We would like to acknowledge Sid Chedrawe for his technical assistance with filming. This work was supported by funding from the MS Society of Canada (EGID 2983).

This protocol is in accordance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care guidelines and was approved by the Dalhousie University Committee on Laboratory Animals.
1. Construct Reflective Markers:
<ol>
	<li>Using a hand-held hole punch, punch the desired number of small circles from a sheet of reflective paper. Each animal requires 5 markers for a single recording; two large and three small markers.</li>
	<li>Using fine scissors, make a straight cut extending from the perimeter to the center of...

<ol>
	<li>Giladi, N., Horak, F. B., Hausdorff, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Classification+of+gait+disturbances:+distinguishing+between+continuous+and+episodic+changes.">Classification of gait disturbances: distinguishing between continuous and episodic changes.</a> Mov Disord. 28 (11), 1469-1473 (2013).</li><li>Kiehn, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Decoding+the+organization+of+spinal+circuits+that+control+locomotion.">Decoding the organization of spinal circuits that control locomotion.</a> Nat Rev Neurosci. 17 (4), 224-238 (2016).</li><li>Akay, T., Tourtellotte, W. G., Arber, S., Jessell, T. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Degradation+of+mouse+locomotor+pattern+in+the+absence+of+proprioceptive+sensory+feedback.">Degradation of mouse locomotor pattern in the absence of proprioceptive sensory feedback.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 111 (47), 16877-16882 (2014).</li><li>Hafezparast, M., Ahmad-Annuar, A., Wood, N. W., Tabrizi, S. J., Fisher, E. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+models+for+neurological+disease.">Mouse models for neurological disease.</a> Lancet Neurol. 1 (4), 215-224 (2002).</li><li>Basso, D. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Basso+Mouse+Scale+for+locomotion+detects+differences+in+recovery+after+spinal+cord+injury+in+five+common+mouse+strains.">Basso Mouse Scale for locomotion detects differences in recovery after spinal cord injury in five common mouse strains.</a> J Neurotrauma. 23 (5), 635-659 (2006).</li><li>Tatem, K. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavioral+and+locomotor+measurements+using+an+open+field+activity+monitoring+system+for+skeletal+muscle+diseases.">Behavioral and locomotor measurements using an open field activity monitoring system for skeletal muscle diseases.</a> J Vis Exp. (91), e51785 (2014).</li><li>Hetze, S., Romer, C., Teufelhart, C., Meisel, A., Engel, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gait+analysis+as+a+method+for+assessing+neurological+outcome+in+a+mouse+model+of+stroke.">Gait analysis as a method for assessing neurological outcome in a mouse model of stroke.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 206 (1), 7-14 (2012).</li><li>Preisig, D. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-speed+video+gait+analysis+reveals+early+and+characteristic+locomotor+phenotypes+in+mouse+models+of+neurodegenerative+movement+disorders.">High-speed video gait analysis reveals early and characteristic locomotor phenotypes in mouse models of neurodegenerative movement disorders.</a> Behav Brain Res. 311, 340-353 (2016).</li><li>Leblond, H., L'Esperance, M., Orsal, D., Rossignol, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Treadmill+locomotion+in+the+intact+and+spinal+mouse.">Treadmill locomotion in the intact and spinal mouse.</a> J Neurosci. 23 (36), 11411-11419 (2003).</li><li>Ueno, M., Yamashita, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kinematic+analyses+reveal+impaired+locomotion+following+injury+of+the+motor+cortex+in+mice.">Kinematic analyses reveal impaired locomotion following injury of the motor cortex in mice.</a> Exp Neurol. 230 (2), 280-290 (2011).</li><li>Zorner, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Profiling+locomotor+recovery:+comprehensive+quantification+of+impairments+after+CNS+damage+in+rodents.">Profiling locomotor recovery: comprehensive quantification of impairments after CNS damage in rodents.</a> Nat Methods. 7 (9), 701-708 (2010).</li><li>Pearson, K. G., Acharya, H., Fouad, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+electrode+configuration+for+recording+electromyographic+activity+in+behaving+mice.">A new electrode configuration for recording electromyographic activity in behaving mice.</a> J Neurosci Methods. 148 (1), 36-42 (2005).</li><li>Balkaya, M., Krober, J. M., Rex, A., Endres, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessing+post-stroke+behavior+in+mouse+models+of+focal+ischemia.">Assessing post-stroke behavior in mouse models of focal ischemia.</a> J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 33 (3), 330-338 (2013).</li><li>Akay, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long-term+measurement+of+muscle+denervation+and+locomotor+behavior+in+individual+wild-type+and+ALS+model+mice.">Long-term measurement of muscle denervation and locomotor behavior in individual wild-type and ALS model mice.</a> J Neurophysiol. 111 (3), 694-703 (2014).</li><li>Taylor, T. N., Greene, J. G., Miller, G. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavioral+phenotyping+of+mouse+models+of+Parkinson's+disease.">Behavioral phenotyping of mouse models of Parkinson's disease.</a> Behav Brain Res. 211 (1), 1-10 (2010).</li><li>Chen, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+Histopathological+and+Behavioral+Outcomes+Eight+Weeks+after+Rat+Spinal+Cord+Injury+by+Contusion,+Dislocation,+and+Distraction+Mechanisms.">Differential Histopathological and Behavioral Outcomes Eight Weeks after Rat Spinal Cord Injury by Contusion, Dislocation, and Distraction Mechanisms.</a> J Neurotrauma. 33 (18), 1667-1684 (2016).</li><li>de Bruin, N. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multiple+rodent+models+and+behavioral+measures+reveal+unexpected+responses+to+FTY720+and+DMF+in+experimental+autoimmune+encephalomyelitis.">Multiple rodent models and behavioral measures reveal unexpected responses to FTY720 and DMF in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.</a> Behav Brain Res. 300, 160-174 (2016).</li><li>Steinman, L., Zamvil, S. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+to+successfully+apply+animal+studies+in+experimental+allergic+encephalomyelitis+to+research+on+multiple+sclerosis.">How to successfully apply animal studies in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis to research on multiple sclerosis.</a> Ann Neurol. 60 (1), 12-21 (2006).</li><li>Emerson, M. R., Gallagher, R. J., Marquis, J. G., LeVine, S. 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The authors declare that they have nothing to disclose.

In mice with EAE, the two most common methods of measuring motor deficits are clinical scoring and fall latency from a rotarod27,28. These techniques have several limitations. Although convenient and widely used, clinical scoring is limited by yielding only ordinal level data, meaning that the magnitude of the differences between clinical scores are not known. Clinical scoring also suffers from being unable to provide precise information about the nature of the m...

Gait is a series of repetitive movements of the limbs used to achieve locomotion. Gait is comprised of step cycles, which are divided into two phases: the stance phase, which is when the foot is moving backwards on the ground to propel the body forwards; and the swing phase, where the foot is off the ground and moving forwards. Disturbances of gait are hallmark features of many neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson&#39;s disease (PD), and stroke; preclinical rodent models of these disorders often recapitulate their respective gait impairments1. The basic control mechanisms of locomotion in mice have been intensively studied2,3. Additionally, there are mouse models of many human neurological disorders4. Gait analysis in mice is therefore an attractive approach to measure multiple aspects of motor deficits that have known anatomical correlates. The study of gait in mouse models may provide insights into the neuropathological bases of locomotor deficits in neurodegenerative disorders, and enable the identification of potential treatments.
Some techniques that have been used to measure gait in rodents include visual inspection (e.g., the Basso mouse scale5 and open field test6) and analysis of gait from the ventral plane7. More recently, methods to measure sagittal plane kinematics of hindlimb movements have gained popularity because they provide more information about the execution of movement and consequently are more sensitive to subtle changes in gait8,9,10,11. Kinematic techniques developed to study hindlimb movement in sagittal plane while walking on a treadmill9,12 have been extensively studied in the context of SCI, ALS, traumatic cortical injuries, stroke, and Huntington&#39;s disease8,9,10,11,13,14,15,16. In contrast, these techniques have seen limited use in the study of locomotor deficits for mouse models of multiple sclerosis17.
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used mouse model of MS18. The two main methods of inducing EAE is via active or passive inoculation. In active EAE, mice are immunized with myelin antigens, causing autoreactive T cell-mediated neuroinflammation and demyelination in the spinal cord and cerebellum. Passive EAE, on the other hand, is induced by transferring autoreactive T cells from a mouse with active EAE to a na&#239;ve mouse19. As described elsewhere, the disease course and neuropathology are influenced by the central nervous system (CNS) antigen and mouse strain20,21,22,23,24,25. In EAE experiments, control mice are injected with complete Freund&#39;s adjuvant (CFA) without the myelin antigen. EAE is characterized by ascending paralysis that begins with tail weakness and can potentially involve the forelimbs, resulting in ataxia and paralysis20. We have recently characterized gait changes in C57Bl/6 mice subjected to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG35-55)-induced EAE. These studies have shown gait analysis to be superior than classical behavioral analysis because deviations from normal ankle movement are highly correlated with the degree of white matter loss in the lumbar spinal cord of EAE mice26. By contrast, the strength of the correlation between white matter loss and two other traditional behavioral measures (clinical scoring and rotarod) was much weaker26.
We describe here the use of kinematic gait analysis to detect movement deficits in the sagittal plane of EAE mice walking on a treadmill. Five reflective markers were placed on a hindlimb to identify movement of the hip, knee, and ankle joints in high-speed video recordings. Motion analysis software was used to extract kinematic data about joint excursions. The utility of these techniques to quantify movement deficits for the MOG35-55 model of EAE are discussed. These techniques are also applicable to the study of gait deficits in other mouse models of neurodegenerative disorders.

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	<tbody>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:216px;">Camera</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Nikon</td>
			<td style="width:344px;">Nikon D750</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to film the video</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Reflective tape</td>
			<td>B&#38;L Engineering</td>
			<td>MKR-Tape-2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Fine scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>15023-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11252-20</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Glue gun</td>
			<td>Craftsmart</td>
			<td>E231647</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">scalpel handle #4</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>R5-9884</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Scalpel Blade No.10</td>
			<td>Feather</td>
			<td>2020-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">C57BL/6 mice</td>
			<td>Charles River Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:344px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Anesthetic machine</td>
			<td>EZ Anesthesia</td>
			<td>EZ-AF9000 Auto Flow System</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Recirculating water heating blanket</td>
			<td>Androit</td>
			<td>HTP-1500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">topical eye lubricant</td>
			<td>Refresh</td>
			<td>DIN00210889</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Shaver</td>
			<td>Oster</td>
			<td>78997-010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">High speed camera</td>
			<td>Fastec</td>
			<td>Fastec IL3-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">High power light</td>
			<td>Smith Victor Corporation</td>
			<td>Model 700 SG (600 Watt quartz light, 120 Volts)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Light Stand</td>
			<td>Promaster</td>
			<td>LS1</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Treadmill</td>
			<td colspan="2">Custom built at the Zoological Institute, University of Cologne</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Microsoft Excel 2016</td>
			<td>Microsoft</td>
			<td>Version 2016</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">KinemaJ</td>
			<td>Nicolas Stifani</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>This is a script generated for use with ImageJ</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">KinemaR</td>
			<td>Nicolas Stifani</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>This is a script generated for use with Rstudio</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;">Vicon Motus</td>
			<td>Vicon Motus</td>
			<td>Version 9.00</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">GraphPad Prism</td>
			<td>GraphPad</td>
			<td>Version 6.00</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

sagittal plane kinematic gait analysis in c57bl/6 mice subjected to mog35-55 induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Kinematic gait analysis in the sagittal plane has frequently been used to characterize motor deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS). We describe the application of these techniques to identify gait deficits in a mouse model of MS, known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Paralysis and motor deficits in mice subjected to EAE are typically assessed using a clinical scoring scale. However, this scale yields only ordinal data that provides little information about the precise nature of the motor deficits. EAE disease severity has also been assessed by rotarod performance, which provides a measure of general motor coordination. By contrast, kinematic gait analysis of the hind limb in the sagittal plane generates highly precise information about how movement is impaired. To perform this procedure, reflective markers are placed on a hind limb to detect joint movement while a mouse is walking on a treadmill. Motion analysis software is used to measure movement of the markers during walking. Kinematic gait parameters are then derived from the resultant data. We show how these gait parameters can be used to quantify impaired movements of the hip, knee, and ankle joints in EAE. These techniques may be used to better understand disease mechanisms and identify potential treatments for MS and other neurodegenerative disorders that impair mobility.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the procedure used for kinematic gait analysis. First, reflective markers are made and placed on a mouse at 5 anatomical points. Gait is then recorded while the mouse is walking on a treadmill. Motion analysis software is used to extract kinematic data for subsequent analysis.
Figure 2A-C represent the step cycle of a control CFA mouse for the hip, knee, and ankle joint angles...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Sagittal Plane Kinematic Gait Analysis in C57BL/6 Mice Subjected to MOG35-55 Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis at JoVE.com

Sagittal Plane Kinematic Gait Analysis in C57BL/6 Mice Subjected to MOG35-55 Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Kinematic gait analysis in the sagittal plane yields highly precise information about how movement is executed. We describe the application of these techniques to identify gait deficits for mice subjected to autoimmune-mediated demyelination. These methods may also be used to characterize gait deficits for other mouse models featuring impaired locomotion.

Kinematic gait analysis in the sagittal plane has frequently been used to characterize motor deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS). We describe the ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to measure functional motor impairments in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis or EAE, mouse model multiple sclerosis using kinematic gait analysis. The application of kinematic gait analysis to mouse-walking behavior has been previously established and described by others. Neurological deficits in an EAE result from neural inflammation and sporadic white matter loss throughout the spinal cord and the cerebellum.Traditionally, motor stability in EAE mice has been assessed using clinical scoring systems, in which mice are assigned a clinical score based on the observer's impression of the severity of motor deficits. Data from clinical scores are ordinal and do not correlate well with the spinal cord histopathology. Kinematic gait analysis has recently been shown to be a better behavioral correlate of white matter loss than clinical scores, in addition to providing an objective description of walking deficits in the EAE mice.This technique involves placing reflective markers on the high limbs of mice and allowing them to walk on a treadmill while being recorded with a high-speed camera. Kinematic parameters are then extracted from the video using motion analysis software. The first step is to make the markers that will be placed on the animal's hind leg.The reflection of light off of these markers allows the coordinates of anatomical points on the leg to be extracted from the videos. To begin, punch the desired number of circles from the sheet of reflective paper. Each mouse requires five markers per recording, two large and three small.Using fine scissors, make a cut extending from the perimeter to the center of the circle. Peel off the paper backing to reveal the adhesive surface using fine forceps. Grip the marker with forceps and using your finger, roll the marker in on itself to form a cone.To make a small marker, make a longer cut and curl the cone more tightly. To make a large marker, make a shorter cut and curl the cone more loosely. Using a hot glue gun, fill the inside of the cone with glue and adhere it to a piece of cardboard.It is important to fully fill the marker with glue to prevent the marker from collapsing when handling during recording. Once the glue is dry, cut the marker off using a scalpel. Ensure that you cut away from your body.The next step is to prepare the animal for recording. To do this, the reflective markers must be adhered to the hind limb of the mouse at the proper anatomical locations. This is conducted under light anesthesia.Place the mouse in an induction chamber and anesthetize with 2.5%isoflurane. Once unconscious, transfer the mouse from the induction chamber to a nose cone or a recirculating water heating pad. Apply a topical lubricant to both eyes.Shave the desired hind limb extending from the ankle to the spine and the bottom of the ribs. In this demonstration, we are recoding movements of the right hind limb, but either or both limbs may be used. Locate the iliac crest by bringing both knees together with your thumb and forefinger and palpating just below the ribs.Mark this location using a permanent marker. Locate the hip by extending the leg and moving it back and forth. Place a marker over the hip joint, which is the point of articulation between the head of the femur and the pelvis.Using a flexible ruler, measure and record the length of the tibia or shank of the mouse. Measure and record the length of the femur or thigh as well. To isolate the fourth toe for marker placement, tape down the rest of the foot.Grasp a small marker with forceps and dip the flat end in glue. Place the small marker on the tip of the fourth toe. Place another small marker on the metatarsophalangeal joint.Place the last small marker on the ankle. Place a large marker on the hip joint directly over the mark on the skin. Place the second large marker on the mark over the iliac crest.Remove the tape from the foot. Place the mouse in a recovery cage and transport immediately to the gait recording room. The next step is recording the mouse walking on a treadmill.This picture is of our treadmill recording setup, showing the light, high-speed camera, and treadmill. Prior to recording the mouse's gait, take a picture of a calibration block with known dimensions on the treadmill. This will allow the pixels in the video to be converted to real measurements.It is critical that the camera angle and position at which the calibration picture is taken remains the same during the recording of walking behavior. Place the mouse in the treadmill. Increase the treadmill's speed gradually to orient the mouse in the correct direction.Slowly accelerate to 20 centimeters per second, which is the ideal running speed for obtaining recordings of steady gait. For accurate analysis, it's best to record eight to 12 step cycles of steady walking behavior. This is an example of consistent walking.The following is the same video shown at half speed. Because mice walk so quickly, it can be useful to view the videos at slower speeds to count step cycles and to better appreciate the gait pattern. This is one example of an EAE mouse walking on the treadmill.This mouse is unable to support its body weight as its pelvis is very low to the ground. Additionally, it is having difficulty lifting its foot off the ground during the swing phase. This is an example of another EAE mouse that has less severe motor deficits.The EAE mouse is walking on its toes with reduced movement at the ankle joint. This gives the mouse an uneven gait. The following are examples of behaviors that will compound analysis.Recordings, including these behaviors, should not be used. Lagging occurs when the mouse stops walking and travels to the back of the treadmill, but then resumes walking. This may occur in any mouse, but will occur more frequently at lower speeds.Rearing occurs when the mouse shifts its weight on its back hind limbs and raises its head and upper body. This behavior is common in anxious mice. The following are examples of poor lighting that will lead to issues with analysis of the markers'position in time and space.If the lighting is too dim, markers may not reflect enough light to be recognized by the computer software. In this video, the toe markers are not easily visible due to insufficient lighting. If the lighting is too bright, objects other than the markers may reflect too much light and be recognized as a marker.In this video, the toe markers appear to be merging with the reflective parts of the treadmill. Data from the reflective markers on mice walking can be used to create stick models of the leg from which kinematic parameters can be extracted. This is a recording of a mouse walking with a stick model of the leg superimposed.Note that in this video, there is a sixth marker on the knee, which is not necessary because the location of the knee can be triangulated from the positions of the hip and ankle joints, and the measured lengths of the femur and tibia. Because markers over the knee joint are often inaccurate due to skin slippage, triangulation is the preferred method. A mouse's step cycle can be divided into two main phases.The stance phase and the swing phase. This stick diagram can be used to qualitatively illustrate the movement of the hind limb in time and space. An example of this could be to assess the movement of the hind limb at different times points throughout the study.This example shows that the hind leg is compressed during the stance phase, indicating that the mouse has difficulty supporting its body weight. This is reflected by increased flexion of the knee and ankle joints. At the later time point, this has partially recovered.This video illustrates the relationship between the walking behavior and joint angles over time. The hip, knee, and ankle angle waveforms can be extracted from each recording. The joint angles can then be averaged over eight to 12 consecutive step cycles, resulting in an average step cycle that can be used for further analysis.This graph represents a knee joint waveform averaging from 10 consecutive step cycles. The data has been normalized, so that the length of the stance and swing phases are 100 frames respectively. The clear background represents the swing phase and the green background represents the stance phase.For this mouse, the walking behavior from week to week was very consistent and the step-cycle waveforms from each week overlapped considerably. However, there can also be substantial variability in gait in healthy mice as seen in this graph. The degree of variability shown here is acceptable and within the range of what might be expected from a mouse.This graph represents the knee step cycle from the EAE mouse recorded on three consecutive weeks. There is a slight change in the shape of the step cycle at week two and a substantial deviation by week three, which the mouse's knee is much more flexed and does not extend during walking. There are numerous parameters that can be measured using this technique.We'll briefly describe three. The average angle is obtained by averaging all angles throughout the normalized step cycle. In this instance, the average angle decreases throughout the study, suggesting that the mice are not extending their knees as much as normal.The range of motion is obtained by subtracting the smallest angle from the largest angle in the normalized step cycle. This parameter can give you insight into joint flexibility, rigidity, or weakness. In this example, the knee range of motion decreases throughout the study indicating that the mice are not able to move their knee normally, possibly due to muscle weakness.Root-Mean-Square difference is a method used to measure deviation of step-cycle waveforms from the baseline recording. This parameter tells you how much deviation there is from the initial recording. Kinematic gait analysis is a valuable technique that can be used to sensitively detect and describe changes in gait.The application of kinematic gait analysis to EAE studies may be a valuable tool in understanding the functional consequences of spinal cord pathology in this model. It may facilitate discovery of novel treatments for multiple sclerosis. Additionally, kinematic gait analysis is not limited to the context of EAE.This technique has previously been used in mouse models with spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease and stroke, and can be applied to other mouse models with neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease.

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JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

8.5K ビュー.  Dalhousie University. The overall goal of this procedure is to measure functional motor impairments in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis or EAE, mouse model multiple sclerosis using kinematic gait analysis. The application of kinematic gait analysis to mouse-walking behavior has been previously established and described by others. Neurological deficits in an EAE result from neural inflammation and sporadic white matter loss throughout the spinal cord and the cerebellum.Traditionally, motor stabi...