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Heinzel JC, Oberhauser V, Keibl C, Swiadek N, Längle G, Frick H, Kolbenschlag J, Prahm C, Grillari J, Hercher D. Evaluation of Functional Recovery in Rats After Median Nerve Resection and Autograft Repair Using Computerized Gait Analysis. Front Neurosci 2021; 14:593545. [PMID: 33551723 PMCID: PMC7859340 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.593545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Computerized gait analysis is a common evaluation method in rat models of hind limb nerve injuries, but its use remains unpublished in models of segmental nerve injury of the forelimb. It was the aim of this work to investigate if computerized gait analysis is a feasible evaluation method in a rat model of segmental median nerve injury and autograft repair. Ten male Lewis rats underwent 7-mm resection of the right median nerve with immediate autograft repair. The left median nerve was resected without repair and served as an internal control. Animals were assessed for 12 weeks after surgery via CatWalk (CW) gait analysis every 2 weeks. Evaluation of motor recovery by means of the grasping test was performed weekly while electrophysiological measurements were performed at the end of the observation period. CW data were correlated with grasping strength at each post-operative time point. CW data were also correlated with electrophysiology using linear regression analysis. Principal component analysis was performed to identify clusters of outcome metrics. Recovery of motor function was observable 4 weeks after surgery, but grasping strength was significantly reduced (p < 0.01) compared to baseline values until post-operative week 6. In terms of sensory recovery, the pain-related parameter Duty Cycle showed significant (p < 0.05) recovery starting from post-operative week 8. The Print Area of the right paw was significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared to the left side starting from post-operative week 10. Various parameters of gait correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with mean and maximum grasping strength. However, only Stand Index showed a significant correlation with compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude (p < 0.05). With this work, we prove that computerized gait analysis is a valid and feasible method to evaluate functional recovery after autograft repair of the rat median nerve. We were able to identify parameters such as Print Area, Duty Cycle, and Stand Index, which allow assessment of nerve regeneration. The course of these parameters following nerve resection without repair was also assessed. Additionally, external paw rotation was identified as a valid parameter to evaluate motor reinnervation. In summary, computerized gait analysis is a valuable additional tool to study nerve regeneration in rats with median nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes C Heinzel
- Department of Hand, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Trauma Center Tuebingen, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Viola Oberhauser
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Keibl
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Swiadek
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Längle
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helen Frick
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonas Kolbenschlag
- Department of Hand, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Trauma Center Tuebingen, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Cosima Prahm
- Department of Hand, Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, BG Trauma Center Tuebingen, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Johannes Grillari
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Hercher
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
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Heinzel J, Längle G, Oberhauser V, Hausner T, Kolbenschlag J, Prahm C, Grillari J, Hercher D. Use of the CatWalk gait analysis system to assess functional recovery in rodent models of peripheral nerve injury – a systematic review. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 345:108889. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Ronchi G, Morano M, Fregnan F, Pugliese P, Crosio A, Tos P, Geuna S, Haastert-Talini K, Gambarotta G. The Median Nerve Injury Model in Pre-clinical Research - A Critical Review on Benefits and Limitations. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:288. [PMID: 31316355 PMCID: PMC6609919 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The successful introduction of innovative treatment strategies into clinical practise strongly depends on the availability of effective experimental models and their reliable pre-clinical assessment. Considering pre-clinical research for peripheral nerve repair and reconstruction, the far most used nerve regeneration model in the last decades is the sciatic nerve injury and repair model. More recently, the use of the median nerve injury and repair model has gained increasing attention due to some significant advantages it provides compared to sciatic nerve injury. Outstanding advantages are the availability of reliable behavioural tests for assessing posttraumatic voluntary motor recovery and a much lower impact on the animal wellbeing. In this article, the potential application of the median nerve injury and repair model in pre-clinical research is reviewed. In addition, we provide a synthetic overview of a variety of methods that can be applied in this model for nerve regeneration assessment. This article is aimed at helping researchers in adequately adopting this in vivo model for pre-clinical evaluation of peripheral nerve reconstruction as well as for interpreting the results in a translational perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Ronchi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Michela Morano
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Fregnan
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Pierfrancesco Pugliese
- Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale e Specialistica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Crosio
- UO Microchirurgia e Chirurgia della Mano, Ospedale Gaetano Pini, Milan, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Tos
- UO Microchirurgia e Chirurgia della Mano, Ospedale Gaetano Pini, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Geuna
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi Foundation (NICO), University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Kirsten Haastert-Talini
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN) Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Giovanna Gambarotta
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Kappos EA, Sieber PK, Engels PE, Mariolo AV, D'Arpa S, Schaefer DJ, Kalbermatten DF. Validity and reliability of the CatWalk system as a static and dynamic gait analysis tool for the assessment of functional nerve recovery in small animal models. Brain Behav 2017; 7:e00723. [PMID: 28729931 PMCID: PMC5516599 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A range of behavioral testing paradigms have been developed for the research of central and peripheral nerve injuries with the help of small animal models. Following any nerve repair strategy, improved functional outcome may be the most important evidence of axon regeneration. A novel automated gait analysis system, the CatWalk™, can measure dynamic as well as static gait patterns of small animals. Of most interest in detecting functional recovery are in particular dynamic gait parameters, coordination measures, and the intensity of the animals paw prints. This article is designed to lead to a more efficient choice of CatWalk parameters in future studies concerning the functional evaluation of nerve regeneration and simultaneously add to better interstudy comparability. METHODS The aims of the present paper are threefold: (1) to describe the functional method of CatWalk gait analysis, (2) to characterize different parameters acquired by CatWalk gait analysis, and to find the most frequently used parameters as well as (3) to compare their reliability and validity throughout the different studies. RESULTS In the reviewed articles, the most frequently used parameters were Swing Duration (30), Print Size (27), Stride Length (26), and Max Contact Area (24). Swing Duration was not only frequently used but was also the most reliable and valid parameter. Therefore, we hypothesize that Swing Duration constitutes an important parameter to be chosen for future studies, as it has the highest level of reliability and validity. CONCLUSION In conclusion, CatWalk can be used as a complementary approach to other behavioral testing paradigms to assess clinically relevant behavioral benefits, with the main advantage that this system demonstrates both static and dynamic gait parameters at the same time. Due to limited reliability and validity of certain parameters, we recommend that only the most frequently assessed parameters should be used in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth A Kappos
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery Department of Surgery University Hospital of Basel Basel Switzerland.,Division of Neuropathology Institute of Pathology University Hospital of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | - Patricia K Sieber
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery Department of Surgery University Hospital of Basel Basel Switzerland.,Division of Neuropathology Institute of Pathology University Hospital of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | - Patricia E Engels
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery Department of Surgery University Hospital of Basel Basel Switzerland.,Division of Neuropathology Institute of Pathology University Hospital of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | - Alessio V Mariolo
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of Surgery, Oncology and Stomatology University of Palermo Palermo Italy
| | - Salvatore D'Arpa
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of Surgery Ghent University Hospital Gent Belgium
| | - Dirk J Schaefer
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery Department of Surgery University Hospital of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | - Daniel F Kalbermatten
- Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery Department of Surgery University Hospital of Basel Basel Switzerland.,Division of Neuropathology Institute of Pathology University Hospital of Basel Basel Switzerland
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