METHOD FOR ASSESSMENT OF OPERABILITY OF ANTERIOR EXTREMITIES IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS Russian patent published in 2020 - IPC G09B23/28 

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention refers to medicine, namely to experimental biology, and can be used to assess operability of anterior extremities in experimental rats. That is ensured by five tests with subsequent scoring. First test involves a ladder made of iron or plastic and having the following dimensions: the length of ladder is 66 cm, the diameter of each crossbar is 1.5–2 mm, the distance between crossbeams is 1 cm. Rat is held by weight behind the root of the tail and is given possibility of being touched by front feet to one of vertically fixed ladder racks. Then, it is attempted to pull it away from the crossbeam. Each arm is evaluated separately on the following scale: grip and hold of the leg on the crossbar - the rat tries to escape from the hands of the experimenter and does not release the crossbar for more than 10 seconds - is evaluated as 2 points, captures, but after 5–10 seconds releases crossbar - 1.5 points, captures and holds crossbar for 2–4 seconds - 1 point, captures but does not retain crossbar - 0.5 points, there is no grip and hold crossbar - 0 points. At the second test, the rat is held behind the body, both front legs are brought to the lowest vertical bar of the vertical ladder and simultaneously with this rat is released so that it is hanging on the lower crossbar, having grasped it only by front feet, and hind legs remain without support. If the rat is pulled up by the front extremities and turns out to be all four extremities on the stairs, it is assessed as 2 points, hangs for at least 30 seconds, but can not rise up - 1 point, hangs less than 30 seconds and falls down - 0 points. During the third testing, the ladder is divided into three identical segments, each of which is equal to 22 cm and, creeping each third, rat receives 1 point, maximum 3 points. Performing the fourth testing and if the rat stops on any section of the ladder, in this case it gets 0 points, if the rat climbs up the stairs without additional stimulation, then it is evaluated as 1 point. In the fifth test, if the rat is taken up the ladder in a straight line, without any additional lateral movements of either the right or left front extremity, it is evaluated as 1 point, in case if rat starts to perform lateral circular motions of any front limbs - 0 points. Data of the five tests obtained for the right and left extremities are summarized, and if the total score is 10–11, the operability of the forelegs is assessed as normal, and if the total score is less than 10, the lower extremity health is assessed.

EFFECT: method provides adequate assessment of operability of anterior extremities in a rat by determining motion activity of front legs and coordination of movements.

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