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  4. A Straight Alley Version of the BBB Locomotor Scale

A Straight Alley Version of the BBB Locomotor Scale

Exp Neurol, 2009 · DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.03.037 · Published: June 1, 2009

Spinal Cord InjuryMental HealthRehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study introduces a modified version of the BBB locomotor scale, a standard method for assessing hindlimb motor function in rats after spinal cord injury. Instead of the traditional open field test, rats are evaluated in a reward-baited straight alley. The rats were trained to walk in the straight alley for a food reward, which encouraged them to take continuous steps. This allowed for a more standardized assessment of their locomotion compared to the open field where they might be less motivated to move. The results showed a high correlation between the scores obtained in the straight alley and the open field, indicating that the straight alley is a valid alternative. The straight alley also provided more reliable scores across different testing days.

Study Duration
Not specified
Participants
Sprague-Dawley rats (n=28) and Fisher rats (n=8)
Evidence Level
Not specified

Key Findings

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    BBB scores in the open field and straight alley were highly correlated (r=0.90), validating the straight alley for locomotor assessment.
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    Rats exhibited a larger number of bouts of continuous steps (passes) in the straight alley versus the open field, providing more opportunities to score hindlimb use and coordination.
  • 3
    The straight alley yielded more reliable scores, as indicated by higher day-to-day correlations (r2=0.90) compared to the open field (r2=0.74).

Research Summary

This study presents a straight alley version of the BBB locomotor scale for assessing hindlimb motor function in rats after spinal cord injury. The method involves training rats to ambulate in a reward-baited straight alley and comparing their performance to the traditional open field BBB test. The findings demonstrate a strong correlation between BBB scores obtained in the straight alley and the open field, validating the use of the straight alley as an alternative assessment method. The straight alley setup also resulted in a greater number of continuous stepping bouts and more consistent scores across different testing days. The authors suggest that the straight alley version offers advantages such as improved standardization, increased reliability, and ease of observation compared to the open field BBB test. It also allows for the potential simultaneous assessment of other functional parameters like footprint analysis.

Practical Implications

Improved Locomotor Assessment

The straight alley version of the BBB scale offers a more standardized and reliable method for assessing hindlimb motor function after spinal cord injury in rats.

Enhanced Data Comparability

Future studies using the straight alley BBB can be reasonably compared to past studies using the open field BBB, due to the high correlation between the two methods.

Space Efficiency and Versatility

The straight alley apparatus requires less space and allows for the potential simultaneous assessment of other functional parameters, making it a more practical and versatile tool.

Study Limitations

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