Objective quantification of tremor in conscious unrestrained rats, exemplified with 5-hydroxytryptamine-mediated tremor.
To accomplish an objective quantification of tremor in conscious unrestrained rats, a registration device based on accelerometry was developed. Tremor intensity was continuously recorded by a small piezoresistive accelerometer (Egal 125-10D, Entran Devices) mounted on the back of the freely moving rat. The accelerometer was connected to a Grass Polygraph, where the analog signal was quantified as arbitrary marks/min by a 7P10 integrating unit. The integrated signals were then further analyzed by a desk-top computer (Luxor ABC-80). By analyzing tremor response to central serotonergic system activation, the reproductibility as well as the advantages and limitations of this recording system were demonstrated.
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D010293:Pargyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced*
D010293:Pargyline; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D002230:Carbidopa