title: An experimental evaluation of a new designed apparatus (NDA) for the rapid measurement of impaired motor function in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Assessment of the ability of rat to balance by rotarod apparatus (ROTA) is frequently used as a measure of impaired motor system function. Most of these methods have some disadvantages, such as failing to sense motor coordination rather than endurance and as the sensitivity of the method is low, more animals are needed to obtain statistically significant results.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have designed and tested a new designed apparatus (NDA) to measure motor system function in rats. Our system consists of a glass box containing 4 beams which placed with 1cm distance between them, two electrical motors for rotating the beams, and a camera to record the movements of the rats. The RPM of the beams is adjustable digitally between 0 and 50 rounds per minute.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated experimentally the capability of the NDA for the rapid measurement of impaired motor function in rats. Also we demonstrated that the sensitivity of the NDA increases by faster rotation speeds and may be more sensitive than ROTA for evaluating of impaired motor system function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Compared to a previous version of this task, our NDA provides a more efficient method to test rodents for studies of motor system function after impaired motor nervous system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, our NDA will allow high efficient monitoring of rat motor system function and may be more sensitive than ROTA for evaluating of impaired motor system function in rats.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Research Center and Department of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 15131-38111, Iran. Electronic address: Jarrahi44@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarrahi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Research Center and Department of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 15131-38111, Iran.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sedighi Moghadam
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Research Center and Department of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 15131-38111, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Torkmandi
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000633:toxicity; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Beam walking; Ethanol; Motor coordination; New designed apparatus; Rat; Rotarod