärmann; H L Walter; A Pikhovych; H Endepols; G R Fink; M A Rueger; M Schroeter

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135811

An analysis of the CatWalk XT and a composite score to assess neurofunctional deficits after photothrombosis in mice

Neurosci Lett. 2021 Apr 23:751:135811. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135811. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Authors

J Bärmann¹, H L Walter¹, A Pikhovych¹, H Endepols², G R Fink³, M A Rueger³, M Schroeter⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
² University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Radiochemistry and Experimental Molecular Imaging, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany; Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Nuclear Chemistry (INM-5), Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany.
³ University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany; Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Spatial Cognition (INM-3), Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany.
⁴ University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 33727129
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135811

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate CatWalk's capability for assessing the functional outcome after photothrombotic stroke affecting the motor cortex of mice. Mice were tested up to 21 days after photothrombosis or sham surgery using CatWalk, and a composite score assessing functional deficits (neuroscore). The neuroscore demonstrated deficits of the contralateral forelimb for more than two weeks after stroke. There were no asymmetric or coordinative dysfunctions of limbs detected by CatWalk. However, CatWalk data revealed impairment of locomotion speed and its depending parameters for one-week after stroke in strong correlation to the neuroscore. Data suggest that the composite neuroscore allows to more sensitively and precisely specify and quantify photothrombosis-induced hemisyndromes than CatWalk.

Keywords: Behaviour; CatWalk XT; Central pattern generators; Coordinative dysfunction; Cortical stroke; Forelimb impairment; Functional deficit assessment; Gait analysis; Hemisyndrome; Neuroscore; Photothrombosis; Photothrombotic stroke.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Disease Models, Animal*
Extremities / physiopathology
Gait*
Light / adverse effects
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Motor Cortex / physiopathology
Software*
Stroke / etiology
Stroke / physiopathology*
Thrombosis / complications
Thrombosis / etiology
Thrombosis / physiopathology*