Cylinder test in rats
Veerle Baekelandt, María Sanchiz Calvo, Eduard Bentea
Published: 2024-02-13 DOI: 10.17504/protocols.io.kxygx36zdg8j/v1
Abstract
Protocol for performing the cylinder test in rats. The cylinder test evaluates asymmetry in forelimb use, and can be used in animal models with unilateral lesions of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway.
Steps
Test
1.
Bring cages to the behavioral room for at least 1h 0m 0s prior to the test for habituation
2.
Place each rat in a glass cylinder (20-cm wide), surrounded by mirrors to allow a full 360 degree view. Videotape from the front for 0h 5m 0s or until the rat performs a minimum of 20 weight-bearing forepaw contacts with the cylinder walls.
3.
Perform blinded analysis from the recorded videos of the number of contralateral forepaw contacts, and express these as a percentage of total forepaw contacts.
