title: Behavioral analysis after sciatic nerve compression in albino rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Walking track analysis which has been widely used to examine the recovery of gait functions in rats with sciatic nerve injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was aimed to objectively analyze and quantify the degree of functional recovery in locomotor behavior of rats after inflicting sciatic nerve crush injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats trained on various runways, viz., narrow beam, grid and staircase, were subsequently tested following sciatic nerve crush injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Locomotor ability of injured rats on runways gradually recovered to the level that was not significantly different from their corresponding preoperative level by the sixth postoperative week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conventional run ways can be objectively used for quantification of the level of recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Rajah Muthiah Medical and Dental College, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, INDIA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Kelambakkam, Tamil Nadu - 603 103, INDIA.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mathangi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Rajah Muthiah Medical and Dental College, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, INDIA.
authors.forename: Jeraud
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai - 600 113, INDIA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Namasivayam
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Medical Center, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Babu R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Suresh
keywords: Behavioral tests; Locomotor behavior scoring technique; Run way; Sciatic nerve