Motor Function Research
Injury to the central nervous system can lead to impairments in gait or some fine motor functions. In order to study the pathological mechanism or therapy of movement disorders, scientists use animal models that are comparable to the clinical disease to conduct pathophysiological researches of related diseases. Multiple behavioral tests have also been developed to detect and quantify motor impairment in animal models.
Our company is committed to applying our cutting-edge science to research related to motor dysfunction caused by central nervous system injury or other disorders, helping universities, hospitals and research institutions worldwide to make progress in motor dysfunction research.
Fig. 1 Primary sensory and motor areas.
Connection Between Brain and Motor Function
Each activity of the body involves a complex series of interactions between the central nervous system, peripheral nerves, and muscle groups. Injury or lesions in any part of this process can lead to abnormal motor function. The following descriptions list the different effects of damage to different parts of the nervous system on motor function.
| Brain Region | Symptoms of Disease |
|---|---|
| Injury to brain tissue or damage to the connection between the brain and spinal cord | Weakness or paralysis of voluntary muscle movements. |
| Injury to the basal ganglia | Presence of unintentional movement or reduced movement. |
| Cerebellum | Motor incoordination. |
Movement Disorders Due to Central Nervous System Disorders
Motor dysfunction is the main clinical manifestation of central nervous system diseases such as Parkinson's disease and cerebral ischemia. Therefore, motor function testing is an important component of behavioral testing in experimental animals.
| Parkinson's Disease | |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Caused by degenerative lesions in parts of the brain tissue that help coordinate movement. |
| Symptoms | Stiffness: muscle stiffness that makes movement difficult. Slower movement: movement becomes increasingly difficult due to joint stiffness and muscle weakness. Difficulty in maintaining balance and posture: body flexion and easy loss of balance. |
| Assessment of motor behavior in rodent PD models | Subjective motor observation: rating scale for AIMs. Objective motor observation: rotational behavior, spontaneous movement measurements, cylinder test, paw test, elevated body swing test, hindlimb clasping behavior, pole test, bar test, beam test, michigan complex motor control test, grid-walking test, treadmill test, rotarod test, automated running wheel test, the stepping test, the staircase test, the vermicelli handling test, sunflower seed test. |
Our company is focused on providing suitable animal models and behavioral assessment methods for basic research on motor-related functional mechanisms. We have a wealth of experience, a wide range of services and the research methods you need. If you are interested, please contact us and describe your specific research, and we will be happy to assist you.