Neuroimaging Assessment of Spinal Cord Injury in Rodents

Abstract

Stroke induces long-term sensorimotor defi cits that severely compromise the daily activity of patients. Experimental focal cerebral ischemia (FCI) models in rodents can exhibit certain aspects of clinical defi cits in sensorimotor function following cerebral ischemia. Therefore, both histological changes and sensorimo- tor function can be evaluated in the experimental studies using FCI models. FCI is a common type of ischemic stroke. There are several rodent models for focal ischemia, including the ones with reperfusion (transient FCI) and those without reperfusion (permanent FCI), including endovascular fi lament middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, transcranial MCAO model, and cerebrocortical photothrombo- sis model. Various tests can be used to assess sensorimotor function in rodents. The rotarod test, which evaluates both the motor function and motor learning of the animals, is the most commonly used one. Other tests, including the cylinder test, adhesive removal test, and corner test, are important in investigating the asym- metric defi cits caused by FCI. This chapter provides a brief introduction of each neurobehavioral assess- ment test on sensorimotor function and its procedures.