Assessing Gait by Footprint Analysis: A Method to Test Motor Coordination in Mice

Abstract

Source: Sugimoto, H. and Kawakami, K. Low-cost Protocol of Footprint Analysis and Hanging Box Test for Mice Applied the Chronic Restraint Stress. J. Vis. Exp. (2019).

In this video, we describe the footprint testing procedure and related analysis to assess gait and motor coordination in mice.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Footprint Analysis

1. Set up the Runway (Figure 1A)
   1. Cut a piece of white paper (29.7 cm x 42 cm x 0.09 mm) longitudinally into three lengths of equal width. Set a piece of white paper (9.9 cm x 42 cm) on the table.
   2. Put the dark goal box at the distal end of the paper. Put other boxes (approximately the same length as that of the paper) with the walls on both sides of the runway, preventing the escape of mice.
   ....

Results

Figure 1. Footprint analysis. (A) Runway for footprint analysis. A foot-painted mouse (forelimbs: red ink; hindlimbs: black ink) was allowed to walk from the proximal end to the goal box. (B) Representative i.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Goal box	O’hara & Co.	http://ohara-time.co.jp/products/balanced-beam-test/	Accessory for apparatus of balanced beam test
Boxes	O’hara & Co.		Side wall of runway
Black ink 	Shin-asahi
Red ink	Maruyamakogyo	BC-6
Disposable Petri Dish	Corning	351008	Petri dish (35 mm in diameter)
Askul Multipaper Super White J Monochrome A3	Askul	701-712	White paper (29.7 cm x 42 cm x 0.09mm)