title: The Revised Neurobehavioral Severity Scale (NSS-R) for Rodents.
abstract: Motor and sensory deficits are common following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although rodent models provide valuable insight into the biological and functional outcomes of TBI, the success of translational research is critically dependent upon proper selection of sensitive, reliable, and reproducible assessments. Published literature includes various observational scales designed to evaluate post-injury functionality; however, the heterogeneity in TBI location, severity, and symptomology can complicate behavioral assessments. The importance of choosing behavioral outcomes that can be reliably and objectively quantified in an efficient manner is becoming increasingly important. The Revised Neurobehavioral Severity Scale (NSS-R) is a continuous series of specific, sensitive, and standardized observational tests that evaluate balance, motor coordination, and sensorimotor reflexes in rodents. The tasks follow a specific order designed to minimize interference: balance, landing, tail raise, dragging, righting reflex, ear reflex, eye reflex, sound reflex, tail pinch, and hindpaw pinch. The NSS-R has proven to be a reliable method differentiating brain-injured rodents from non-brain-injured rodents across many brain injury models.
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Yarnell
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Erin S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mountney
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shear
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tortella
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Neil E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Grunberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000150:complications*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D051379:Mice; D000068079:Motor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D057897:Reflex, Righting / Q000502:physiology; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: NSS-R; neurobehavioral severity scale revised; rat; traumatic brain injury