title: Rotarod motor performance and advanced spinal cord lesion image analysis refine assessment of neurodegeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a commonly used experimental model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Experience with this model mainly comes from the field of immunology, while data on its use in studying the neurodegenerative aspects of MS is scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this study is to improve and refine methods to assess neurodegeneration and function in EAE. Using the rotarod, a tool used in neuroscience to monitor motor performance, we evaluated the correlation between motor performance, disease severity as measured using a clinical scale and area covered by inflammatory lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The included parameters are highly correlated in a non-linear manner, with motor performance rapidly decreasing in the intermediate values of the clinical scale. The relation between motor performance and histopathological damage is exclusively determined by lesions in the ventral and lateral columns, based on a new method of analysis of the entire spinal cord. Using a set of definitions for distinct disease milestones, we quantified disease duration as well as severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rotarod measures motor performance in a more objective and quantitative manner compared to using a clinical score. The outcome shows a strong correlation to the surface area of inflammatory lesions in the motor systems of the spinal cord.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide an improved workflow for interpreting the outcome of EAE from a neurological point of view, with the eventual goal of dissecting neurodegeneration and evaluating neuroprotective drugs in EAE for application in MS.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jon D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Laman
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Meurs
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rogier Q
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Hintzen
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.hoogenraad@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Casper C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hoogenraad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000633:toxicity; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D037342:Pertussis Toxin
keywords: Animal experiment; Clinic-radiological paradox; Clinical score; Disability; Disease course quantification; EAE; Image analysis; Multiple sclerosis; Refinement