Sensorimotor disturbances in the aging rodent.
Male rats that were 6, 12, 24, and 30 months of age were examined for sensory and motor functions, using a battery of tests of neurological capacities. An age-related decline in the ability to localize stimuli was observed, particularly in visually elicited forelimb placing. In addition, the old rats had impaired hindlimb reflexes (hindlimb placing and stepping reactions). Rats older than 12 months of age also showed abnormal tone of the forelimbs. These dysfunctions may contribute to the deterioration of complex movement sequences that has been reported in aging rodent species.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats / Q000502:physiology*; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344 / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*