Background

Despite multiple experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) being available, objective assessment of gait and motor function in rodents remains difficult; therefore, we studied the value of the CatWalk XT® gait analysis as an observer independent, automated method for outcome assessment in one of the most frequently used preclinical TBI model, the controlled cortical impact (CCI), in mice.

Methods

C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to either right parietal CCI or a sham procedure. Functional outcome was assessed using the CatWalk XT® (Version 10.6) as well as the hole board test at days one, three and seven after trauma induction.

Results

CCI led to diffuse, asymmetric and bilateral disturbances of both static and dynamic parameters in the CatWalk XT® gait analysis. The CatWalk XT® detected even minimal but statistically significant impairments that could not have been detected by clinical assessments. Impairments of static parameters were most pronounced within the first three days and diminished thereafter, while dynamic parameters were impaired until seven days after CCI. Fittingly, mice explored the hole board significantly less on day three trauma induction.

Conclusions

The CatWalk XT® is a valid tool for objective assessment of motor function in the acute phase after controlled cortical impact TBI in mice. Similar to observations made in humans, CCI leads to impairments of both static and dynamic parameters of gait and motor function which persist throughout the first week after the injury.

中文翻译：

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CatWalk XT® 是一种有效的工具，可用于客观评估小鼠受控制的皮质撞击后急性期的运动功能。

背景

尽管有多种创伤性脑损伤 (TBI) 实验模型可用，但对啮齿动物步态和运动功能的客观评估仍然很困难；因此，我们研究了 CatWalk XT® 步态分析作为一种独立于观察者的自动化方法在小鼠中最常用的临床前 TBI 模型之一、受控皮质影响 (CCI) 中进行结果评估的价值。

方法

C57Bl/6 小鼠接受右顶叶 CCI 或假手术。在创伤诱导后的第 1、3 和 7 天，使用 CatWalk XT®（版本 10.6）以及孔板测试评估功能结果。

结果

CCI 导致 CatWalk XT® 步态分析中静态和动态参数的扩散、不对称和双边干扰。CatWalk XT® 甚至可以检测到临床评估无法检测到的最小但具有统计学意义的损伤。静态参数的损害在前三天内最为明显，此后逐渐减少，而动态参数的损害直到 CCI 后 7 天。恰如其分地，小鼠在第三天的创伤诱导中探索孔板的次数明显减少。

结论

CatWalk XT® 是一种有效的工具，可用于客观评估小鼠受控制的皮质撞击 TBI 后急性期的运动功能。与在人类中进行的观察类似，CCI 导致步态和运动功能的静态和动态参数受损，这些受损在受伤后的第一周内持续存在。