Rotarod

Rotarod test is a widely used, reliable behavioral assay designed to evaluate motor coordination, balance, and endurance in mouse models of disease

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The Rotarod is the golden standard for assessing motor performance, coordination, and learning in mice. A rodent (mouse or rat) is placed on a rotating cylinder, and the rotation speed gradually increases. Motor performance is measured by the maximal RPM (rounds per minute) at which the rodent can keep up with the rotating rod as well as latency (how long can the rodent stay on the rod before falling off). Motor learning can be assessed by training mice on the rod for several trials.

In preclinical neurology research, quantifying motor performance is crucial, particularly when assessing candidate compounds’ efficacy on conditions like Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, or even studying drug-induced side effects. This test allows you to observe how well a rodent can maintain balance on a rotating cylinder, revealing motor deficits or improvements over time. As part of InnoSer’s innovative preclinical neurology CRO solutions, rotarod is commonly used in combination with several other motor tests, such as Grip Strength test, Balance Beam, or CatWalk automated gait analysis system. However, as each motor function test is unique, targeting different motor function skills in rodents, we recommend you discuss the most appropriate motor function behavioral test battery with our neurology study directors.

Rodent Behavioral Testing Overview Page

Example data featuring the rotarod:

Rotarod can be used to measure motor function and endurance on a rotating rod.

Rotarod can be used to measure motor function and endurance on a rotating rod.

C57BL/10ScSnJ mdx mice show significant decreases in physical performance in the rotarod test in comparison to their WT litter mates at 4 weeks and 7 weeks of age (**P<0.001).

Rotarod can be used to measure motor function and endurance on a rotating rod.

Over a course of weeks, addition of cuprizone to the diet of mice induces demyelination enabling the study of efficacy of novel Multiple sclerosis compounds. The process of remyelination can be studied after discontinuation of the cuprizone diet. Typical readouts related to demyelination and neuroinflammation include motor tests such as the rotarod.

Rotarod can be used to measure motor function and endurance on a rotating rod.

Spastic mice fell from the rotarod at lower speed than WT controls, despite the reduction of rotarod performance overtime in both genotypes (P<0.0001).