A mechanographic method for measurement of locomotor activity in rats. Effects of dopaminergic drugs and electric stimulation of the brainstem.
A simple treadmill arrangement has been developed to quantify the quadruped or hindleg locomotor activity in rats. The method provides information on the accumulated distance passed by the rat in the treadmill but also on the temporal distribution of locomotion and the stepping cycle. It can be used with intact rats but also during stereotaxically guided electric stimulation of the brain. The accumulated locomotion produced by apomorphine showed a partly linear relation to the dose and the results were comparable to those found with other methods. The locomotor effect of brainstem stimulation was enhanced by apomorphine. This method combines the advantages of several other methods and is well suited as a tool for the analysis of nervous regulation of locomotor activity.
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D001971:Bromocriptine; D012110:Reserpine; D001058:Apomorphine