Gait analysis in rat with cerebellar stroke

Disorder in cerebellum decreases the walking ability, and abnormality in coordination is one of the characteristic effect of the cerebellar disorder on walking. In order to approach the mechanism of cerebellar ataxia, this research constructs an experimental environment of walking rat with localized cerebellar stroke. Walking motion of rat is measured by motion capturing system, and the effect of stroke is investigated by comparing the motion before and after stroke. As a result, walking motion changed such that the peak timing delayed by stroke and it returned by recovery. Analysis of coordination showed only the temporal coordination related to leg rotation was affected by the stroke. Constructed environment enabled the detailed investigation of motion and thus it will become a useful tool for elucidating the mechanism of cerebellar stroke.