RotaRod for Mice and Rats

Name: RotaRod for Mice and Rats
Brand: Ugo Basile
SKU: 47650/47750

Product Code:47650/47750

Category: Motory Coordination

The RotaRod is a simple test to assess motor function and coordination in rodents. Motor coordination or fatigue can be evaluated by measuring the time the animal stays on a rotating rod before falling. The Rod can rotate at constant, accelerating, rocking (back and forth) or through complex acceleration/deceleration ramps, thanks to the included PC software XPad.

The Ugo Basile RotaRod is the 1st and original, invented after the Dunham and Miya method (1957) and today has more than 6,200 citations in the literature. Ugo Basile Rotarod comes in a mouse 5-lane version, in a Rat 4-lane version and in a “Obese Rat” version, plus Rod Adapters to enlarge the diameter of the rod.

Detailed description +-

Background

The rotarod test, invented by Dunham and Miya (1957) and transformed into a science-grade device by Ugo Basile, is one of the oldest used in assessing the effects of a drug on animal behavior. Today it is obviously used in phenotyping and not only in drug screening.

Drugs (e.g. benzodiazepines) or specific phenotypes alter neuromuscular coordination and hence the time that the mouse or rat remains on the rotating rod.

Multiple animals can be tested at the same time and several protocols exist to train and assess the motory coordination through the falling time.

The output results include for each lane:

Time elapsed
Revolutions
Distance
Speed
Rotating mode

System components and main features

The Ugo Basile Rotarod comes complete with:
- An electronic unit with touch screen to set all parameters and save data
- USB port to save data and export them in CSV files
- A PC software to build custom rotation ramps and populate your animal vivarium
Additional features include:
- TTL input/outputs for trip box status and start/stop of the test
- COM port for maintenance purposes
- Ethernet port for support and maintenance (to be used at the factory only)

Features & Benefits +-

Feature	Benefit
Constant, rocking, accelerating and complex accelerating ramps	Flexibility for performing virtually all types of motor function and coordination behavioral experiments
Mouse-Rat combination package	The same device cannot be used effectively (think of cleaning) or rats and mice without risk of confounding factors, so a highly discounted package is available for those that buy the two models.
Optional Rod enlarger	It allows to test different animal models and also to vary the test difficulty without acting on the speed or mode
Speed adjustable from 3 to 80 RPMs and multiple modes (constant, rocking, accelerating, complex accelerating ramps)	Allows for a very broad range of animal models and experimental settings
Control unit and USB key saving	No need to connect a PC
Automatic conversion of data into CSV files for the USB stick	Possibility to open files in Excel
PC software	Possibility to populate your vivarium of animals and to build complex temperature ramps

Specifications +-

General
Commands	4,3” touch-screen, usable with gloves
Read-out	Touch-screen and PC (via USB key)
Power Requirement	Universal input 100-240 VAC, 50-60Hz, 40W max.
Sound Level	< 60 dB (A)
Operating Temperature	10° to 40° C
Trip Box	Stainless-steel to ease sterilization
Dimensions
Animal	Mice	Rats	Fat Rats
Lanes	5 lanes for mice	4 lanes for Rats	4 lanes
Rod diameter	3 cm	6 cm	8 cm
Rod Width	5,8 cm	8,7 cm	12 cm
Fall Height	16 cm	30 cm	40 cm
Operation
Speed	Adjustable from 3 to 80 RPM, in steps of 1 RPM (Custom ramp mode allows start from 0RPM)
Mode	Constant, ramp, reverse ramp, custom ramp and rocking
Start/Stop	From the touch-screen
Detection	Trip box magnetic sensor
Results	Time Elapsed, Revolutions, Distance, Speed, Mode for each lane
Data Acquisition	.csv exported file (via USB key)
Data Portability	By USB flash drive
TTL Output	Trip box status, rotating direction, start/stop experiment
Data Out	exported to .cvs
Data In	Import protocol and custom ramps
Physical
Total Weight	11 Kg	15 Kg	17 Kg
Shipping Weight	16 Kg	21 Kg	40 Kg
Dimensions	46 x 28 x 33 cm	55 x 46 x 57 cm	70 x 46 x 65 cm
Packing Dimensions	70 x 36 x 46 cm	70 x 36 x 46 cm	77 x 65 x 83 cm
Warranty
Warranty	Mouse Rotarod is covered by a 12 months warranty + 12 months upon product registration
UB-Care	Additional UB-Care can be added for additional 12 or 24 months

Application +-

The RotaRod test is commonly used in combination with other motor tests, such as grip strength and hanging test to measure, motor function, coordination and balance.

The test starts with a training trial with the animals placed on the rod rotating at the lowest speed. A time threshold (e.g. 1 minute) is set, below which the animal is immediately put back on the RotaRod until it stays on the rod for the threshold time.

After training, the real trials start and the latency to fall as well as the other parameters (see above) are recorded.

The classic test was run at constant speed, but already in the ‘60s (Jones and Roberts, 1968), the advantages of using accelerating modes were shown, through training reduction, increased sensitivity and statistical significance.

The test is used to test motor deficits in the most common animal models of Parkinson’s, ALS, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, brain injury and many more.

Ordering informations +-

RotaRod includes:
47650-320	Stainless-Steel Trip-Box (5 are provided with standard package)
E-AU 101	USB pen drive, including instruction Manual and X-PAD Software Package
Options
47650-325	Mouse RotaRod rod enlargers 60 mm (5 pieces)
47650-UBC12	UB Care 12 Additional hardware warranty extension 12 months for Mouse RotaRod
47650-UBC24	UB Care 24 Additional hardware warranty extension 24 months for Mouse RotaRod