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Wen TC, Sindhurakar A, Ramirez VC, Park H, Gupta D, Carmel JB. Targeted Infarction of the Internal Capsule in the Rat Using Microstimulation Guidance. Stroke 2019; 50:2531-2538. [PMID: 31390970 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.119.025646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background and Purpose- Lacunar strokes are subcortical infarcts with small size and high disability rates, largely due to injury of the corticospinal tract in the internal capsule (IC). Current rodent models of lacunar infarcts are created based on stereotactic coordinates. We tested the hypothesis that better understanding of the somatotopy of the IC and guiding the lesion with electrical stimulation would allow a more accurate lesion to the forelimb axons of the IC. Methods- We performed electrophysiological motor mapping and viral tracing to define the somatotopy of the IC of Sprague Dawley rats. For the lesion, we used an optrode, which contains an electrode to localize forelimb responses and an optical fiber to deliver light. The infarct was induced when light activated the photothrombotic agent Rose Bengal, which was administered systemically. Results- We found largely a separate distribution of the forelimb and hindlimb axons in the IC, both by microstimulation mapping and tract tracing. Microstimulation-guided IC lesions ablated the forelimb axons of the IC in rats and caused lasting forelimb impairments while largely preserving the hindlimb axons of the IC and surrounding gray matter. Conclusions- Stimulation guidance enabled selective and reproducible infarcts of the forelimb axons of the IC in rats. Visual Overview- An online visual overview is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong-Chun Wen
- From the Departments of Neurology and Orthopedics, Movement Recovery Laboratory, Carroll Labs, New York, NY (T.-C.W., A.S., H.P., J.B.C.)
| | - Anil Sindhurakar
- From the Departments of Neurology and Orthopedics, Movement Recovery Laboratory, Carroll Labs, New York, NY (T.-C.W., A.S., H.P., J.B.C.)
| | | | - HongGeun Park
- From the Departments of Neurology and Orthopedics, Movement Recovery Laboratory, Carroll Labs, New York, NY (T.-C.W., A.S., H.P., J.B.C.)
| | - Disha Gupta
- Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine (D.G.).,Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Langone Health, New York University (D.G.)
| | - Jason B Carmel
- From the Departments of Neurology and Orthopedics, Movement Recovery Laboratory, Carroll Labs, New York, NY (T.-C.W., A.S., H.P., J.B.C.)
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Sindhurakar A, Butensky SD, Carmel JB. Automated Forelimb Tasks for Rodents: Current Advantages and Limitations, and Future Promise. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2019; 33:503-512. [PMID: 31189409 DOI: 10.1177/1545968319855034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Rodent tests of function have advanced our understanding of movement, largely through the human training and testing and manual assessment. Tools such as reaching and grasping of a food pellet have been widely adopted because they are effective and simple to use. However, these tools are time-consuming, subjective, and often qualitative. Automation of training, testing, and assessment has the potential to increase efficiency while ensuring tasks are objective and quantitative. We detail new methods for automating rodent forelimb tests, including the use of pellet dispensers, sensors, computer vision, and home cage systems. We argue that limitations in existing forelimb tasks are driving the innovations in automated systems. We further argue that automated tasks partially address these limitations, and we outline necessary precautions and remaining challenges when adopting these types of tasks. Finally, we suggest attributes of future automated rodent assessment tools that can enable widespread adoption and help us better understand forelimb function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel D Butensky
- 2 Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
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Butensky SD, Bethea T, Santos J, Sindhurakar A, Meyers E, Sloan AM, Rennaker RL, Carmel JB. The Knob Supination Task: A Semi-automated Method for Assessing Forelimb Function in Rats. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28994796 PMCID: PMC5752340 DOI: 10.3791/56341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tasks that accurately measure dexterity in animal models are critical to understand hand function. Current rat behavioral tasks that measure dexterity largely use video analysis of reaching or food manipulation. While these tasks are easy to implement and are robust across disease models, they are subjective and laborious for the experimenter. Automating traditional tasks or creating new automated tasks can make the tasks more efficient, objective, and quantitative. Since rats are less dexterous than primates, central nervous system (CNS) injury produces more subtle deficits in dexterity, however, supination is highly affected in rodents and crucial to hand function in primates. Therefore, we designed a semi-automated task that measures forelimb supination in rats. Rats are trained to reach and grasp a knob-shaped manipulandum and turn the manipulandum in supination to receive a reward. Rats can acquire the skill within 20 ± 5 days. While the early part of training is highly supervised, much of the training is done without direct supervision. The task reliably and reproducibly captures subtle deficits after injury and shows functional recovery that accurately reflects clinical recovery curves. Analysis of data is performed by specialized software through a graphical user interface that is designed to be intuitive. We also give solutions to common problems encountered during training, and show that minor corrections to behavior early in training produce reliable acquisition of supination. Thus, the knob supination task provides efficient and quantitative evaluation of a critical movement for dexterity in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Eric Meyers
- Texas Biomedical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas
| | - Andrew M Sloan
- Texas Biomedical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas
| | - Robert L Rennaker
- Texas Biomedical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas
| | - Jason B Carmel
- Burke Medical Research Institute; Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College; Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College;
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Sindhurakar A, Mishra AM, Gupta D, Iaci JF, Parry TJ, Carmel JB. Clinically Relevant Levels of 4-Aminopyridine Strengthen Physiological Responses in Intact Motor Circuits in Rats, Especially After Pyramidal Tract Injury. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2017; 31:387-396. [PMID: 28107804 DOI: 10.1177/1545968316688800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) is a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug to improve motor function in people with multiple sclerosis. Preliminary results suggest the drug may act on intact neural circuits and not just on demyelinated ones. OBJECTIVE To determine if 4-AP at clinically relevant levels alters the excitability of intact motor circuits. METHODS In anesthetized rats, electrodes were placed over motor cortex and the dorsal cervical spinal cord for electrical stimulation, and electromyogram electrodes were inserted into biceps muscle to measure responses. The motor responses to brain and spinal cord stimulation were measured before and for 5 hours after 4-AP administration both in uninjured rats and rats with a cut lesion of the pyramidal tract. Blood was collected at the same time as electrophysiology to determine drug plasma concentration with a goal of 20 to 100 ng/mL. RESULTS We first determined that a bolus infusion of 0.32 mg/kg 4-AP was optimal: it produced on average 61.5 ± 1.8 ng/mL over the 5 hours after infusion. This dose of 4-AP increased responses to spinal cord stimulation by 1.3-fold in uninjured rats and 3-fold in rats with pyramidal tract lesion. Responses to cortical stimulation also increased by 2-fold in uninjured rats and up to 4-fold in the injured. CONCLUSION Clinically relevant levels of 4-AP strongly augment physiological responses in intact circuits, an effect that was more robust after partial injury, demonstrating its broad potential in treating central nervous system injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asht M Mishra
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Disha Gupta
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA.,2 Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Jason B Carmel
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA.,2 Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Sindhurakar A, Butensky SD, Meyers E, Santos J, Bethea T, Khalili A, Sloan AP, Rennaker RL, Carmel JB. An Automated Test of Rat Forelimb Supination Quantifies Motor Function Loss and Recovery After Corticospinal Injury. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2016; 31:122-132. [PMID: 27530125 DOI: 10.1177/1545968316662528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodents are the primary animal model of corticospinal injury and repair, yet current behavioral tests do not show the large deficits after injury observed in humans. Forearm supination is critical for hand function and is highly impaired by corticospinal injury in both humans and rats. Current tests of rodent forelimb function do not measure this movement. OBJECTIVE To determine if quantification of forelimb supination in rats reveals large-scale functional loss and partial recovery after corticospinal injury. METHODS We developed a knob supination device that quantifies supination using automated and objective methods. Rats in a reaching box have to grasp and turn a knob in supination in order to receive a food reward. Performance on this task and the single pellet reaching task were measured before and after 2 manipulations of the pyramidal tract: a cut lesion of 1 pyramid and inactivation of motor cortex using 2 different drug doses. RESULTS A cut lesion of the corticospinal tract produced a large deficit in supination. In contrast, there was no change in pellet retrieval success. Supination function recovered partially over 6 weeks after injury, and a large deficit remained. Motor cortex inactivation produced a dose-dependent loss of knob supination; the effect on pellet reaching was more subtle. CONCLUSIONS The knob supination task reveals in rodents 3 signature hand function changes observed in humans with corticospinal injury: (1) large-scale loss with injury, (2) partial recovery in the weeks after injury, and (3) loss proportional to degree of dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eric Meyers
- 2 The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Joshua Santos
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Thelma Bethea
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Ashley Khalili
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA.,3 City University of New York Medical School, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew P Sloan
- 2 The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | | | - Jason B Carmel
- 1 Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, USA.,4 Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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Meyers E, Sindhurakar A, Choi R, Solorzano R, Martinez T, Sloan A, Carmel J, Kilgard MP, Rennaker RL, Hays S. The supination assessment task: An automated method for quantifying forelimb rotational function in rats. J Neurosci Methods 2016; 266:11-20. [PMID: 26976724 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurological injuries or disease can impair the function of motor circuitry controlling forearm supination, and recovery is often limited. Preclinical animal models are essential tools for developing therapeutic interventions to improve motor function after neurological damage. Here we describe the supination assessment task, an automated measure of quantifying forelimb supination in the rat. NEW METHOD Animals were trained to reach out of a slot in a cage, grasp a spherical manipulandum, and supinate the forelimb. The angle of the manipulandum was measured using a rotary encoder. If the animal exceeded the predetermined turn angle, a reward pellet was delivered. This automated task provides a large, high-resolution dataset of turn angle over time. Multiple parameters can be measured including success rate, peak turn angle, turn velocity, area under the curve, and number of rotations per trial. The task provides a high degree of flexibility to the user, with both software and hardware parameters capable of being adjusted. RESULTS We demonstrate the supination assessment task can effectively measure significant deficits in multiple parameters of rotational motor function for multiple weeks in two models of ischemic stroke. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Preexisting motor assays designed to measure forelimb supination in the rat require high-speed video analysis techniques. This operant task provides a high-resolution, quantitative end-point dataset of turn angle, which obviates the necessity of video analysis. CONCLUSIONS The supination assessment task represents a novel, efficient method of evaluating forelimb rotation and may help decrease the cost and time of running experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Meyers
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States; The University of Texas at Dallas, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States.
| | - Anil Sindhurakar
- Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, United States
| | - Rachel Choi
- The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral Brain Sciences, 800 West Campbell Road, GR41, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States
| | - Ruby Solorzano
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States
| | - Taylor Martinez
- The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral Brain Sciences, 800 West Campbell Road, GR41, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States
| | - Andrew Sloan
- Vulintus Inc., 17217 Waterview Pkwy, Ste 1.202BB, Dallas, TX 75252, United States
| | - Jason Carmel
- Burke Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, United States; Weill Cornell Medical College, Brain Mind Research Institute and Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, United States
| | - Michael P Kilgard
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States; The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral Brain Sciences, 800 West Campbell Road, GR41, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States; The University of Texas at Dallas, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States
| | - Robert L Rennaker
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States; Vulintus Inc., 17217 Waterview Pkwy, Ste 1.202BB, Dallas, TX 75252, United States; The University of Texas at Dallas, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States
| | - Seth Hays
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States; The University of Texas at Dallas, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, United States
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Porterfield JH, Sindhurakar A, Finley JM, Bradley NS. Drift during overground locomotion in newly hatched chicks varies with light exposure during embryogenesis. Dev Psychobiol 2015; 57:459-69. [PMID: 25864867 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In an earlier study of newly hatched chicks we reported that continuous bright light exposure throughout incubation accelerated locomotor development and continuous dark exposure delayed it, compared to less intense, intermittent light exposure. Commonly studied gait parameters indicated locomotor skill was similar across groups. However, dark incubated chicks walked with a greater step width, raising the possibility of differences in dynamic balance and control of forward progression. In this study, we established methods to retrospectively examine the previously published locomotor data for differences in lateral drift. We hypothesized that chicks incubated in darkness would exhibit more drift than chicks incubated in light. Analyses identified differences in forward progression between chicks incubated in the two extreme light conditions, supporting the study's hypothesis. We discuss the significance of our findings and potential design considerations for future studies of light-accelerated motor development in precocial and nonprecocial animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay H Porterfield
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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Abstract
Chicks are bipedal precocious vertebrates that achieve adaptive locomotor skill within hours after hatching. Development of limb movement has been extensively studied in the chicken embryo, but few studies have focused on the preparations leading to precocious locomotor skill. Chicks typically hatch after 21 days of incubation, and recent studies provided evidence that the neural circuits for intralimb control of stepping are established between embryonic days (E) 18-20. It has also been shown that variations in light exposure during embryogenesis can accelerate or delay the onset of hatching and walking by 1 to 2 days. Our earlier work revealed that despite these differences in time to hatch, chicks incubated in different light conditions achieved similar locomotor skill on the day of hatching. Results suggested to us that light exposure during incubation may have accelerated development of locomotor circuits in register with earlier hatching. Thus, in this study, embryos were incubated in 1 of 3 light conditions to determine if development of interlimb coordination at a common time point, 19 days of incubation, varied with light exposure during embryogenesis. Leg muscle activity was recorded bilaterally and burst analyses were performed for sequences of spontaneous locomotor-related activity in one or more ankle muscles to quantify the extent of interlimb coordination in ovo. We report findings indicating that the extent of interlimb coordination varied with light exposure, and left-right alternating steps were a more reliable attribute of interlimb coordination for embryos incubated in constant bright light. We provide evidence that morphological development of the leg varied with light exposure. Based on these findings, we propose that light can accelerate the development of interlimb coordination in register with earlier hatching. Our results lead us to further propose that alternating left-right stepping is the default pattern of interlimb coordination produced by locomotor circuits during embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Sindhurakar
- Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, New York, United States of America
| | - Nina S. Bradley
- Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Domestic chicks walk within 3-4 hr after hatching following 21 days of incubation. However, differences in light exposure can vary incubation duration. Based on pilot studies, we predicted that there would be a positive relationship between incubation duration and locomotor competence at hatching. Embryos were incubated in one of three conditions that varied light duration and intensity, and overground locomotor performance was tested on the day of hatching. Chicks incubated in continuous bright light hatched 1-2 days earlier than chicks incubated in less or no light. Kinematic findings indicated that locomotor skill was similar across incubation conditions and led us to reject our hypothesis. We propose that light may accelerate locomotor development without adversely affecting skill. Our findings raise two important implications for future studies: whether light exposure accelerates locomotor circuit development; and/or it unmasks adaptive motor skill by accelerating development of other physiological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Sindhurakar
- Program in Systems Biology and Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Nina S. Bradley
- Program in Systems Biology and Disease, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA,Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Ostrow School of Dentistry University of Southern California 1540 East Alcazar Street CHP 155, Los Angeles, CA 90089
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